GUEXT 2026 driving knowledge, innovation and talent in the hospitality sector with comprehensive programme of activities
From 15 to 17 October, GUEXT provides a highly valuable platform for strategic decision-making in the field of equipment and management within the sector.
GUEXT, the International Exhibition of Suppliers and Services for the Hospitality Sector, organised by IFEMA MADRID in partnership with FELAC (the Spanish Federation of Associations of Equipment Manufacturers for Hospitality, Mass Catering and Related Industries), has released the schedule of activities designed to respond to the principal challenges and opportunities of the sector.
The 2026 edition will strengthen its position as a platform for applied knowledge thanks to a range of venues and content designed to enhance the competitiveness, operational efficiency and capacity for innovation of professionals in the HORECA channel and the mass catering industry.
The GUEXT Forum will further cement its place as the centre piece of the event, providing a space for reflection and debate where experts and leaders will analyse the major transformations redefining the hospitality sector. Through round-table discussions and presentations, the event will address key issues such as the digitalisation of professional kitchens, the impact of artificial intelligence, operational sustainability, the evolution of business models in the catering sector, and new eating habits when dining out. This approach will make it possible to provide professionals with useful and practical knowledge, placing value on the strategic role of equipment as a driver of operational efficiency, connectivity and an improved customer experience.
The programme will address highly topical issues through specific sessions focusing on connected kitchens, dining room design to create a cohesive dining experience, and kitchen design aimed at improving staff wellbeing, productivity and the ability to attract talent.
The event will also discuss new business models in the restaurant sector, as well as the rise of “foodvenience” and the shift in consumer behaviour towards quick, healthy and high-quality food solutions. Similarly, special attention will be paid to the catering sector, with a session dedicated to smart mass catering, focusing on how technology, traceability and automation are transforming institutional food services. Finally, another of the sessions will focus on humanitarian-minded cooking, highlighting the human and technical work behind the response to a food emergency, as well as the support and training provided to groups at risk of social exclusion.
As part of this event, the ‘Sobremesas Mab’ series, organised by Mab Hostelero magazine, will round off the programme with panel discussions exploring issues such as how professional kitchens are evolving to tackle staff shortages, cost pressures and the need to optimise resources. The criteria that should guide the design of more efficient, cost-effective kitchens, tailored to the needs of operators, will also be established. The event will also cover the main trends in interior design and functional design in hotels, restaurants and buffets, with a view to enhancing the customer experience and improving the running of these establishments.
GUEXT will recognise talent and professional commitment
Recognition of professional careers will also feature prominently at GUEXT 2026, with the second edition of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Hospitality Distribution and the first edition of the FELAC Award for Professional Achievement in the Spanish Hospitality Equipment Industry, reinforcing the value of accumulated knowledge and its contribution to the sector’s development.
For its part, the KitchenXperience by Dimasa area will offer a hands-on introduction to the latest solutions in equipment and technology with live demonstrations. It is against this backdrop that the final of the 1st National Competition for the Best School Menu will take place, an initiative that highlights the strategic role of mass catering in society.
The competition will recognise the best school menus developed by catering company in the categories of creativity, sustainability and innovation, helping raise the profile of a key segment of the hospitality industry. This area takes on particular significance when one considers that more than 2.5 million children and adolescents in Spain use school canteen services every day, making this sector a key player in promoting healthy eating habits and the evolution of eating patterns.
With this programme, GUEXT 2026 establishes itself as an essential event for professionals in the hospitality sector, not only as a showcase for products and solutions, but also as a forum for generating strategic knowledge, exchanging experiences and identifying business opportunities. An event that brings together innovation, talent and the market to support the sector on its transformation journey.