DES MOINES, Iowa – The 2026 World Pork Expo will be held June 3-4, bringing together pork producers, industry professionals and innovators  at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

“The Iowa State Fairgrounds has long been a gathering place where innovation and tradition meet, and hosting the World Pork Expo is a perfect example of that legacy in action,” Jeremy Parsons, Iowa State Fair CEO, told Farm World.

Billed as the world’s largest pork-specific trade show and presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) in Des Moines since 1988, the Expo will have more than 400 companies from around the globe, with attendees exploring cutting-edge products, services and technologies across nearly 700 booths and 300,000 square feet of exhibit space, officials said.

“The World Pork Expo is where our industry comes together to reconnect, share ideas and look ahead,” said Rob Brenneman, NPPC president and a Washington, Iowa, pork producer. “It’s an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day, see new innovations, have meaningful conversations, and be reminded of the strength of the pork industry.”

An estimated 10,000-plus attendees visit the event each year. 

“We continue to bring together the best minds and most innovative solutions in the pork industry,” said Duane Stateler, NPPC immediate past-president and a McComb, Ohio, pork producer. “This is a pivotal moment for the pork sector, and the World Pork Expo will once again be at the forefront of shaping its future.”

Presented by founding sponsors Novus and Nutra Blend, the Young Pork Advocates Meet will return for its third year, June 3-4, in the Varied Industries Building. It is a competitive speaking event for young people ages 18 to 22.

Through preparatory research, creative problem solving, collaborative discussion and the drafting of mock motions, competitors will discuss current pork industry issues, and gain an understanding of the NPPC producer-led policy development process, officials said.

On June 3, from 8 to 9 a.m., in the upper level of the Varied Industries Building, high school and college-aged interns, competitors, scholarship winners, and pork enthusiasts are invited to the Second Annual Collegiate Agriculture & Industry Networking Breakfast, sponsored by Zoetis.

From June 3-4, attendees can participate in five business seminars in the Varied Industries Building. On those same days, there will be six PORK Academy seminars, where pork producers and their employees can learn about the industry’s economic outlook, hot topics in swine health, public trust-building in pork, and much more, officials said.

In addition, there will be over 50 hospitality tents placed throughout the fairgrounds along Grand Avenue and Ruan Plaza. Expo attendees can drop in and visit with company representatives to learn about the latest innovations and developments.

Taylor Boyenga, account supervisor for Spinutech, which is doing public relations and marketing for the Expo, told Farm World the Expo’s biosecurity protocols have not changed for the year.

She said there will be no soy products from African swine influenza-positive countries. Any granular feed products will adhere to the American Feed Industry Association biosecurity guidelines (https://www.afia.org/), and feed and feed ingredients will be displayed in packaging that does not allow for touching of products.

She added that no feed or feed ingredients will be sent home with producers and should be disposed of prior to leaving the fairgrounds; there will be no live animals at the show; and biosecurity mitigations will include information signage (i.e., directories, arrows, maps, etc.), hand-washing stations, and cleaning of common-touch areas.

Online registration is now open at: www.worldpork.org, with early-bird pricing available through May 28: Adults 12 and older: $10; children 6-11: $1; children under 5, free. On-site registration: $20 for ages 12 and up, $3 for ages 6-11; free for children 5 & under.