HORECA Kuwait’s 14th Edition Welcomes More Than 8,000 Trade Visitors
The January show at the Kuwait International Fair brought more than 100 exhibitors, a chef competition involving more than 200 chefs and five panel debates on Kuwait’s hospitality sector.
HORECA Kuwait, the country’s main hospitality and foodservice trade show, held its 14th edition at Hall 8 of the Kuwait International Fair in January 2026 and welcomed more than 8,000 trade professionals from Kuwait and the region, Hospitality News Middle East reported after the show. More than 100 exhibitors and brands took part. Coverage differs on the exact days, giving both 17 to 19 January and 19 to 21 January.
The show is organised by Leaders Group and Hospitality Services, the company behind the HORECA brand, which began in Lebanon in 1994; Leaders Group brought it to Kuwait in 2012, according to the HORECA Kuwait website. Libnanews, reporting from the opening day, put the show floor at 7,000 square metres and said it was opened before government officials, ambassadors, industry leaders and the media. The venue is a fairground in Mishref established in 1971, according to Wikipedia.
The competitions
The Hospitality Salon Culinaire, in which teams of chefs cook live before a jury of international judges, showcased the skills of more than 200 chefs. A Barista Competition drew more than 30 participants, a second Mocktail Competition focused on non-alcoholic concepts and flavour combinations, and a Bed Making Competition tested the precision of housekeeping teams.
Competitions of this kind are one way a market builds a chef pipeline; our report on Saudi Arabia’s investment in culinary skills shows the approach from the kingdom’s side.
The talks
HORECA Talks, organised by Hospitality News Middle East and Hodema Consulting Services, comprised five panel debates on topical issues in Kuwait’s hospitality and food-and-beverage sectors. Libnanews said subjects on the opening day included hotel development, franchising and the future of food and beverage in Kuwait, and a Podcast Corner hosted live discussions and recordings with industry figures. Hospitality News’s follow-up coverage went on to look at Kuwait’s chocolate and pastry scene, Kuwaiti chefs driving change in the sector and the growth prospects of the country’s hotels.
What the organisers said
After the show, Leaders Group’s general manager, Nabila Al Anjari, said the edition demonstrated the maturity and ambition of Kuwait’s hospitality market. Mohamad Najia, the group’s executive director, said strong engagement from exhibitors and visitors had translated into business outcomes. Joumana Dammous-Salamé, managing director of Hospitality Services, said participation, energy and outcomes had all exceeded expectations.
Trade shows report their own numbers, and these are the organisers’ figures; what they show is a sector with enough exhibitors, chefs and baristas to fill three days of programming in Kuwait.
Sources & fact-check6
- HORECA Kuwait showcases growth and opportunityHospitality News Middle East, 23 March 2026
- Insights from talks at HORECA Kuwait 2026Hospitality News Middle East, 27 February 2026
- Industry excellence and innovation on the agenda at HORECA KuwaitHospitality News Middle East, 10 December 2025
- A powerful start for HORECA KuwaitLibnanews, 21 January 2026
- Official websiteHORECA Kuwait
- Kuwait International FairWikipedia
Every name, number and date in this story was checked against the sources above before publication. Spotted something wrong? Tell us — we correct errors openly. See our editorial standards.
