CannaTrade celebrates 25 years of Swiss and European hemp in 2026

From May 29 to 31, 2026, the CannaTrade returns to Zurich's Halle 622 for a 25th anniversary edition. Billed as Europe's oldest hemp trade fair, the event aims to bring together a trade show, conferences and festive programming over 6,000 m².

With approximately 150 international exhibitors, The event will showcase a wide range of hemp-related products and services: CBD, cultivation, accessories, food, cosmetics, building materials and medical cannabis.

From the «Duftsäckli» era to the CBD boom

The history of CannaTrade goes back to 1997, when Marco Kuhn organized the first collective stand dedicated to sustainable hemp products at the OEKO trade fair in Zurich. A year later, he founded the CannaSwissCup, inspired by Amsterdam Cannabis Cup, to reward the best Swiss varieties.

The show as we know it today was launched in 2001, after several precursory events, including the Swiss Hemp Days. This period coincided with the golden age of the famous «Duftsäckli», These were scented sachets of cannabis flowers sold thanks to a legal loophole: as long as the product was not explicitly intended for recreational use, it could be marketed. For several years, Switzerland became a hub for the European trade.

But this prosperous period was soon followed by a tightening of political regulations. The show lost part of its economic foothold in 2008, When the sale of seeds was banned on site just three days before the opening. Ben Arn, organizer since 2006, recalls: «We were in the middle of setting up when the letter arrived. I was looking at the big Greenhouse Seeds banner hanging from the ceiling, and I had to tell the 30 seed companies that they could no longer sell.»

After a few difficult editions and a hiatus in 2011, the show resumed as a biennial event. At the same time, Switzerland has unwittingly laid the foundations for the future CBD boom by raising the legal THC threshold in industrial hemp from 0.3% to 1%.

CannaTrade 2026 trade show, festival and political issues

For this anniversary edition, CannaTrade returns to Zurich with a covered outdoor area, a culinary festival and a more structured program. The official conference will address several key topics, including future Swiss regulations.

On Friday, May 29, a keynote address will focus on «The new Swiss law on cannabis products - Overview and outlook»followed by a round-table discussion with National Councillor Barbara Gysi, president of the parliamentary sub-committee on cannabis regulation.

Another key topic is Swiss pilot projects, which has been underway for four years. A conference scheduled for Saturday quotes a figure of around 15,000 people now buy legal cannabis from coffee shops or pharmacies under these programs.

CannaSwissCup, Buds and Beats and the rolling championship

The event's program remains the focus of attention. The festival Buds and Beats will feature music, relaxation zones, art, games and smoking areas, in partnership with Radio RaBe. The show will also host the Joint Roll Contest, the Swiss rolling championship, with the winner taking home 5 grams of gold.

The CannaSwissCup, now an international event, also features an awards ceremony hosted by Cali P. Finally, the show will feature a Medical pavilion dedicated to medical cannabis, bringing together doctors, pharmacies, associations and industry players.

A B2B offer and a promotion for professionals

CannaTrade aims to strengthen its commercial focus with a new one-day event B2B, as well as a networking space called the CB Lounge.

Professionals can also take advantage of a promotional offer: 20 % discount on Business tickets, available until May 28 via B2B ticketing, using code CT-NEWSWEED-20.

After 25 years of existence, CannaTrade is seeking to position itself as a barometer of the European hemp industry, bridging the gap between Swiss heritage, a medical market in transition and upcoming political debates.

All the info on https://www.cannatrade.ch/fr/