SIGEP Asia 2026 returns to Singapore: the spotlight is on gelato, coffee, bakery, and pizza with the Gelato World Cup Asia Selection
RIMINI – The international network of SIGEP World, organized by Italian Exhibition Group, returns to Southeast Asia with SIGEP Asia, scheduled for July 15-17, 2026, at the Marina Bay Sands Expo in Singapore.
The event is part of a growth trend for the entire Italian foodservice sector in the region. According to data processed by ICE based on Eurostat data, foodservice exports to East Asia will exceed €4.1 billion in 2025, up 6% from 2023, with markets such as China (+7.1%) and South Korea (+8.3%) also growing compared to 2024. Gelato, the flagship product of the SIGEP network, is the fastest growing: in 2025, exports to East Asia reached €12.9 million (up 28.7% from 2024), a trend that continued in the first quarter of 2026 with a further +12.8%. Singapore, the event's host, is also performing well: in 2025, exports of Italian gelato to the city-state grew by almost 50% compared to 2024.
The highlight of the 2026 edition is the Gelato World Cup – Asia Selection, the Asian selection of the world gelato championship. Eight teams are competing—Australia, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka—to earn a spot in the world final, scheduled for January 2028 at SIGEP World in Rimini. The home team, the reigning world champions, will also be competing. Judges will be the leading figures in international gelato: Sergio Colalucci, president of the Gelato World Cup, along with vice president Sergio Dondoli and honorary president Giancarlo Timballo.
At the same time, the Asia Selection of Bread in the City, the world baking championship, will debut. The judging panel will include Matteo Cunsolo, president of Richemont Italia. That same week, Singapore will also host the UIBC Congress (July 13-15), the international federation of bakers and pastry chefs.
The SIGEP Sessions program is packed with masterclasses and talks led by industry ambassadors. Two keynote speakers will be presenting pizza: Vincenzo Capuano, who will discuss the techniques and philosophy of authentic Neapolitan pizza, and Antonio Brancato, owner of Anto, Singapore's number one pizzeria according to 50 Top Pizza. For pastry, following the success of the Panettone World Cup – Asian Selection, master pastry chef Giuseppe Piffaretti, creator of the competition, will reveal the secrets of the leavened pastry symbolizing Italian Christmas in a dedicated masterclass. Finally, there will be space for innovation with the Technology Innovation Pavilion – robotics, artificial intelligence, and digital solutions for the restaurant industry – and the RAS Leadership Symposium dedicated to AI in Foodservice.
"With the return of the Gelato World Cup Asia Selection under the SIGEP brand, the Asia Selection of the World Bakery Championship, and the UIBC Congress, SIGEP Asia 2026 marks a significant moment for artisanal food culture and professional foodservice in the region," said Ilaria Cicero, CEO of IEG Asia and Global Exhibition Director of IEG's Food & Beverage Division. "These international platforms not only celebrate talent and artisanal mastery, but also create opportunities for training, collaboration, and growth for the industry throughout Asia."
