IFT FIRST Annual Event & Expo 2026

IFT FIRST 2026, the world's largest food science and innovation gathering, takes place July 12–15, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago, convening 15,500+ food technology professionals from 80+ countries alongside 1,000+ exhibitors. Organized by the Institute of Food Technologists, FIRST celebrates breakthrough innovations in food science, process engineering, ingredient technology, and food safety systems essential to advancing global food security and consumer health. Core conference tracks address novel preservation technologies reducing waste, plant-based and alternative protein innovations, fermentation applications, food process automation and smart manufacturing, supply chain transparency and traceability, clean label formulation and functional food development, and sustainability throughout food manufacturing. A defining 2026 innovation features 100+ scientific sessions and 450+ research posters hosted directly within the Expo Hall, enabling attendees to engage with cutting-edge research while networking with researchers and solution providers. Programming explores AI applications in food development, processing, and safety systems.