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The supporting programme of Biofach 2026 brings trends, knowledge and opportunities for exchange directly to the exhibition halls. From planetary health to start-up pitches and new workshop formats, it offers a diverse experience for the organic community and sets important impulses for the future of the sector.

When the organic sector meets in Nuremberg, Germany, from 10 to 13 February 2026, the focus will not only be on products, but also on prospects.

Accompanying the Biofach Congress, a wide-ranging programme in the exhibition halls provides impetus for transformation, cooperation and innovation. Trade visitors can look forward to innovations and highlights in the form of lectures, workshops and show cooking demonstrations, covering topics ranging from modern management culture and planetary health to organic food in out-of-home catering.

Dominik Dietz, director of Biofach, said: “The stages and special shows at Biofach are places for exchange, inspiration and practical application – right at the heart of the trade fair. Through these formats, we focus on key future and trend topics in the sector, from planetary health and new nutritional concepts to organic food outside the home as the key to the nutritional transition."

Where the future of the organic sector becomes visible: The Innovation Stage (Hall 4A)

The Innovation Stage in Hall 4A is the stage for trends, start-ups and new product ideas in the industry.

Located right next to the innovation stand and in close proximity to the special show International Newcomers & Start-ups, it offers space for pitch formats, panels on current market developments and innovation presentations.

One of the highlights is the Biofach Start-up Pitches. The final round of the Biofach Start-up Award 2026 will take place on Thursday, 12 February, from 15:30 to 16:30.

On the final day of the trade fair, the Best New Product Awards will be presented on Friday, 13 February, from 13:00 to 14:00.

Hub for shopping and exchange: The meeting point BIOimSEH (Hall 7)

The meeting point BIOimSEH in Hall 7 serves as a central platform for encounters, exchange and discovery within the independent retail sector. Businesspeople meet exhibitors, establish new contacts and discover exciting – and previously unknown – organic products.

For exhibitors, the meeting point offers a high-quality secondary presentation in close proximity to their target group. For buyers, it provides a carefully curated selection of specialist programmes, best-practice examples and networking opportunities. Even companies that are not exhibiting can gain direct access to trade fair visitors here.

Further development of the special show 'Experience the World of Planetary Health': From plant-based to zero waste

The Planetary Health world of experience in Hall 9 will take on a significantly broader scope in 2026. In addition to its existing focus on vegan products, alternative protein sources and whole foods, it will expand to include further trends such as plant-based, animal foods and zero waste.

This brings the question of how sustainable food systems can be conceived holistically and implemented in the market into sharper focus. Manufacturers present products across the relevant categories and demonstrate how health and climate goals can be effectively combined.

Philipp Thiel (ÖMA), Anne Baumann (AöL) and Alexander Bauer (Purvegan GmbH), among others, will discuss how the Planetary Health concept is gaining visibility in the retail sector and the role organic stakeholders play in its implementation.

The panel discussion, titled 'Stale is a thing of the past: helping to shape and communicate the Planetary Health Diet as a company,' will take place on 12 February, from 12:00 to 12:45.

The focus will be on how companies assume responsibility, build trust and strategically position their contribution to planetary health.

New workshop area: Where leadership, collaboration and NextGen become reality

Also located in Hall 9, Biofach 2026 is taking a further step towards participation and co-creation. The new workshop area creates a multifunctional space for interactive workshops and hands-on sessions.

One example is the series of workshops offered by Iniciato, which re-examine leadership, personal responsibility and collaboration. In the workshop 'Clear framework, more freedom: How structure strengthens self-reliant teams' (10, 11 and 13 February), Christoph Spahn, Barbara Sennholz-Weinhardt and Johanna Buß demonstrate how clear roles, transparent expectations and comprehensible decision-making processes can relieve teams and promote self-reliance.

Additional sessions will address topics such as constructive error culture and the question of how self-management can be successfully implemented in everyday working life. The programme will be complemented by the “Focus on NextGen” networking event on 12 February, from 11:30 to 12:30, bringing together HR developers and decision-makers to discuss the next generation of leaders.

New format for kitchen practice and current market data strengthen organic products in out-of-home catering (Hall 6)

The special show Organic Out of Home in Hall 6 demonstrates how organic food can become a tangible lever for change in community catering. It is aimed at kitchens, canteens and businesses seeking to increase their use of organic food despite cost pressures and skills shortages.

The focus is on practical concepts for the hotel and tourism industry, new products and smart logistics solutions, as well as digital tools for sustainability management. In the show kitchen, manufacturers present live demonstrations of dishes that deliver both flavour and practicality in everyday operations.

Highlights include daily live cooking sessions with chefs such as Max Korschinsky and Estella Schweizer, alongside specialist talks on the organic AHV market. Initial findings from a market study conducted by AMI and Ecozept will be presented on 12 February from 15:00 to 16:00, providing insights into organic market share, structures and price developments in the out-of-home catering sector. These findings are expected to provide important impetus for the wider debate on the food transition.

A new format for kitchen managers and catering decision-makers will also debut in 2026, featuring practical presentations and panel discussions on organic product qualities, implementation in commercial kitchens and the new Bio-AHVV (Organic Agricultural and Foodstuffs Ordinance).

Quality under the microscope: Experience the World of Olive Oil (Hall 4)

At the special show Experience the World of Olive Oil in Hall 4, producers, retailers, buyers and restaurateurs come together to explore the quality, origin and sensory characteristics of olive oil. During blind tastings, trade visitors themselves select the best olive oils at Biofach, which are recognised with the Olive Oil Award.

The exhibition will be accompanied by expert lectures and tastings, including 'Olive Oil in Sophisticated Gastronomy' with Sebastian Kunkel (Wednesday, 11 February, 12:00 to 12:45) and 'Extra Virgin: A Journey into Today’s Quality Production' with Duccio Morozzo della Rocca (11 February, 14:00 to 14:45).

Professor Stephan Schwarzinger (University of Bayreuth) will take a scientific look at authenticity in his presentation 'Trading olive oil without counterfeiting?!' on 11 February, from 16:15 to 17:00. The Olive Oil Awards ceremony will be held on Thursday afternoon.

For more information and to plan your visit, please visit the Biofach website here.