The Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 opens Friday at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with 32,467 registrations, including 4,856 buyers from 153 countries. The three-day gathering will bring together exporters, importers, millers, policymakers and food businesses to explore new markets, assess the 2027 price outlook and identify ways to earn more from rice.
Running from 23–25 October in Halls 4 and 5, BIRC 2026 will feature 65 speakers, nine knowledge sessions and 2,038 business-to-business meetings already scheduled. Representation from 23 Indian states will connect the country’s rice-producing, processing and trading centres with buyers from around the world.
Exhibition space is fully sold out for the second consecutive year, reflecting sustained interest in the platform.
Business discussions begin before the doors open
The 2,038 scheduled buyer–seller meetings have been arranged through the BIRC digital platform, giving participating exhibitors and sponsors advance access to meeting times and buyer details. The EY team will coordinate one-to-one meetings during the event, helping businesses hold focused discussions on sourcing requirements, rice varieties, quality specifications and potential orders.
The advance scheduling is intended to make participation more productive: businesses can prepare for specific conversations rather than rely only on introductions at the venue.
“BIRC 2026 brings together the people who grow, process, buy and sell rice with the knowledge they need to make better decisions. With 2,038 meetings already scheduled, the focus is on meaningful business engagement from the start. We want exporters to find new customers, buyers to discover suitable products and millers to identify where they can improve returns. The next chapter of India’s rice trade must be about creating more value, not simply selling more tonnes,” said Dev Garg, National Vice President, IREF.
Nine sessions to address prices, payments and profits
The knowledge programme on 23–24 October will cover crop surveys and price forecasting; new export markets; documentation, insurance and credit; bulk and container shipping; quality and certification; policy and incentives; sustainability; profitable rice milling; and value-added products.
The opening session, “Global Rice Demand and Supply Outlook 2027: Price Crash or New Bull Run?”, will examine what could cause Basmati and non-Basmati prices to rise, remain stable or decline. Experts will compare the evidence behind each scenario, with IREF presenting its assessment of their likelihood and a practical market watchlist. Live audience voting will capture how participants’ expectations change during the discussion.
Another highlight will be the Top 10 Rice Markets to Watch in 2027, assessed against common criteria including demand, competition, product suitability, costs and payment risk. Delegates will receive market scorecards with an “Enter, Build or Watch” recommendation.
Other planned takeaways include payment-protection tools, policy and compliance guidance, and model milling-cost frameworks. IREF and EY will also assess value-added opportunities, identifying suitable pathways for exporters, millers, food brands and ingredient businesses.
From global trade to the dinner table
Beyond the business programme, nine Experience Zones, including the Global Rice Archive, will showcase rice’s diversity, history, farming communities, cuisines and commercial uses. The Archive will give visitors an opportunity to discover Indian and international grains and explore their sourcing potential.
On Sunday, 25 October, the public-facing Rice Festival will welcome consumers, chefs and families. ITC Hotels will once again curate the culinary section, alongside a programme featuring chef competitions, an influencer cook-off, cultural performances, quizzes and interactive experiences.
