About CPHI Europe
Informa Markets runs a global series of pharmaceutical events under the CPHI name, and the European show is the largest of them. It is a meeting point for the whole pharmaceutical supply chain, from ingredients and contract services to machinery and packaging, and many companies build their business development year around it.
Unusually for a major trade fair, CPHI Europe does not have a fixed home. The show moves between European exhibition cities, and it is branded after its host city for each edition.
The exhibition is organised by sector. Established zones cover active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients, fine chemicals, finished dosage forms, bioproduction, contract development and manufacturing, contract research, machinery and equipment, and packaging. Exhibitors range from large multinational suppliers to specialist manufacturers, often grouped in national pavilions that let buyers explore a country's supply base in one area.
Visitors are drawn mostly from pharmaceutical and biotech companies and include sourcing and procurement specialists, scientists, business development teams and senior executives. Much of the value comes from meetings: partnerships, supply agreements and outsourcing contracts are often discussed and progressed on the stand, and many meetings are arranged in advance. A conference and speaker programme runs alongside the exhibition.
For exhibitors, the show offers a rare chance to meet existing customers and prospective partners from across the world in a few days, which is why meeting space typically matters more than product display on CPHI stands.
Show recap
How CPHI Europe 2026 went
CPHI Milan ran from 6 to 8 October 2026 at Fiera Milano, the latest stop for a show that changes host city each year. On its website Informa Markets now lists its 2026 numbers as 63,000 attendees, more than 2,800 exhibiting companies, over 290 expert speakers and visitors from 168 countries. The opening day closed with the CPHI Celebration, where 15 CPHI Pharma Awards were presented. Anil Okay of Adalvo was named CEO of the year, AstraZeneca took the sustainable transformation partnership award and Evonik won digital transformation for its self-driving labs. This edition also hosted the first CPHI Sustainability Summit, backed by sponsors including SK pharmteco and Sharp Services, and introduced new zones for AI and technology, cold chain and logistics, contamination control and labelling. Two days after the show opened, the organiser announced a new CPHI event for the Spanish market in Barcelona. The European show now heads to Messe Frankfurt for 9 to 11 November 2027, with stand bookings already open.
Next edition
CPHI Europe 2027: what to expect
CPHI Europe moves to Germany for 2027, running as CPHI Frankfurt from Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 November 2027 at Messe Frankfurt. Note the later slot: recent editions have been held in October. Informa Markets lists seven new zones for this edition: AI and tech, cold chain and logistics, contamination control, cosmeceuticals, lab and analytical equipment, labelling, and nutraceuticals. For scale, the organiser's website gives 2026 numbers of 63,000 attendees, more than 2,800 exhibiting companies and 168 countries. Stand bookings are already open. Because the show changes city every year, nothing about last year's build in Milan carries across: check Messe Frankfurt's technical guidelines for double-deck and rigged structures, and confirm hall allocation before finalising a design. Most value at CPHI comes from pre-booked meetings, so plan enclosed meeting space generously and book Frankfurt hotels early, as the city fills quickly during large fairs.