Early bird tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Global Shrimp Forum, as the industry’s premier gathering returns to Utrecht for its fifth edition, on 1-3 September.
GSF2026 is set to combine the best of what has made the first four editions of the conference so successful, with a fresh look at what will take the forum to the next level for its delegates, speakers and sponsors.
Returning by popular demand to deliver the Plenary Opening will be Jan Lambregts, Head of RaboResearch Global Economics & Markets, Rabobank, whose insights on the macroeconomic and geopolitical landscape drew glowing reviews from attendees last year. As the industry continues to wrangle with US tariffs and the volatility in which it operates shows no sign of abating, Jan will again provide an expert view on the global picture.
Alongside Jan’s opening address, the Plenary will this year see the introduction of a new ‘talkshow’ format, as the GSF team looks to incorporate even more thought-provoking discussion and more expert perspectives on the stage.
Concluding the forum is a Closing Plenary taking a fascinating look at an erstwhile unexplored topic: Agentic AI. With only a handful of major corporations in the industry beginning to pilot these systems, the closing plenary at GSF 2026, will provide what may be a first opportunity for many to dive into this emerging field, and a selection of leaders fro across the value chain will take part in the session, with Remy Gieling, AI and technology expert, and co-founder of ai.nl and The Automation Group; Hemanth Thimmasarthi from Solarpunk, a company applying agentic AI in shrimp processing facilities, and Maarten Bijl from Skretting, one of the world’s largest shrimp feed companies who have been conducting agentic AI trials, taking the stage.
Among a host of other sessions and side events across the three-day programme will be a deep dive into EU import landscape, its retail market and growth opportunities, presented by GSF Managing Director, Willem van der Pijl, on the back of record figures for EU shrimp imports. The GSF board is also currently in the process of hiring one of the world leaders in retail barcode scanning, which, alongside van der Pijl, will provide an in-depth look at shrimp sales trends in European retail destinations, and how their sales compare to other proteins.
There will also be specialist sessions on the Middle East; the always popular trade statistics presentation, and summits focused on investment, feed, buyers and sellers, and responsible sourcing.
Looking ahead to the fifth edition, GSF Managing Director, Willem van der Pijl, said, “We can’t wait to welcome colleagues from all over the world back to Utrecht this September. It’s hard to believe that we’re preparing for our fifth GSF, and its testament to the team and to all of our sponsors, speakers and delegates that we are able to return each year to put on an event which genuinely adds value to the industry.
“Our aim each year is to make the next forum better than the last, and that is the case again for 2026, where we will bring a combination of the things that work really well in the past, with some fresh ideas to ensure that once again, people leave Utrecht feeling energised, having connected with peers from across the world to help benefit our industry.”
This year, the set-up of the forum will be different, with a redesigned exhibition with cleaner, more impactful booths, and a new venue for both the Opening and Closing Plenaries, which will move from Oude Gracht to the larger, improved Nieuwe Gracht.
An upgraded simultaneous translation system, in collaboration with pioneering Dutch company, Speaksee, will enhance the experience further for a global audience for whom English is often not a first language. Attendees will be able to follow sessions in the language of their choice, either via speech-to-text or speech-to-speech, ensuring every voice can fully participate, wherever they come from.
Early-bird tickets can be purchased now, at the price of €1,300. Once your ticket is confirmed, you can immediately book accommodation at the Van der Valk. New for 2026, the neighbouring Bastion Hotel can also be booked directly through your GSF ticket for added convenience.
Early bird tickets for the fifth annual Global Shrimp Forum are now on sale
– Those wishing to attend the fifth anniversary edition in Utrecht can now purchase their tickets at www.shrimp-forum.com/register
– The GSF Board is planning several evolutions as it builds on the successful format to deliver the most extensive programme yet
– A redesigned exhibition zone and new plenary locations are among the changes for 2026 as the global industry once again convenes in Utrecht
