Krasnodar Franchising Expo to take place on 4–5 December

Krasnodar Franchising Expo will take place in Krasnodar, southern Russia, on 4–5 December 2026. This year, the organisers will expand both the exhibition and the conference programme, with exhibition space exceeding 2,000 sq m. For southern Russia’s franchising community, the event will combine opportunities to explore business concepts, learn and find partners.

Where and when the exhibition will take place

The event will be held in Pavilion 2 of the Expograd Yug Convention and Exhibition Centre at 1 Kongressnaya Street, Krasnodar. Applications to participate are open until 1 November 2026. The announcement offers two ways to register interest with the organisers: booking a stand or obtaining a visitor ticket. Admission is restricted to those aged 18 and over.

The exhibition and forum is aimed at entrepreneurs, investors, franchisors and representatives of business support organisations. It combines an exhibition, an educational programme and space for discussions about partnerships and new projects. Participants will therefore have opportunities not only to explore franchises, but also to discuss how to develop an existing business.

For companies considering exhibiting, the next key deadline is 1 November, rather than the event dates in December. Entrepreneurs planning to visit should decide in advance what they want to achieve: choosing a franchise, finding tools for their network or meeting potential partners. These are different objectives, each requiring its own set of questions for meetings.

What will be on display

The 2026 exhibition will feature franchises and ready-made business models, business services, IT solutions for automation, and marketing and financial tools. The organisers have announced an expansion of both the exhibition and the conference programme. More than 2,000 sq m will be available for showcasing business concepts.

This mix makes the exhibition more than a place to discover a brand for the first time. Existing franchisors and their partners may also find value in solutions for management, marketing and finance. When preparing for a visit, it is worth dividing potential meetings into two groups: discussions about the business model itself and discussions about the tools needed to put it into practice.

A dedicated section will focus on restaurants and hospitality. It will feature restaurant concepts, coffee shops, patisseries, equipment and modern technology. This is one of the specific themes identified in the announcement for the December exhibition.

Visitors looking for a foodservice franchise can use this concentration of exhibitors to make detailed comparisons. Beyond the concept, discussions should cover premises requirements, equipment and day-to-day outlet operations. These questions should be put to each potential partner individually: operating in the same sector does not mean that the requirements for launching a business will be identical.

Conference programme and industry support

The organisers describe Krasnodar Franchising Expo as a platform for those planning to buy a franchise, scale up their own business or find a project to invest in. Alongside the business concepts on display, the event will include a forum and an educational programme. Meetings and opportunities to find partners are also part of the announced format.

The exhibition and forum will be held with the support of the Russian Franchise Association. RBC Franchises is the lead media partner, while gaming club chain CyberX Community is an event partner. The gathering will bring together owners of business concepts and representatives of business support organisations within the franchising community.

The event has been developing since 2018. In 2025, it attracted more than 2,700 entrepreneurs, with participating companies from 10 Russian regions. These figures relate to the previous event and offer an indication of its audience; they should not be treated as a forecast of attendance in December.

According to the organisers, the project helps build a professional community and develop the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. In 2026, its further development will centre on expanding the exhibition and conference programme. When deciding how to participate, entrepreneurs should assess these opportunities against their specific objectives, rather than relying on a general interest in franchising.

How to prepare for meetings

Prospective franchisees should arrive with a brief outline of their starting position: their intended city, available budget, management experience and whether they have premises. This will help them identify more quickly which offers merit detailed discussion. For existing business owners, the starting point might be a particular objective: opening another outlet, automating processes or finding a growth partner.

When meeting franchise representatives, visitors should clarify what the initial investment covers, ongoing fees, location requirements and the level of support available after opening. Recording answers in a consistent format will make it easier to compare like-for-like terms after the exhibition, rather than relying solely on impressions from presentations. An initial conversation at a stand is best treated as the start of due diligence, not sufficient grounds for entering into a deal.

The practical takeaway: companies planning to participate should keep the 1 November application deadline in mind. Visitors should prepare their objectives and questions in advance so that they can use 4–5 December for substantive discussions, followed by a closer assessment of their shortlisted projects.