IIFF 2026: Cementing global status of India's footwear sector

The 10th India International Footwear Fair (IIFF) 2026 is all set to be held at Bharat Mandapam (Pragati Maidan), New Delhi, from August 6–8, 2026. Organized by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) in close association with the Confederation of Indian Footwear Industries (CIFI), IIFF 2026 is one of India’s premier annual B2B trade shows and serves as a benchmark event for the global sourcing and footwear production supply chain across South Asia.

Driven by innovation, opportunity, and global collaboration, the theme for this milestone edition captures the essence of the industry's journey: "Every step has a story. A story of craftsmanship, innovation, manufacturing, design, and endless possibilities."

Strategic Context & Industry Growth

The 2026 edition of IIFF happens at a highly opportune time for the sector to leverage international expansion. Supported by strong domestic demand and a rapidly growing international footprint, India’s footwear industry is undergoing a major transformation toward high-value manufacturing, automation, and sustainable practices.

According to data from the Council for Leather Exports (CLE), India’s exports of leather and non-leather footwear grew by approximately 25% year-on-year, reaching US $5.7 billion in fiscal year 2024–25. The sector is now aggressively pursuing an ambitious goal: expanding the overall market to US $26 billion by 2030, including US $8 billion from export revenues, with the footwear components segment serving as a crucial growth driver.

Furthermore, recent Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signed by India with multiple trading partners present immense opportunities for Indian leather goods and footwear manufacturers to scale up production and diversify into new global markets. The event also provides a timely platform for industry leaders, technical experts, and policymakers to discuss pressing macroeconomic dynamics, including trade route adjustments and supply chain disruptions arising from the West Asia conflict.

Comprehensive B2B Trade & Knowledge Platform

Operating strictly as an exclusively B2B event, IIFF 2026 caters to accredited industry professionals—including manufacturers, exporters, importers, distributors, retailers, designers, buying houses, and technology suppliers. The show will run daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, offering dedicated operating hours to facilitate targeted networking, strategic OEM/ODM discussions, and concrete commercial deals between supply and demand.

Over 200 exhibitors from India and abroad will showcase their products across two halls at Bharat Mandapam—Hall No. 5 (Ground Floor) and Hall No. 6. The event is expected to attract over 15,000 professional business visitors, providing an essential strategic hub for Indian and international players to benchmark capabilities, optimize supply chains, and form long-term joint ventures.

Key Focus Areas & Offerings

Finished Goods: Complete ranges of men’s, women’s, and children’s footwear spanning fashion, casual, sports, and industrial safety shoe categories.

Allied Sector & Materials: Essential inputs including leather, eco-friendly tanning solutions, advanced synthetic materials (such as PVC, PU, and EVA), specialized fabrics, yarns, soles, and high-performance adhesives.

Machinery & Advanced Technology: State-of-the-art footwear and leather machinery, heavy and light manufacturing equipment, design software, and high-tech automation systems.

Craftsmanship & Design: Displaying traditional artisan skills alongside modern styling, material innovation, and sustainable production processes.

Structured B2B Interactions & Leadership: Targeted buyer-seller meets, technology-exchange sessions, and international delegations designed to convert contacts into tangible export orders.

Participation Essential for Manufacturers and Suppliers

The convergence of global machinery manufacturers, chemical suppliers, buying houses, and international brands makes IIFF 2026 an indispensable platform. It offers an excellent business opportunity for both exhibitors and trade buyers, national and international alike. Local manufacturers gain direct access to cutting-edge technology upgrades and eco-friendly raw materials, while international participants unlock seamless entry into India's expanding domestic market and manufacturing ecosystem.

Economic Impact

Beyond its core industrial impact, IIFF 2026 serves as a major economic driver for the Delhi-NCR region. The influx of more than 200 exhibiting companies, 15,000 business delegates, and international participants stimulates substantial commercial activity across regional hospitality, transportation, logistics, and tourism sectors. The fair's direct and indirect economic contribution to the local economy is estimated between Rs 25 crore and Rs 50 crore, underscoring IIFF’s dual role as both an industry accelerator and a key economic catalyst.

Through its flagship annual trade fairs, ITPO consistently plays a central role in promoting India's manufacturing sector and export readiness. By hosting the 10th edition of IIFF across Halls 5 and 6 at Bharat Mandapam, ITPO reaffirms its commitment to strengthening India’s positioning as a world-class manufacturing hub.

Conclusion

The 10th India International Footwear Fair (IIFF) 2026 stands as far more than an annual trade show—it is the central engine driving India's ambition to become a global power in footwear manufacturing and sourcing. Set against the world-class backdrop of Bharat Mandapam from August 6–8, 2026, the event converges the entire industrial ecosystem, from raw material suppliers and machinery innovators to finished footwear exporters and international buying houses.

With the Indian footwear sector on a clear trajectory toward a $26 billion market by 2030 and capitalizing on new global trade agreements, IIFF 2026 provides the essential B2B platform needed to convert market momentum into concrete commercial partnerships. For trade visitors, exhibitors, and regional stakeholders alike, the 10th edition promises not only substantial economic impact for the Delhi-NCR region but a defining chapter in the global footwear supply chain.