With its provisional entry into force on May 1 (covering the trade chapter), the Mercosur–European Union trade agreement brings optimism for the 6th edition of BFSHOW. The biggest footwear trade show in Latin America, held at the Distrito Anhembi venue in São Paulo/SP, will feature more than 350 Brazilian footwear brands, representing more than 75% of the country’s footwear production. The trade show, held by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) and organized by NürnbergMesse Brasil, will be held from May 18 to 20.
According to Abicalçados Business and Relationships Manager Letícia Sperb Masselli, despite the challenging international market scenario, the entry into force of the trade agreement—discussed for more than 26 years—brings optimism to the Brazilian footwear industry. “Last year, the European bloc imported more than 3.2 billion pairs, for which US$ 63.7 billion were paid, accounting for over 40% of total global footwear imports. There is strong potential for Brazilian footwear driven by tariff elimination,” says Letícia, noting that leather footwear, which accounts for 45% of the value exported by Brazil to the European Union, is expected to reach full tariff elimination within up to seven years. Currently, import tariffs on footwear in the European Union range from 3.5% to 17%, depending on the product.
International buyers outlook
According to the head of BFSHOW at NürnbergMesse Brasil, Felipe Marchioni, the 6th edition of the trade show is expected to achieve record international attendance. “In May, we expect to welcome more than 1,500 international buyers, a significant share of them from Europe,” he says. The figure includes importers invited through the BFSHOW Buyer Project as well as those attending independently, driven by the event’s international recognition. “We have the largest industry in the West, and growing demand is natural—especially for importers seeking alternatives to footwear sourced from Asia. We project that, of the total buyers expected at the trade show, more than 12% will be international,” he adds.
One of the European buyers confirmed for the May edition of BFSHOW is Maciej Pelka, CEO of Kondor, a footwear distributor from Poland. Attending the trade show for the first time, the buyer has strong expectations for business. “We already work with Brazilian footwear from women’s brands, which are highly appreciated in the Polish market. At the event, we will kick off a purchase totaling more than 20,000 pairs of leather footwear annually,” says Pelka, who also notes interest in expanding business with new Brazilian manufacturers.
Attending BFSHOW for the second time, buyer Kevin Plaku, CEO of Kevin Class, a network of 11 stores in Albania, notes that the Brazilian footwear showcased at the event combines quality and a wide variety of styles, generating strong expectations for deals. “If prices meet our expectations, we are considering purchasing more than 20,000 pairs at the event and throughout the year,” he says.
The trade show
With less than three years of existence, BFSHOW is already the biggest footwear trade show in Latin America. Held in a space of more than 33,000 square meters, in the financial heart of the continent, the trade show is expected to welcome more than 12,000 buyers from across Brazil and from over 40 countries throughout its three-day run.
Registration for the trade show is open at www.bfshow.com.br
SERVICE
6th BFSHOW
Date: May 18-20, 2026
Time: May 18 and 19, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. | May 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Distrito Anhembi, São Paulo, Brazil
