Alimentaria + Hostelco 2028 · 20–23 de marzo de 2028
Alimentaria and Hostelco event venue in Barcelona 100 metres from the halls
For the client dinner, the tasting or the product showroom of trade fair week, two minutes on foot from Fira Gran Via.
Why this week is different
Here the guest judges the table, not the dance floor
Alimentaria and Hostelco bring food, distribution and hospitality professionals to Barcelona. It is by some distance the most demanding audience on the Fira calendar when it comes to what is put in front of them: people who make a living from food and drink and who notice any shortcut.
That rules out the open-bar party format and replaces it with something else: a well-executed client dinner, a tasting, a showroom where product is tried under proper conditions. The space has to support that, not compete with it.
Here it is built by chaining spaces: terrace for the open-air aperitif — March in Barcelona usually obliges — the main room for the seated part, and the lobby as a display or tasting area during show hours.
And there is a factor no other congress has: being biennial, the entire industry gathers once every two years. Competition for that week's venues is proportionate.
Formats for the week
What gets built during the fair
Client dinner
Seated format with catering, an aperitif on the terrace beforehand and drinks inside afterwards. The classic of this week.
Tasting or product launch
In the lobby, with its own entrance, for small groups and in hours compatible with the fair.
Gastronomic showroom
A display space across several days, off the stand and with more time per visitor than the hall allows.
Meeting with distribution
A commercial meeting with the network, in cocktail or seated format depending on numbers.
Calendar
Alimentaria + Hostelco 2028: 20–23 de marzo de 2028
The next joint edition runs 20–23 de marzo de 2028 at Fira Gran Via, 100 metres from the venue.
Being biennial, that week's diary closes a long way ahead: it is the only moment in two years when the industry is all in Barcelona at once.
Dates according to information published after the previous edition. Always confirm with the fair's organisers before committing.
Product logistics
What to raise early if you bring your own product
An event during this week is rarely solved with standard catering. The norm is that the brand wants to show its own, and that opens a conversation worth having when you ask for a quote rather than the night before:
- Who cooks. Whether you bring your own chef, a trusted caterer, or would rather we handled it. All three work, but they change the build and the access times.
- Where product is stored. If goods arrive in advance or a cold chain has to hold, it needs planning: tell us what you need and we will work out how to cover it.
- How long the build takes. A tasting or a product showroom needs more preparation hours than a cocktail. Count that time in the booking, not just the event hours.
- March works in your favour. Unlike a winter congress, the dates allow an aperitif on the terrace with reasonable confidence — with the indoor space ten metres away if the day turns.
The earlier you tell us the format, the more room there is to fit all of that into a week when the whole industry is building at once.
Frequently asked questions about Alimentaria and Hostelco events
Are Alimentaria and Hostelco the same show?
They are two separate shows that run together on the same dates at Gran Via. For a fringe event they function as a single week, which is why we treat them together.
How often are they held?
They are biennial: the last edition was in March 2026 and the next is in 2028. That means the week concentrates far more demand than an annual congress, because the industry only gathers every two years.
Can we host a client dinner?
Yes, it is the most common format of the week. We work with caterers and the terrace lets you start outdoors and continue inside.
Can we bring our own caterer or chef?
With a food-industry audience that is a reasonable and frequent request. Tell us what you need — space, power, product logistics — and we assess it case by case.
Does it work as a product showroom?
Yes. The lobby has its own entrance and works as a display or tasting space during show hours, without opening the main room.
How far away are you?
100 metres from Fira Gran Via, two minutes on foot from the halls.
Quote
Check availability for fair week
Tell us the format, how many guests and whether you are bringing your own catering or product. With that we will confirm availability and a quote.