Global Food Week 2026 to open in Abu Dhabi with record scale

The Global Food Week 2026 is set to take place on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, with a focus on global food security and industrial cooperation.

The event, scheduled from Oct 6 to 8 this year, will be the largest edition to date. It aims to further advance innovation, trade and investment, and food security cooperation in the global food industry.

It is organized by ADNEC Group with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) as its strategic partner.

This will be the third edition of the event which was inaugurated in 2024. Last year, the event attracted more than 2,000 exhibitors and brands from 75 countries, welcomed over 40,000 visitors, and facilitated cooperation agreements worth a total of 6.6 billion dirhams.

This year, the event will expand further, bringing together 2,580 participants, including exhibitors, buyers, investors, and policymakers from 92 countries.

For the first time, it will combine both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) formats, aiming to create more opportunities for global food and beverage companies to expand markets, attract investment and deepen international cooperation.

A new edition of the Global Food Security Summit will also be held, bringing together government officials, policymakers, researchers, and food industry leaders to discuss how to build more resilient, sustainable, and future-ready food systems.

"We are pleased to announce the launch of the Global Food Week, which will take place next week in Abu Dhabi from October 6 to 8. The event, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, includes numerous activities, most notably the return of the Global Food [Security] Summit for its second edition. This summit brings together governments, international organizations, and experts to discuss the global food security system and related developments," said Badr Hassan Al Shihi, director of the Communications and Community Engagement Department at the ADAFSA.

Global Food Week 2026 to open in Abu Dhabi with record scale

The Shanghai Wild Animal Park held a group birthday celebration for three giant pandas on Sunday, with keepers expressing hope that the special event would raise public awareness of panda conservation.

Giant panda Xue Bao was born on Oct 4, Kang Kang on Oct 6, and Qian Jin on Oct. 10. Xue Bao and Qian Jin are celebrating their 9th birthdays, while the younger Kang Kang is about to turn 7.

Tailored arrangements of fruit and vegetable cakes, handmade toys and themed venue decorations were designed to match each panda's unique personality, creating a warm and festive atmosphere.

In Xue Bao's enclosure, zookeepers prepared a bamboo platform, placing fresh fruit, a vegetable birthday cake and interactive toys. For Qian Jin, mother of twin cubs, the zoo created a mother-themed celebration decorated with fresh flowers. Energetic Kang Kang received a traditional Chinese wooden ox enrichment device, plus a specially crafted birthday cake.

Visitors gathered at the panda pavilion to watch the three giant pandas enjoy their birthday treats and unwrap gifts. 

"Happy birthday to all the pandas!" said a little girl.

"Giant pandas are incredibly cute. They are soft, fluffy and chubby. Just looking at them melts my heart," said Qi, another visitor.

Chu Qingpo, deputy manager of the park's animal management department, hopes that the birthday party will turn more visitors into conservation supporters.

"All three giant pandas are in excellent health and good condition at the moment. We hope this birthday celebration event will help more visitors learn about giant pandas and join in panda conservation," he said.

Shanghai zoo celebrates three pandas' birthdays