Despite the contraction in global trade, Tüyap Fair Organization Group closed 2025 by reaching its targets and has now set its course for 2026, backed by 46 years of experience. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of its Büyükçekmece venue this year, the company is strengthening its vision for sustainable growth through technology and infrastructure investments, looking to the future with confidence.
Türkiye’s leading exhibition organiser, Tüyap Fair Organization Group, delivered a strong performance in 2025 despite fluctuations in world trade and global slowdowns across certain sectors. Hosting a total of 40 fairs in Türkiye and abroad, the Group maintained its mission of serving as a safe trade harbour for exporting companies. Zeynep Ünal Öztop, Executive Board Chair of Tüyap Fair Organization Group, emphasised that at a time when the global economic outlook is navigating difficult turns, exhibitions are not a luxury for companies but one of the most tangible paths forward.
Tüyap strengthened the export journey in 2025
In 2025, when Türkiye’s export driven sectors were affected by global contraction, Tüyap’s fairs helped keep trade active. Throughout the year, the Group organised 40 fairs in total, 23 in Istanbul, 11 across Anatolia and 6 abroad, welcoming 9,027 exhibiting companies and more than 2.868 million visitors. With visitor traffic approaching 3 million, the results were recorded as clear evidence that trade continues to stay dynamic on the right platforms.
“We reinvest what we earn into our business”
Noting that Tüyap has now completed 46 years in the industry and that its Büyükçekmece fair centre is celebrating its 30th year, Zeynep Ünal Öztop described the company’s investment philosophy as follows:
“We take a realistic view of the bigger picture. Despite challenges, we approach our business with a long-term perspective and reinvest what we earn back into our operations. Exhibitions represent a critical ‘harvest season’ for industries. That is why, instead of adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach, we move forward by saying, ‘We are here and we will continue investing and improving our venue and technology.’ Our 46 years of experience and our planning guide us. This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our Büyükçekmece centre. In other words, for 30 years the heart of exhibitions has been beating in Büyükçekmece, and with this accumulated trust and know-how, it will continue to beat for many more years.”
Cost advantage for exhibitors supported by the Ministry
The fact that 15 fairs organised by Tüyap Fair Organization Group are included in the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade’s list of “Domestic Sectoral Qualified Fairs” and hold “Prestigious Fair” status provides significant financial support for participating companies. Within upper limits of up to TRY 1,292,000, companies can benefit from up to 50% state support for stand space rental and construction costs. In addition, through “special participation packages” developed for sectors under pressure, Tüyap helps SMEs remain connected to the trade arena.
Tüyap’s 2026 agenda has been defined
Accelerating its digitalisation investments, Tüyap is bringing a digital fair experience at UK and Germany standards to Istanbul through its in-house developed MyTüyap mobile application, in-hall navigation systems and smart matchmaking algorithms. Sharing its 2026 strategies, Öztop announced that, in line with industry demand and with the support of the Türkiye Food Platform, they will launch the Foodist Istanbul Fair in September. She underlined that this step is an important part of the objective to elevate the food sector, at the right time and on the right platform, into the league of global fairs such as Anuga and Gulfood.
Öztop also noted that agriculture is among the strategic priorities and stated that a new roadmap has been created to increase international visitor attendance for the Konya Agriculture Fair, one of Anatolia’s strongest events. She added that further steps will be taken to strengthen global visibility and international participation at fairs organised in cooperation with RX Global, including Eurasia Packaging, Intermob, WoodTech, Door-Window-Glass and Expomed.
Investing in people and the future: Tüyap 50
Stating that the company prioritises sustainability and investment in people within the scope of the “Tüyap 50 Transformation Program,” Öztop concluded by saying, “Our business is, in fact, bringing people together. Success is not only numbers, it is the value we create.”