ISM 2026 took place in Cologne from 1 to 4 February, bringing together manufacturers, suppliers and buyers from across the global sweets and snacks industry. Organisers reported around 1,600 exhibiting companies from 72 countries and approximately 32,500 trade visitors from 140 countries across ISM, ISM Ingredients and ProSweets Cologne.
International participation remained high, with foreign exhibitors accounting for 87% of participants at ISM and international visitors representing 71% of total attendance. According to organisers, the event continued to serve as a central meeting point for trade, industry and supplier decision-makers.
A key development at this year’s edition was the launch of ISM Ingredients as a standalone trade fair format for raw materials and ingredients. The new format featured 87 exhibitors, nearly three times the number previously represented in the ingredients segment within ProSweets Cologne. ISM Ingredients was staged alongside ISM and ProSweets Cologne in Hall 10.1, forming an integrated value chain presentation covering finished products, manufacturing and ingredients.
“In times of volatile markets, the industry needs platforms that provide guidance and enable business deals. ISM 2026 provided precisely that: with clear market relevance, even stronger international participation and a trade fair concept that brings the entire value chain together while at the same time paving the way for the future consolidation of all sections under the ISM umbrella brand. As such, we are consistently pursuing the long-term innovation process of our trade fair formats,” said Gerald Böse, president and chief executive officer of Koelnmesse GmbH.
The event opened with a panel discussion focused on international trade policy and diversification, bringing together representatives from business and politics. Bastian Fassin, chairman of the International Sweets & Biscuits Fair Task Force (AISM), said the discussion highlighted the role of ISM as a platform for dialogue across the sector.
“As the leading international trade fair, ISM offers precisely the right platform, where the industry, politicians and partners can come together to jointly secure the competitiveness and innovative strength of the sweets industry long-term. This was explicitly accentuated once more during the panel discussion,” said Fassin.
Networking was further supported by the introduction of the ISM Opening Night, held for the first time at Confex, which brought together around 600 industry representatives.
ISM 2026 also recorded a record number of country pavilions, with 39 pavilions from 29 countries and regions. Exhibitors ranged from multinational manufacturers to smaller specialist suppliers. Retail groups represented among visitors included Aldi, Carrefour, Edeka, Rewe Group, Tesco and Walmart, alongside a number of international drugstore chains.
Innovation-focused formats returned in Hall 10.1, including Lab5 by ISM, which featured more than 30 start-ups and scale-ups from 16 countries. The New Product Showcase displayed more than 150 product launches, while a new “Functional Sweets” section addressed growing interest in functional confectionery. ISM Ingredients also hosted a special show focusing on functional and climate-conscious ingredients.
Several industry awards were presented during the event. Dr Uwe Lebens, owner and long-standing chief operating officer of Genuport Trade GmbH, received the ISM Award 2026. CandyGlam won the New Product Showcase Award, while Hosta received the ISM Consumer Award. The newly introduced ISM Start-up Pitches Award was awarded to FRENVI.
In total, 1,790 companies from 75 countries exhibited across ISM, ISM Ingredients and ProSweets Cologne 2026. Foreign exhibitors accounted for 85% of the total.
ISM is organised by Koelnmesse, with the International Sweets and Biscuits Fair Task Force (AISM) acting as industry sponsor. The next edition of ISM is scheduled to take place from 31 January to 3 February 2027.
