City guides
Business events in Baghdad: what is worth attending in 2026–27
Baghdad's 2026–27 business events by sector: oil and gas, power, health, defence, IT and construction shows, the venues, and how to register.
By the atndr teamPublished 7 min read
The short answer
Baghdad's main business events in 2026–27 are government-backed trade shows at Baghdad International Fair: Health Expo Iraq (28–31 October 2026), OIGATECH (13–16 December), the Iraq Energy Expo (22–24 March 2027), IQDEX (17–20 April), BIPEC EXPO (15–18 May) and ITEX IRAQ (29 September–2 October). Executive forums such as the IBBC Baghdad Conference (30 November 2026) meet at the Babylon Rotana. Energy, reconstruction and state procurement drive most of the calendar.
Key takeaways
- Nearly every Baghdad trade show is held at Baghdad International Fair, and most run under the patronage of the Prime Minister or a ministry.
- Energy dominates: OIGATECH, the Iraq Energy Expo, BIPEC EXPO and Iraq Oil & Gas 2027 all target oil, gas and power buyers.
- The two executive forums, Iraq Economic Forum 26 (19 November) and the IBBC Baghdad Conference (30 November), are at the Babylon Rotana; the economic forum vets every attendance request.
- Visitor registration is online and usually free; OIGATECH and IQDEX issue badges through a portal before the show.
- Shows pair up: the Agricultural Week runs with the Food Processing and Packaging Exhibition (15–20 April 2027), and Iraq Buildex with the Iraq Home & Hotel Expo (7–10 October 2027).
On this page
When is the business event season in Baghdad?
Baghdad's business events run from October to May, with a second cluster from September to October. The summer months are quiet. October to December 2026 brings health, transport, real estate and oil and gas shows; spring 2027 brings energy, finance, agriculture, defence and home furnishings.
| Month | Notable events | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2026 | Health Expo Iraq 2026 (28–31 Oct) | Healthcare |
| Nov 2026 | Iraq Economic Forum 26 (19 Nov), ITL IRAQ EXPO (25–27 Nov), IBBC Baghdad Conference (30 Nov) | Investment, transport and logistics |
| Dec 2026 | Iraq International Real Estate Exhibition (9–12 Dec), OIGATECH 2026 (13–16 Dec) | Real estate, oil and gas |
| Mar 2027 | 12th Iraq Energy Expo & Conference (22–24 Mar) | Power, renewables, oil and gas |
| Apr 2027 | 11th Iraq Finance Expo (3–4 Apr), 18th Iraq Agricultural Week and Food Processing and Packaging Exhibition (15–20 Apr), IQDEX 2027 (17–20 Apr) | Banking, agriculture, food, defence |
| May 2027 | Iraq Home Expo (12–15 May), BIPEC EXPO 2027 (15–18 May) | Furniture and interiors, energy |
| Sep–Oct 2027 | Iraq Oil & Gas 2027 (8–11 Sep), ITEX IRAQ 2027 (29 Sep–2 Oct), Iraq Buildex and Iraq Home & Hotel Expo (7–10 Oct) | Oil and gas, ICT, construction, HoReCa |
See the live Baghdad calendar for every listing.
Which Baghdad events are worth attending, by sector?
Choose by who you need to meet. Most Baghdad shows exist to connect foreign suppliers with Iraqi ministries, state companies and the private firms that serve them.
Oil, gas and power
OIGATECH 2026 (13–16 December) is the Iraq Oil and Gas Technology Exhibition, held under the patronage of the Prime Minister with the Ministry of Oil as exclusive host; national and international oil companies, engineering contractors and Ministry delegations attend. The 12th Iraq Energy Expo & Conference (22–24 March 2027) covers electricity production, transmission, distribution, renewables and oil and gas, backed by the Ministries of Electricity and Oil; the organiser cites 35,000+ square metres of space, 25+ participating countries and 850+ exhibiting companies. BIPEC EXPO 2027 (15–18 May) is Business Ground's petroleum, gas and energy show, organised with the Ministry of Trade. Iraq Oil & Gas 2027 (8–11 September) is Pyramids Group's fifth edition, which reported 153+ exhibitors and 10,000 visitors at its previous show.
Investment and business forums
Iraq Economic Forum 26 (19 November, Babylon Rotana) matches Iraqi projects with international finance, with a focus this year on US–Iraq business. Participation is limited to company owners, senior executives, investors, banks and officials, and every request is vetted. The IBBC Baghdad Conference 2026 (30 November, Babylon Rotana), themed "Rising to the Challenges", is the Iraq Britain Business Council's annual meeting on ease of doing business, finance, energy, infrastructure and Kirkuk. It is preceded on 29 November by an IBBC education day at Baghdad University and an online tech forum.
Healthcare
Health Expo Iraq 2026 (28–31 October) is affiliated with the Ministry of Health and supervised by Kimadia, the state company for drugs and medical appliances. It covers devices, pharmaceuticals, hospital infrastructure, diagnostics and health IT, and the REACH Congress runs alongside it on 28–30 October.
Defence and security
IQDEX 2027 (17–20 April) is the 14th Iraq International Defense Exhibition, under the patronage of the Prime Minister with the Ministries of Defence, Interior and Trade. Its zones cover aerospace, land, naval, security and joint operations.
Technology, finance and transport
ITEX IRAQ 2027 (29 September–2 October) is the UFI-approved telecoms and IT show, with a forum each day on telecoms, digital transformation, fintech and cybersecurity; the organiser expects 500+ exhibitors. The 11th Iraq Finance Expo (3–4 April) gathers Iraqi banks, e-payment firms and insurers. ITL IRAQ EXPO 2026 (25–27 November) covers ports, airports, rail, road freight and the Development Road corridor, with the Ministry of Transport's backing.
Construction, real estate, food and home
The 5th Iraq International Real Estate, Investment and Building Materials Exhibition (9–12 December) puts developers, banks and material suppliers together. 8th Iraq Buildex and the Iraq Home & Hotel Expo share 7–10 October 2027. Iraq Home Expo (12–15 May) covers furniture and interiors. The 18th Iraq Agricultural Week and the Food Processing and Packaging Exhibition share 15–20 April 2027; the food show reported 214+ exhibitors and 15,000+ visitors in 2026.
Where are Baghdad's business events held?
Two venues host almost everything: Baghdad International Fair for exhibitions and the Babylon Rotana hotel for invitation-style forums.
| Venue | Type | Events in this guide |
|---|---|---|
| Baghdad International Fair | Fairground with exhibition halls and a VIP Hall | Health Expo Iraq, ITL IRAQ EXPO, OIGATECH, Iraq Energy Expo, IQDEX, BIPEC, ITEX IRAQ, Iraq Buildex and the other trade shows |
| Babylon Rotana | Hotel conference venue | Iraq Economic Forum 26, IBBC Baghdad Conference 2026 |
Conferences attached to trade shows usually take place inside the fairground: the REACH Congress, the Second Iraqi Transport Sector Forum and ITEX IRAQ's daily forums all use the fair's VIP Hall. The Food Processing and Packaging Exhibition reported 20,000 square metres of indoor and 15,000 square metres of outdoor space in 2026, and expands across several halls in 2027.
How do you register and travel to Baghdad for an event?
Register online before you travel, and sort the visa early. Most Baghdad trade shows are free for professional visitors who pre-register on the official site.
- Badge portals: OIGATECH and IQDEX issue trade-visitor badges through an online portal; apply before the show, as defence and oil and gas events check who attends.
- Invitation-only forums: Iraq Economic Forum 26 vets every attendance request and sends approved participants an official invitation by email. IBBC runs most of its events for members.
- Free registration: Health Expo Iraq, ITEX IRAQ, Iraq Home Expo, the Real Estate Exhibition and the Food Processing and Packaging Exhibition all take online visitor registration.
Visas. Iraq's official e-visa portal issues electronic visas valid for 30 days, for single or multiple entry. You apply online with a passport and a digital photo on a white background, pay the fee online, and print the approved visa to show at border control. Check the portal's visa types for business travel, and check your own government's travel advice for Iraq before booking.
On the day. Check the opening hours, which differ by show: the Iraq Energy Expo opens 10:00 to 18:00, Iraq Home Expo 11:00 to 18:00, and Iraq Buildex and the Iraq Home & Hotel Expo run over four afternoons and evenings. The Iraq Energy Expo lists Halls 1, 2, 8 and 9 of the fairground, so check the hall before you arrive.
Which Baghdad event should you choose?
Start with your buyer, then pick the show that ministry backs.
- Selling to the oil sector: OIGATECH if you need the Ministry of Oil in the room; Iraq Oil & Gas 2027 for a wider oilfield services and EPC audience.
- Selling power or renewables equipment: the Iraq Energy Expo in March, which follows the Ministry of Electricity's production, transmission and distribution plans.
- Raising capital or finding Iraqi partners: Iraq Economic Forum 26 or the IBBC Baghdad Conference; both are small, senior and pre-vetted.
- Healthcare suppliers: Health Expo Iraq, for its link to the Ministry of Health and Kimadia procurement.
- Technology and fintech: ITEX IRAQ for scale, the Iraq Finance Expo for banks and payments.
- Building products and fit-out: Iraq Buildex with the Iraq Home & Hotel Expo in October, or the Real Estate Exhibition in December for developers.
Government patronage matters in Iraq: it signals which officials will open the show and walk the floor, so read the patron list before you book a stand.
Frequently asked questions
- Where are trade shows held in Baghdad?
- Almost all are at Baghdad International Fair, which has exhibition halls and a VIP Hall for conferences. Executive forums such as the IBBC Baghdad Conference use the Babylon Rotana hotel.
- What are the biggest oil and gas events in Baghdad?
- OIGATECH (13–16 December 2026), hosted by the Ministry of Oil; the Iraq Energy Expo & Conference (22–24 March 2027); BIPEC EXPO (15–18 May 2027); and Iraq Oil & Gas 2027 (8–11 September 2027).
- Do I need a visa to attend an event in Baghdad?
- Most foreign visitors do. Iraq's official e-visa portal issues electronic visas valid for 30 days, for single or multiple entry, applied for online with a passport and photo.
- Are Baghdad trade shows free to visit?
- Most are free for professional visitors who register online in advance. Defence and oil and gas shows such as IQDEX and OIGATECH approve badges through a portal, and some forums are invitation-only.
- When is IQDEX 2027?
- 17 to 20 April 2027 at Baghdad International Fair. It is the 14th edition of the Iraq International Defense Exhibition.
- When is the IBBC Baghdad Conference 2026?
- The main conference is on 30 November 2026 at the Babylon Rotana, with an education day, online tech forum and reception on 29 November.
Sources
Written and fact-checked by the atndr team. Dates, venues and organizers are checked against each event’s official website; the figures in “At a glance” come live from the atndr calendar. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
