GAMA INNOVATION CONFERENCE & AWARDS 2026 SETS THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT DECADE OF FMCG EXCELLENCE IN MANCHESTER
MANCHESTER – 8th January 2026: Innovation will again take centre stage on Thursday 22nd October 2026 as the Gama Innovation Conference & Awards (GICA) returns to Manchester to kick off its second decade of inspiring and connecting the global fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) community.
Following the immense success of its landmark 10th anniversary edition, GICA 2026 will welcome a diverse lineup of invitation-only guests to the iconic Bridgewater Hall in central Manchester, with more than 500 delegates in total expected in-person and online. Bringing together start-ups, scale-ups and established global brands alongside retailers, investors and international diplomats, the event remains the premier platform for high-level networking in a vibrant yet informal environment.
New frontiers in partnership: Gama Speed Pitch & Gama Innovation Box
Building on the successful debut of new initiatives last year, GICA 2026 will once again feature two dedicated formats designed to accelerate business growth.
Gama Speed Pitch: Returning as the curtain-raiser for 2026, the Gama Speed Pitch offers founders from innovative FMCG start-ups and scale-ups the opportunity to deliver a high-impact, three-minute pitch to a panel of international investors. This live session serves as a core component of the event’s mission to pair breakthrough businesses with the capital needed to expand their global footprint. The Gama Speed Pitch feature forms part of the six-month Meet The Investor programme which connects innovative start-up and scale-up FMCG businesses with private and institutional investors keen to expand their consumer goods portfolios. A recording of each of the pitches is sent to the investor panel post-event, with Gama facilitating introductions between the founders and any prospective investors expressing an interest in the opportunity.
Gama Innovation Box: The Gama Innovation Box initiative continues to provide a direct route to market for growth-oriented brands. This program ensures that a curated selection of the year’s most exciting new products is placed directly into the hands of major buyers from leading retailers, hotels and airlines. Each box is accompanied by a detailed product profile and digital pitch, creating a physical and digital touchpoint between innovative suppliers and the world’s biggest commercial partners. The Gama Innovation Box feature forms part of Meet The Buyer, a six-month programme which gives innovative brands a unique opportunity to connect directly with a new and tailored customer base.
Visionary insight and celebration
Following on from the Gama Speed Pitch, the Gama Innovation Conference will gather the great and the good of the industry for an afternoon of visionary presentations. The conference focuses on the strategic shifts in the FMCG landscape, featuring topics ranging from sustainability and health-first trends to the impact of emerging technologies. The event will culminate in the Gama Innovation Awards, a prestigious ceremony celebrating outstanding product innovation as voted by a jury of the industry’s leading names. Awarded in the disciplines of Product, Packaging, Positioning, Branding & Design, SME, Best of Britain, Best of Middle East, Health & Wellness, Travel, Hospitality, Sustainability and Technology, the Gama Innovation Awards go to the top new launches unearthed by Gama’s network of in-country researchers and analysts, with winners chosen from a total of 120 finalists nominated across the 12 categories. Applications for the Gama Innovation Awards 2026 will be open from February.
Meanwhile, delegates will also have the opportunity to network and get inspired within the Innovation Zone, where dozens of companies will once again be showcasing game-changing launches from all over the world.
Following the main event, international delegates and selected guests will be invited to an evening Get Together at 20 Stories, Manchester’s ultimate high-style destination, to continue the celebrations and engage in some relaxed networking and relationship-building. Diplomatic representatives will be among those attending, reflecting the strong civic support in Manchester for initiatives that promote global innovation and economic cooperation .
Cesar Pereira, Founder & CEO of Gama, commented: “After celebrating ten incredible years in 2025, we are thrilled to look towards the future. GICA has always been about much more than just a conference: it is a catalyst for the partnerships that drive the industry forward. As we enter our 11th year, we remain committed to providing a unique space where the world’s most innovative minds can connect, share insights and celebrate the brilliance that defines the global FMCG sector”.
To find out more about GICA 2026, please contact Silvia Ruiz at silvia.ruiz@gamaconsumer.com.
Read our GICA 2025 event review here and watch video highlights below:
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About GICA 2026
The 11th edition of the Gama Innovation Conference & Awards (GICA), will take place on Thursday 22nd October 2026 at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.
GICA 2026 is an invitation-only event and will welcome over 500 attendees from around the globe, including FMCG manufacturers, industry experts, retail buyers, hotels, airlines and investors.
Awarded in the disciplines of Product, Packaging, Positioning, Branding & Design, SME, Best of Britain, Best of Middle East, Health & Wellness, Travel, Hospitality, Sustainability and Technology, the Gama Innovation Awards go to the top new launches unearthed each month by Gama’s network of in-country researchers and analysts.
Winners are chosen through an international panel of expert judges based on a shortlist of innovative products.
About Gama
Gama is a global provider of business information and services specializing in product innovation and international trade.
Through our worldwide network of over 200 experts in more than 50 countries, we offer high-quality news, research, analysis and partnering services. We deliver actionable insights, enabling you to make more informed decisions and supporting you to unlock new business opportunities.