Six months out, the event continues to grow and reaches 90% occupancy, with expectations to exceed 400 exhibitors
Expoquimia 2026 celebrates 60 years with more companies and innovation for the industry
From 2 to 5 June 2026, Expoquimia will hold a landmark edition aimed at strengthening the competitiveness and sustainable transformation of the chemical industry, while showcasing its contribution to innovation across all production sectors. Six months ahead of the event, the show has already reached 90% occupancy, is expected to surpass 400 exhibitors, and is preparing to celebrate its 60th anniversary with a proposal that combines business, knowledge and high‑level networking. It will take place alongside Equiplast, the international meeting for the plastics and rubber sectors, at the Gran Via venue.
Organised by Fira de Barcelona, Expoquimia 2026 is shaping up to be an edition defined by growth. The show will increase its exhibitor portfolio by 40% compared to 2023, consolidating its role as a space for generating commercial opportunities, presenting new solutions and connecting the main players in the chemical ecosystem and process industries. This progress reflects the sector’s confidence in an event which, as well as celebrating six decades of history, is positioned as a driving force for collaboration and technological development from chemistry towards other industries.
Carles Navarro, Chairman of the Expoquimia 2026 Organising Committee, highlights: “We are at a crucial moment, and the future of the chemical industry will depend on what we do — or fail to do — right now. In this context, Expoquimia’s role is more important than ever. We have the responsibility to use the show to highlight the essential contribution of chemistry to industrial decarbonisation and to discuss the technologies that are coming. We must also showcase the economic value of the sector and reactivate business across all its specialties in order to enhance competitiveness.”
Increased offering and exhibition space
To date, the number of exhibitors already exceeds that of the 2023 edition and continues to grow, aiming to occupy the entirety of Hall 2 at the Gran Via venue. Growth is particularly strong in sectors such as: Machinery and Equipment; Pumps, Valves and Fluid Handling; Laboratory Equipment and Analytical Instrumentation; and Engineering and Automation, all of which have reached or surpassed expected booking levels. Other highly represented areas include Basic Chemicals and Raw Materials; Environmental Technology and Waste Management; Pharma Process; Industrial and Workplace Safety; and Thermal Processing, among others.
Several leading companies in the sector have already confirmed their presence in the show’s various exhibition areas. Notable names include Air Liquide, Bachiller, BASF, Bondalti, Bosch Iberia, Carburos Metálicos, Covestro, Deltalab, Interpolimeri, Labbox, Lleal, Marchesini Group Ibérica, Messer, Moeve, Net Pharma‑Hub, PanReac AppliChem, Quimidroga, Scharlab, Sener, TDF, Telstar and VYC Industrial.
The commercial offering will also feature the launch of the Innovation Hub, a space designed to connect start‑ups, technology centres, universities and leading companies working on disruptive projects to address challenges such as emissions reduction, digitalisation, improved energy efficiency and the circular economy. This area will include exhibition stands as well as presentations, business meetings and technology transfer sessions.
Xavier Pascual, Director of Expoquimia, notes: “We are preparing an effective business platform for the chemical industry, where professional profiles linked to production processes in any sector will be able to find tailor‑made solutions. Our goal is to attract high‑quality visitors with decision‑making authority and strategic insight, generating real opportunities for collaboration and growth.”
Value‑added activities
Parallel to commercial bookings, Expoquimia is finalising a programme of activities that will combine applied knowledge with business generation. A highlight will be the ‘Industry Showcase’ conference space, structured around four main themes: energy transition and decarbonisation, water resources, materials and ingredients, and digital transformation. The programme will include real case studies, round tables and the ‘Best‑in‑Class’ awards, recognising four national industrial projects in which chemistry has acted as a key driver of change.
Another major focal point will be the Smart Chemistry forum, promoted by the chemical industry federation FEIQUE. Under the theme Green Industry Deal, it will bring together experts, companies, leading organisations and government representatives to discuss competitiveness and the need for a stable regulatory framework as essential conditions for progressing towards climate neutrality. The agenda will feature conferences, round‑table discussions and best practices on affordable energy, circular economy, and key technologies such as CCUS, hydrogen, chemical recycling and digitalisation.
The show will also host the 16th Mediterranean Congress of Chemical Engineering (MECCE), which will bring together researchers, experts and international companies to present advances in processes, materials and emerging technologies that optimise production and accelerate industrial decarbonisation. In addition, the Engineers Day, organised in collaboration with the Catalan Association of Engineers, will highlight the role of engineering in industrial transformation. More than twenty invited events organised by sectoral associations will round out the programme.
On the international front, Expoquimia will devote two dedicated days to analysing business opportunities for Spanish chemical companies in Egypt and Japan. The Mediterranean country is currently undergoing industrial development in its chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, while Japan — one of the most innovative nations in chemistry and plastics — will offer insights into potential alliances. The show will also implement promotional actions to attract more visitors from foreign markets, in collaboration with organisations such as Labmas, Fluidex, ICEX and ACCIÓ.
A high‑level Gala Dinner
The flagship event of Expoquimia will be the Gala Dinner, bringing together more than 700 attendees, including senior executives from leading companies, professional associations and institutional representatives. The evening will commemorate the show’s 60th anniversary and highlight the economic strength of the sector. In Spain, the chemical industry generates more than €86 billion in annual turnover and its solutions are present in 98% of industrial processes. It contributes 4% to the national GDP and 12.1% to industrial GDP, and provides more than one million jobs, according to FEIQUE’s latest data.
The gala will take place on 3 June in the Oval Hall of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC), and will feature an address by Katja Scharpwinkel, Vice‑President of the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) and member of the BASF SE Executive Committee. During the evening, the Best‑in‑Class awards will be presented, and a sector‑wide tribute will be paid to companies and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the chemical industry.
Coinciding with Equiplast
Expoquimia 2026 will be held simultaneously with Equiplast, the international plastics and rubber event, which will bring together a further 400 exhibitors in Hall 3 of the Gran Via venue. Together, both events will form a unique commercial platform with more than 800 exhibiting companies and are expected to attract around 21,000 professional visitors.
Barcelona, January 2026
Photographs (2023 Edition) available here
Maria Dolores Herranz / Josep Lluís Mérida
Tel. +34 93 233 25 41 – 2114
mdherranz@firabarcelona.com – jmerida@firabarcelona.com