ExpoFranchise 2026 brings the franchising community together in Lisbon

ExpoFranchise 2026 will bring the franchising community together at Pátio da Galé in Lisbon on 23 and 24 October. Organised by the Portuguese Franchising Association (APF), the event will offer free admission, with advance registration required, and combine business opportunities, meetings with franchise networks and a programme of conferences, panel discussions and presentations.

Two days to explore and compare franchise networks

According to information published by InfoFranchising on 29 September, the 2026 edition is aimed at people looking to start their own business or invest in a franchise network. The event will bring together brands, investors, entrepreneurs and specialists, providing a meeting point to explore opportunities and discuss the trends shaping the sector.

Visitors will be able to meet dozens of brands in one place. The opportunity to put questions directly to franchise network representatives and compare investment opportunities is among the features highlighted in the fair's announcement.

For a prospective franchisee, having so many representatives together can be useful during the initial research stage. Rather than treating the visit simply as a chance to collect sales brochures, it is worth preparing for it as a comparison exercise: identify concepts of interest, understand the role expected of the investor and note any points that need further clarification.

The information provided about these highlights does not name the participating brands or give investment figures. The announcement therefore outlines the format and main elements of the event, but does not replace an individual assessment of each opportunity.

International Area and Brazil Space in focus

An international dimension will be one of the features of ExpoFranchise 2026. The International Area will bring together Portuguese and overseas brands interested in expanding their networks, allowing visitors to discover concepts from different markets and understand how they use franchising to grow.

For those exploring opportunities across borders, this area could provide an initial introduction to concepts from other countries. However, a brand's presence at the fair should not be confused with an established operation in Portugal: the event announcement refers to expansion ambitions without detailing individual market-entry or opening plans.

The Brazil Space will strengthen this international focus, featuring Brazilian brands supported by the Brazilian Franchising Association. According to the published announcement, the initiative brings together two markets with strong business ties and showcases concepts seeking new expansion opportunities.

The information supplied does not identify the brands taking part in this area. For visitors interested in these opportunities, a practical question will be what support is planned for a potential operation in Portugal and what adaptations each concept might require. These are questions to investigate, rather than confirmed features of the participating networks.

APF to present initiatives for the franchising community

During the event, the Portuguese Franchising Association will present its latest initiatives to support the development of the franchising community. The fair will therefore also be an opportunity to discover the association's projects and tools, alongside the exhibitors' commercial offerings.

This element is intended for entrepreneurs, investors, franchisors and professionals who want to keep up with developments in Portugal's franchising sector. The published information does not specify which projects or tools will be presented, so their content or access requirements cannot yet be outlined.

The programme will also include conferences, panel discussions and presentations featuring specialists and market leaders. These sessions will complement meetings with brands and opportunities to make new professional contacts. The summary consulted does not provide session times, individual topics or speakers' names.

How to prepare for a worthwhile visit

ExpoFranchise 2026 takes place on 23 and 24 October at Pátio da Galé in Lisbon. Admission is free, but advance registration is required: this is the first step for anyone planning to attend.

Before travelling, it is advisable to define your objectives for the visit and prepare a common set of questions for the networks you want to meet. Total investment, initial support, training, management responsibilities and contractual terms are useful points around which to structure those conversations. It is also important to distinguish sales information from commitments that will need to be documented at a later stage.

In practical terms: register, select the opportunities you want to assess and use the fair to gather information you can compare. Meeting in person can start a conversation; an investment decision requires your own checks and analysis.