Festival of Lights Zagreb 2026: one of Europe’s leading events combining art and sustainability
From 26 to 28 February, Arena Zagreb will host the 30th юбilee edition of the international GAST fair – the largest HoReCa business event in the region, which traditionally marks the start of intensive preparations for the tourism season. Over the course of the three-day event, more than 1,000 exhibitors, co-exhibitors and brands from Croatia and abroad are expected, with organisers highlighting GAST as the region’s central platform for securing supply contracts, showcasing new products and closing deals across the hospitality, foodservice and tourism sectors.
It is also worth noting that HoReCa professionals can once again register for free VIP business tickets via the official fair website: www.gastfair.com.
30 years of tradition and continuity in HoReCa
Three decades of GAST confirm its position as one of the region’s longest-running and largest specialised trade fairs. Its timing – just ahead of the main tourism season – further strengthens its role as the place where supply chains are defined, wine lists are shaped, new food products and equipment are selected, and key operational decisions for the 2026 season are made.
Against the backdrop of growth in the tourism sector and increasing competition between destinations, this year’s edition places a strong focus on raising quality standards, differentiation and the implementation of innovative business solutions.
Focus on trends, innovation and business optimisation
This year’s edition offers an overview of the trends shaping the HoReCa market, including eco-friendly professional hygiene solutions and safety equipment, premium ingredients and differentiated food products, innovations in the beverage segment (craft and premium categories, mixology and functional drinks), frozen and convenience programmes for optimising operations, mini HoReCa formats and solutions tailored to hotels, bars and restaurants, as well as design-led and functional solutions for furnishing interiors and terraces.
In addition to showcasing new products, exhibitors are offering fair discounts of up to 15%, further encouraging concrete purchasing decisions and contract signings on site.
Expert programme and the identity of Croatian gastronomy
The professional programme includes a roundtable discussion entitled „Does Croatian gastronomy have an identity, or just a menu?”, organised by the Hospitality and Gastronomy study programme at the University of Split, opening a broader discussion on the long-term competitiveness of domestic gastronomy and its market position.
As part of GAST, and organised by Mainardi Food, the Caputo Pizza Cup Croatia will take place as a qualifying competition for the World Pizzaiolo Championship in Naples, further connecting Croatia’s hospitality sector with the international professional scene.
This year, the City of Split will present itself at GAST as a modern Mediterranean destination with a strong identity and a well-developed education system in tourism and hospitality, while the charity segment “Celebrities in the Kitchen” highlights the event’s social responsibility.
The fair will be open on Thursday and Friday from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm, and on Saturday from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm.
The general sponsors of this year’s jubilee edition of GAST are Mainardi Food, a company specialised in the distribution of food products and equipment for the HoReCa sector and a long-standing trusted partner to restaurants, pizzerias, hotels and other hospitality businesses, and Gastrodizajn, a company offering complete solutions for professional kitchens through the representation of renowned manufacturers of professional equipment and tableware known for reliability, innovation and high performance.
More information and online registration are available on the fair website: www.gastfair.com.
