Fi Europe, the world’s leading food ingredients event, has revealed the full content agenda for its 2026 edition, promising three days of expert analysis, practical inspiration, and the connections that turn ideas into action.

Returning to Messe Frankfurt, Germany, from 17–19 November, this year’s show will feature a range of expert talks, panel discussions and deep dives from academia, start-ups, multinationals, consultants and researchers such as Innova Market Insights, Mintel, Euromonitor International and FMCG Gurus.

“Rapid transformation is redefining what the food, beverage and pet nutrition sectors can offer consumers,” said Francesca Berry, head of content Programming at Informa Markets. “GLP-1 medications are rewriting R&D briefs, pet owners are applying their own nutritional standards to what they feed their animals, and new technologies are changing what is possible to manufacture at scale. Our 2026 programme brings the expertise behind those shifts into one place, creating a platform where the whole value chain can solve shared challenges, uncover new opportunities and power what comes next.”

Few developments have moved through the industry with more impact and speed than GLP-1 medications. Rapidly rising GLP-1 use around the world is completely reshaping consumers’ appetites, nutritional needs, and expectations. Even among people not using the medication and markets where adoption is slower, interest in weight management, satiety, and blood sugar control has exploded.

This is why day three of Fi Europe 2026 is dedicated to a Weight Management Spotlight exploring the significant challenges and opportunities within this sector. A highlight of the programme will be an expert editorial session from Sophia Cornelius, Specialised Nutrition Analyst at Mintel, entitled From pharmaceuticals to food: What the GLP-1 era means for nutrition innovation. In her talk, Cornelius, a registered dietitian, will examine both the products serving GLP-1 users directly and the wider ingredient strategies targeting appetite management, satiety and metabolic health.

The new Pet Food and Nutrition Forum programme dives into how the continued humanisation of pets is raising the bar in one of the food industry’s fastest-growing categories. In Transparency, trust and consumer expectations in pet nutrition, a panel including Mike Hughes, head of research and insight at FMCG Gurus, and Bill Bookout, president of the National Animal Supplement Council, brings consumer research and regulatory expertise to the question of how businesses innovate ambitiously while staying compliant – and build lasting trust in the process.

A second panel discussion, Scaling sustainable pet nutrition: From consumer demand to commercial reality, turns to making sustainable products commercially viable. Allison Hamburger, director of sustainability and innovation at the Pet Sustainability Coalition, joins voices from across the value chain to examine alternative proteins, responsible sourcing, and the formulation and cost realities that decide what reaches shelf.

The journey from challenge to opportunity to action continues through the Innovation Hub, which gathers voices from research, marketing, procurement and regulatory affairs to explore the technologies, regulations and consumer demands driving change across food and beverage.

Lu Ann Williams, co-founder and president of Innova Market Insights, returns to reveal Innova’s Top 10 trends in F&B for 2027, unpacking the consumer behaviours and market shifts set to drive innovation over the coming year. Ina Dawer, head of ingredients at Euromonitor International, follows with Beyond protein: Where FMCG innovation is heading next, charting the wellness platforms scaling fastest across food, beverages, supplements and beauty, and the demands fuelling their growth.

Further sessions examine the scientific advances and technological breakthroughs moving from laboratory to production line, alongside the retail platforms and buying patterns transforming how finished products reach shoppers.

None of this reaches market without supply chains that can absorb pressure. Day three’s Innovation Hub spotlight on supply chain resilience brings stakeholders together from across the value chain to examine how the industry strengthens its global sourcing networks, building the foundations that make ambitious innovation possible.

That collaborative spirit runs through the whole event, with a programme of in-person networking events including a Women’s Networking Breakfast, focusing on the challenges and opportunities faced by women in the food and beverage industry. Another highlight will be the Future of Nutrition Lunch & Learn for senior decision-makers. These sessions are designed to give attendees the space to meet peers well beyond their own segment, sparking the conversations and partnerships that will shape the industry long after Frankfurt closes.