The TFWA World Exhibition & Conference 2026 in Cannes attracted a record 8,011 visitors from 185 countries between September 27 and October 1. Visitors represented a wide geographic range, with 56% from Europe, 17% from Asia-Oceania, 12% from the Middle East, 11% from the Americas and 4% from Africa.
The exhibition featured 482 companies across 26,266 square meters, including 54 first-time exhibitors. Among attendees, 65% were duty-free and travel retail operators, agents, and distributors, underscoring the event’s commercial focus.
The ONE2ONE meeting service facilitated nearly 2,000 business meetings throughout the week, providing a structured platform for networking and deal-making within
the global travel retail community.
The conference program attracted 1,517 delegates to the opening TFWA World Conference, which included a State of the Industry address by TFWA President Sarah Branquinho. Four workshops covered key sector topics and drew a combined 278 attendees, focusing on challenges and opportunities in travel retail.
Start-Up Day, supported by Mondelēz, spotlighted 10 emerging travel retail companies, providing international exposure and engagement with industry professionals. This innovation-driven segment highlights TFWA’s commitment to adapting to evolving market needs.
TFWA elected a new Management Committee and Board for 2026 to 2028, with representatives from 40 companies. The Board
members include Jean-Pierre Bombet as Vice-President Finance, Priscilla Haibe de Walque as Vice-President Corporate, Irene Giatra as Vice-President Commercial, Alessio Crivelli as Vice-President Marketing, and Sam Gerber as Vice-President Conference & Research.
Networking events played a major role, with over 3,000 guests attending the Opening Cocktail and more than 2,700 visitors participating in the TFWA Lounge. Key partners included Qatar Duty Free as Main Partner of the TFWA Lounge and sponsors such as Haribo, Heineken, and Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail.
Social initiatives featured prominently, including the fourth edition of ‘Yes We Cannes!’ Handisport promoting inclusion through adaptive sports. The
#KickCancerThon saw delegates cycle 1,502 kilometers, leading to a TFWA donation of €15,022 to The Royal Marsden Hospital for cancer research.
Following TFWA’s renewal of its partnership agreement with SEMEC on September 28, Cannes will continue as the host city for the exhibition through at least 2030. The next TFWA World Exhibition & Conference is scheduled for October 3-7, 2027 in Cannes, maintaining the event’s role as a key fixture in the global travel retail calendar.
