The fifth edition of Wine Vision by Open Balkan brought together more than 550 exhibitors from over 30 countries at the Belgrade Fair from October 10 to 12, 2026. The three-day international exhibition focused on wine, traditional spirits, regional gastronomy and business opportunities in the global food and beverage industry.
Held under the slogan “One Place. The World,” the event attracted wine producers, distributors, international buyers, industry experts and hospitality professionals.
International Business Opportunities
Wine Vision by Open Balkan 2026 officially opened on October 10, with Marko Čadež, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, addressing participants at the opening ceremony.
According to Čadež, the value of Serbia’s wine and alcoholic beverage exports has increased by 68% since the exhibition’s first edition.
The event also highlighted new international market opportunities for Serbian wine producers, particularly in Switzerland, China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
Business networking remained a central part of the exhibition. Buyers and sellers from 45 countries participated, with more than 2,000 business-to-business meetings taking place during the three-day event.
Wine Competitions and International Experts
The exhibition featured a major international wine competition, with 800 samples submitted for evaluation by an expert jury.
The judging programme brought together 26 specialists from 18 countries, including six holders of the prestigious Master of Wine qualification.
Traditional spirits were also represented. Sixty producers entered 130 samples in the spirits competition, highlighting the commercial and cultural importance of rakija, the fruit brandy widely produced across the Balkans.
Among the prominent international participants was American wine critic James Suckling, who praised the quality of Serbian wines during the opening ceremony.
Vineyard specialist Marco Simonit also joined the professional programme, which included discussions on vineyard management, vine longevity and the factors influencing wine quality.
The exhibition featured 17 masterclasses led by 22 speakers from 14 countries, covering wine production, tasting, industry trends and spirits.
Food Vision Highlights Regional Gastronomy
Alongside the wine exhibition, the Food Vision programme showcased the culinary traditions and hospitality industries of Serbia and the wider Balkan region.
Visitors were introduced to cooking competitions, food and wine pairing sessions, professional presentations and live culinary demonstrations.
One of the programme’s attractions was Gastro Theatre, where participating restaurants and hotels demonstrated cooking techniques and presented dishes to an audience.
The programme also addressed current developments in hospitality, bringing together professionals from the restaurant, hotel and food service sectors.
Belgrade Strengthens Its Role as an International Exhibition Destination
The fifth edition of Wine Vision by Open Balkan demonstrated the scale of international participation that specialised trade exhibitions can attract to Serbia.
With exhibitors from more than 30 countries, thousands of business meetings and an extensive professional programme, the event provided a platform for regional producers to connect with international markets.
For Belgrade, Wine Vision represents an important addition to its calendar of international trade fairs, bringing together commercial activity, gastronomy and regional cultural traditions at one of Serbia’s principal exhibition venues.
