Which city is home to a 30-foot-tall eyeball, was the birthplace of the frozen margarita machine, and has an airport bigger than Manhattan Island? Dallas, of course – and this week it will add another string to its bow by becoming the host of this year’s IFSA Global EXPO.
The 2026 edition of the IFSA Global EXPO is setting up camp at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center – just minutes away from DFW International Airport.
Another key change is the absence of the usually co-located APEX Expo, although FTE Global will still be nearby.
While the format remains familiar – chef demos, a vibrant exhibition floor and thought leadership sessions addressing the future of inflight services – these and other changes promise “fresh momentum, renewed energy and new opportunities”.
So, what should attendees actually expect? We asked three people who know the show from very different perspectives to give us the inside track.
One for all
For Paul Mills, Vice President Strategy & Transformation at IAG Transform, IFSA Treasurer and Board Member, one of the biggest draws is the sheer breadth of the event. “This is one of the few events where the entire inflight services industry comes together in one place – you can see, taste and experience products firsthand,” he says.
That breadth is also what keeps Nicky Slater, Business Development Manager at ITW Envopak and IFSA Director, coming back. Having exhibited for more than 15 years, she has watched the event grow in both exhibitors and delegates.
“IFSA Global Expo is a unique event combining all the key stakeholders in the inflight service industry, bringing suppliers, airlines and caterers together in a single location with an expo floor and plenty of networking opportunities,” she says.
For Dulce Martin, Founder & CEO of Adulce Group and IFSA Director, that mixture is equally important, providing opportunities to showcase products, discuss trends and find solutions to industry challenges.
Or, as Slater puts it rather neatly: “It puts all the pieces of the puzzle into the same room.”
Hot topics
Food safety, sustainability, waste reduction, AI and premiumisation are all expected to dominate conversations across the show floor.
For Mills, food safety and sustainability will be high on the agenda, alongside “the growing role of AI across the value chain” and the continued premiumisation of the onboard experience across all cabins.
Food safety gets a particular spotlight this year with the launch of the World Food Safety Guidelines, which will be unveiled during Wednesday’s Thought Leadership session.
The exhibition will feature 70 companies across 254 booths, while bringing professionals together from all sides of the industry will encourage cross-sector conversations.
“The mix of airlines, caterers and suppliers brings together diverse perspectives, helping to break down silos and accelerate innovation and problem-solving,” says Mills.
A taste of Texas
Then there is the small matter of being in Dallas. The move from Long Beach represents a significant change of scenery, but the consensus is that it should bring a fresh feel to the event
“The new location will bring a fresh energy to the event, particularly influencing the food, beverage and entertainment themes,” says Mills.
Slater points to the involvement of American Airlines and Southwest as headline partners, while the Gaylord Texan’s self-contained set-up should make it easier for attendees to connect.
Martin is equally enthusiastic about Dallas’ central US location and its flight connectivity, particularly for international delegates. And there’s no shortage of opportunities to get out of the conference room.
For the first time since Covid, an opening reception will take place on the eve of the show, giving exhibitors and delegates the chance to network in a more relaxed setting. There’s also a networking event at the Glass Cactus on Tuesday. “Make sure you bring your dancing shoes with you!” says Slater.
There’s also a cake competition, in which IFSA members will attempt to create cakes that look remarkably like their inflight products.
Don’t miss the demos
For first-timers, the advice is unanimous: make the most of the programme.
Mills recommends the opening reception, Thought Leadership sessions and chef demonstrations. Slater highlights the two chef demos, from American Airlines and AeroMexico, as well as the food safety and AI sessions
The programme will balance practical inspiration with bigger industry questions, exploring AI in catering operations, onboard premiumisation and the future of inflight services.
Make it count
For exhibitors, the message from Slater is clear: don’t wait until you arrive in Dallas to start networking.
“Do not rely on airlines walking past and stopping randomly,” she says. “They will have their diaries filled up well in advance, so get contacting now!”
Ultimately, a successful show is about what happens afterwards. Mills hopes attendees leave with “at least one idea or partnership that can be implemented to improve the onboard experience”, while Martin wants delegates to find partnerships that can help elevate the global flight services industry.
And that, perhaps, is the real point of bringing the industry together. As the onboard experience becomes increasingly personalised, connected and data-driven, there is still something to be said for putting the right people in the same room.
So, whether you’re there for the food, the networking, or simply the cake, Dallas looks set to serve up a new chapter for IFSA. See you there! expo.ifsa.aero
