TFWA Asia Pacific draws nearly 3,000 visitors
The Tax Free World Association (TFWA) Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference 2026, held in Singapore from 10-14 May, welcomed 2,814 visitors and 200 exhibitors.
The three largest attendee regions were Asia (77%), Europe (11%) and the Middle East (6%).
A total of 58 major airports were represented. Additionally, representatives from major airlines and cruise lines collectively made up 10% of the attendees.
Both established and emerging duty-free and travel retail operators accounted for 30% of the visitors.
The summit featured 200 exhibitors, including 60 that were participating for the first time. Of all exhibitors, 32% represented wine, spirits, beers and non-alcoholic beverages.
The week began with the TFWA Asia Pacific Conference, which established a forward-looking agenda regarding the forces reshaping duty-free and travel retail in the region.
This year, the five-day summit introduced a redesigned layout. The exhibition was organised into distinct ‘worlds’ to enhance navigation and create a more structured and efficient visitor journey. The concept grouped brands and partners into clearly defined sectors.
According to TFWA, initial feedback from exhibitors and visitors shows that the format has improved product visibility, enhanced category-led merchandising, and facilitated more focused, productive meetings throughout the show floor.
The Launchpad venue reflected the scale and ongoing evolution of the Asia-Pacific duty free and travel retail market, giving new-to-market brands and concepts visibility.
Meanwhile, the One2One programme facilitated 955 pre-scheduled meetings. The Agora amphitheatre attracted 662 attendees for innovation-focused talks and pitch sessions.
“One of the most encouraging aspects of this year’s TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference was the level of audience engagement throughout the event, particularly during the Agora sessions at World of Innovation,” said Franck Waechter, managing director of TFWA. “The conversations were dynamic, insightful and interactive, reflecting an industry eager to exchange ideas and embrace innovation.”
At the World of Innovation, 931 attendees were immersed in a platform focused on technology-led and data-driven retail solutions.
Taste of the World served as a central hub for informal meetings and hospitality, integrating food and beverage into the broader commercial conversation.
Sarah Branquinho, marking her first show as TFWA president, added: ‘This year’s TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference took place against a backdrop of significant geopolitical and economic uncertainty, with ongoing disruption to aviation, supply chains and traveller confidence across key markets. In that context, the strength of participation here in Singapore sends a clear signal about both the resilience of our industry and the strategic importance of the Asia Pacific region for the global industry.
“The evolution of the exhibition format through the ‘worlds’ structure, focused on creating a more efficient platform, one that enables clearer navigation, more targeted engagement and stronger commercial outcomes at a time when businesses need to be precise in how they connect and operate.
“What we have seen this week is encouraging. Despite external pressures, the fundamentals of our industry remain strong, and Asia Pacific continues to offer significant scale, growth and opportunity.”
The TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference is scheduled to return to Singapore in 2027, from 9-13 May.
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