Greater Noida is on the verge of becoming the world's largest sourcing window for Indian handicrafts. On October 13, 2026, the Autumn Edition of the 62nd IHGF Delhi Fair grandly opened at the India Expo Centre & Mart, marking the largest iteration of the fair to date. Over 3,000 exhibitors have gathered across 17 exhibition halls and 900 permanent pavilions, showcasing a diverse array of products ranging from brassware and carpets to festive decorations and bamboo crafts, attracting buyers from approximately 100 countries worldwide.
Organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the five-day event runs until October 17. If the massive footfall on the first day is any indication, this year's fair is undoubtedly one of the most critical sourcing events the Indian handicraft industry has ever seen.
The Significance of This Year's Fair
The IHGF Delhi Fair has quietly evolved into the world's largest B2B sourcing extravaganza for home, lifestyle, fashion, and textile products. For the thousands of artisans, exporters, and family-run manufacturing enterprises exhibiting here, a successful fair translates into export orders that can sustain employment across an entire industry cluster for a full year. According to Dr. Neeraj Khanna, Chairman of EPCH, the fair has served as a trusted meeting point for international buyers and Indian exporters for over three decades. He noted that this year's focus is on helping both parties forge partnerships that extend beyond a single ordering season.
The timing is also highly strategic. India has been signing a series of trade agreements with countries and blocs such as the UAE, Australia, the UK, Oman, New Zealand, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Dr. Khanna pointed out that these agreements are steadily improving market access for Indian handicraft exporters, with buyer participation from the European market expected to be particularly strong.
16 Product Categories Under One Roof
The extensive range of exhibits is the fair's biggest draw. The exhibition covers 16 product categories, including: textiles, linens, carpets, and rugs; furniture, home decor, and furnishings; fashion jewelry, bags, and accessories; lighting, kitchenware, and festive decorations; outdoor and garden products; bamboo and eco-friendly products; as well as toys and handcrafted lifestyle items. With Diwali approaching, the festive decoration zone is expected to be one of the busiest halls, as international buyers stock up for the Western year-end gifting season.
Young Designers and AI Share the Spotlight
This year is not just about traditional handicrafts. The "Young Designers Collection" will showcase new works by designers trained at top design institutes, while the curated "Trend Pavilions" will highlight the colors, materials, and forms expected to define global sourcing in 2027. The regional crafts showcase is another major highlight, featuring products from leading manufacturing clusters, emerging startups, and artisan collectives across India. Dedicated spaces have also been allocated for handloom weavers and craft artisan entrepreneurs.
The fair is also looking to the future in new ways. A series of knowledge sessions titled "The Higher Quest" will explore topics such as AI in production and sourcing, AI-driven online visibility for exporters, and compliance with EU regulations on deforestation and packaging waste. Other sessions will dissect India's free trade agreements and the financial and market support programs available to exporters.
Buyer Lineup
According to EPCH, buyers from the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Australia, Canada, UAE, and Saudi Arabia are expected to attend. Several major corporations have confirmed their participation: Walmart Global Sourcing India, Target, TJX Companies, HomeGoods, Welspun, Homecentre, and Landmark Group are all on the list. Indian domestic retailers are also out in force, with Reliance Retail, Trent, Fabindia, Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle International, Miniso, Lulu Group, Aditya Birla Fashion, and Archies expected to scour the exhibition halls to source inventory for the festive season and beyond.
The Numbers Behind the Crafts
The fair takes place against a backdrop of robust momentum for Indian handicraft exports. According to EPCH, total handicraft exports reached INR 33,168 crore, or approximately USD 3.75 billion, in FY 2025-26. Organizers state that the fair aims to help exporters connect directly with buyers, showcase new collections, and build long-term sourcing relationships. For the small workshops and artisan families that underpin these exports, the next five days in Greater Noida could well determine their trajectory for the coming year.