Central Asia’s fastest-growing textile market opens its doors again this autumn, as manufacturers, buyers and industry leaders converge on Tashkent for three of the region’s biggest trade events.
Heimtextil Uzbekistan, Texworld Tashkent and Apparel Sourcing Tashkent will run from 12 to 14 October 2026 at the NEC Uzexpocentre in Tashkent, organised by Business Media Central Asia (BMCA) with the support of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH.
A Market On The Rise
The 2025 edition drew 219 exhibitors from 6 countries and 3,982 trade visitors from 42 countries across 8,000 m² of exhibition space — proof of how fast Uzbekistan’s textile sector is gaining ground internationally. Organisers expect 2026 to go further still, with more exhibitors, more international buyers, and an even stronger line-up covering the full textile value chain, from yarn and fabric to finished garments, accessories and home textiles.
Exhibitors are expected from Uzbekistan, India, China, Turkey, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and beyond — putting three continents’ worth of sourcing opportunities under one roof.
The local production base behind the show floor is expanding fast: Uzbekistan counted 6,073 registered garment-manufacturing enterprises as of February 2026, part of a wider network of more than 12,000 textile enterprises nationwide, over 5,000 of which are dedicated to finished apparel. Yet despite the country’s standing as one of the world’s leading cotton growers, local mills still cannot cover demand alone — up to 100,000 tonnes of mixed-composition fabric and textiles are imported into Uzbekistan every year, even as cotton-based fabric remains the backbone of domestic production. For sourcing companies, that gap between manufacturing capacity and fabric supply is exactly where new partnerships are being made.
Guaranteed Buyer Access: The Hosted Buyer Programme
For exhibitors, one of the strongest reasons to be in Tashkent this October is the International Hosted Buyer Programme. It brings qualified procurement professionals, retail chains and distributors from around the world directly to the show floor, with organisers covering accommodation and transfer costs and arranging targeted B2B meetings — turning showfloor conversations into real deals.
In 2025, the programme welcomed buyers and retail representatives from more than 15 countries and regions — including the UK, USA, Germany, France, Portugal, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, Turkey, Pakistan, China, Hong Kong, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan — with several attending for the first time. For 2026, the programme is again targeting wholesale buyers, sourcing agents representing European fashion brands, and trading houses from Europe, alongside retail chains and distributors from the CIS, Middle East and Asia — giving exhibitors direct access to decision-makers across some of the industry’s key sourcing markets.
Registration as a hosted buyer is open now to industry professionals. For details, contact Dinura Ibragimova, Exhibition Operations Supervisor.
Why Uzbekistan, Why Now
Uzbekistan’s textile exports have grown from just $6 million in 2017 to $3 billion in 2024 — and the government’s next target is $7 billion by 2028. The industry is now valued at $8.2 billion and growing 5-6% a year, backed by $2.2 billion in planned foreign investment for 2026 alone.
For international buyers and brands, the timing is favourable: import duties on mixed-composition fabrics are being waived through 2028, and new production capacity is coming online fast, with plans for 397 million m² of additional fabric output and 224 million garment units in 2026 alone. Unlike more established sourcing hubs, the market has not yet become crowded — buyers and sourcing partners who build relationships now are positioning themselves ahead of the curve, in a market that pairs low-cost, cotton-rich production with a fast-growing base of internationally certified factories (OEKO-TEX, BCI, Better Work).
Geographically, Uzbekistan sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia — a base from which brands, sourcing agents and trading houses can serve CIS and Central Asian markets while maintaining efficient export routes into Europe.
A Launchpad For Smaller Producers
A dedicated SME Pavilion returns in 2026, giving small and medium-sized manufacturers from across Uzbekistan’s regions — from home textiles and knitwear to apparel and accessories — direct access to international buyers under the “Made in Uzbekistan” banner.
What’s On The Conference Stage
Alongside the show floor, the 2026 conference programme will tackle the issues shaping the industry right now:
- Sustainable production and OEKO-TEX certification
- Digital transformation in the textile business
- New export markets for Uzbek textiles
- Central Asia as a strategic textile industry hub
- Brand diversification and textile marketing
- Women in the textile business: challenges and opportunities
Official Opening
The opening ceremony will bring together representatives of government bodies, industry associations and international partners, including the Agency for the Development of Light Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Uztekstilprom Association, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH and others.
Secure Your Place
Registration for exhibitors, visitors and Hosted Buyer Programme participants is open now via the official exhibition websites. Confirmed and prospective exhibitors already span Uzbekistan, Russia, India, Turkey, Italy, Hong Kong and China — early registration is recommended to secure the best stand positions and buyer meeting slots. Be among them.
About The Exhibitions
Heimtextil Uzbekistan, Texworld Tashkent and Apparel Sourcing Tashkent are Central Asia’s largest international exhibitions for textiles, fabrics and finished apparel, bringing together manufacturers, suppliers and buyers from dozens of countries each year. The events are organised by Business Media Central Asia (BMCA), the official Messe Frankfurt representative in Central Asia.
Media Contacts
📧 heimtextil@bmca.uz | texworld@bmca.uz | apparel-sourcing@bmca.uz
