SIAL PARIS 2026: SIAL Innovation and SIAL For Change open for entries
At a time when environmental, societal and nutritional challenges are profoundly reshaping the food industry, SIAL Paris reaffirms its role as a catalyst for transformation.
True to its DNA, the exhibition places innovation at the heart of its strategy, mobilising the entire value chain around concrete, sustainable and creative solutions.
Through its two flagship competitions – SIAL Innovation and SIAL For Change – SIAL Paris encourages companies to reveal their latest advancements, share their commitments and actively contribute to more responsible food systems.
With the #OwntheChange movement, SIAL Paris asserts a collective ambition: to anticipate a future where social, societal and environmental challenges are fully integrated into business strategies.
“In 2026, we will be at the forefront of innovation more than ever, with the aim of promoting creativity that is practical, committed and action-oriented. SIAL Paris will showcase concrete solutions capable of accelerating the transitions and opening up new opportunities for the entire food industry,” noted Audrey Ashworth, SIAL Paris director.
SIAL Innovation: 30 years at the heart of food innovation
A benchmark international competition, SIAL Innovation celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026. A true global showcase for innovation, it highlights the most cutting-edge products and solutions on the market, in partnership with Protéines XTC. It remains a must-attend platform for exhibitors seeking to raise brand awareness and visibility.
For this milestone edition, the programme is being reinvented with an enhanced experience: a new design to maximise visibility of showcased innovations, integration of the SIAL Taste area, offering product tastings and a dedicated stage for thought leadership and innovation-focused content.
More than ever, SIAL Innovation represents a living, responsible and inspiring form of innovation, capable of addressing today’s major challenges while fuelling creativity and enjoyment.
Taking part in SIAL Innovation means offering your brand international visibility before, during and after the show, while benefiting from a label recognised by industry professionals. It also provides valuable business opportunities through meetings with buyers and investors, and positions participants within a global innovation ecosystem.
Key information:
- Open to SIAL Paris 2026 exhibitors – free to enter
- Products launched within the last two years
- Application deadline: 28 August 2026
- Jury evaluation: September 2026
- Awards: sector winners announced in September; Gold, Silver and Bronze awards revealed during the show in October
SIAL for Change: the CSR Award opening up to the entire food industry
SIAL For Change is the key event dedicated to sustainable and responsible initiatives in the sector. For its second edition, organised in partnership with CSR agency Hyssop, the competition takes a major step forward in 2026.
New for this edition: thanks to an unprecedented partnership with The Foodies (an initiative led by FoodDrinkEurope and supported by the European Commission), the competition is now open for the first time to European SMEs and start-ups that are not exhibiting at the show.
This represents a unique opportunity for all agri-food companies to showcase their CSR commitments, benefiting from the exceptional international visibility of SIAL Paris.
Participating enables companies to highlight their CSR commitments on a European and international scale, increase visibility among decision-makers, media and partners, position themselves as key players in sustainable transformation and join a dynamic and inspiring ecosystem
Beyond the competition, SIAL For Change will also become a central hub within the exhibition, designed as a space for inspiration and the sharing of best sustainable practices.
Key information:
- Applications open: 24 March 2026
- Application deadline: 1 July 2026
- Jury evaluation: September 2026
- Awards ceremony: 18 October 2026 during the show
Free competition open to all SIAL exhibitors and, for the first time, to European SMEs and start-ups via the “SIAL For Change & The Foodies” category. More information on https://thefoodies.eu/
Two competitions, one ambition: revealing the leaders of tomorrow
With SIAL Innovation and SIAL For Change, SIAL Paris confirms its role as an essential platform for identifying, showcasing and amplifying the initiatives shaping the future of food.
These competitions act as powerful drivers of visibility and growth for agri-food companies, while contributing to a more innovative, responsible and resilient industry.
Applications are now open – food industry players are invited to seize this opportunity without delay!
SIAL PARIS 2026: a strong commercial dynamic and a highly international show
SIAL Paris will return to Paris Nord Villepinte from 17 to 21 October 2026. The 2026 edition is set to be the most ambitious in the show’s history, surpassing an already record-breaking 2024 event and further cementing its status as the global leader of the food industry. A true global benchmark for food industry professionals, SIAL Paris once again positions itself as a powerful business accelerator, an unparalleled showcase for major innovations and a strategic observatory of the trends shaping the future of food worldwide.
With 85% of exhibition space already booked, up to 8,000 exhibitors expected, 295,000 professionals and more than 280,000 m² of exhibition space spanning 10 key sectors, SIAL Paris 2026 confirms not only its exceptional international reach, but also the renewed confidence and long-term commitment of companies across the entire food value chain.
