By Zambian Economist Analyst
LUSAKA, 29 July 2026, The 98th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show opened to the public today at the Lusaka Showgrounds, running until 3 August under the theme “Fostering Trade and Investment”. Organisers say around 1,400 exhibitors are taking part, drawn from Zambia and more than twenty other countries.
The Show has run since 1919 and remains the largest single commercial gathering in the Zambian calendar. This year it opens two weeks before a general election, and in a year when agriculture, not copper, has been carrying national growth.
The essentials
| Event | 98th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show |
| Dates | 29 July – 3 August 2026 |
| Venue | Lusaka Showgrounds, Plot 2374, Great East Road, Lusaka |
| Theme | Fostering Trade and Investment |
| Organiser | Agricultural and Commercial Society of Zambia (ACSZ) |
| Exhibitors | Around 1,400, from more than 20 countries |
| Official site | acsz.co.zm |
Ticket prices for the 2026 Show
ACSZ president Rene Lourens set out this year’s pricing ahead of the opening:
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Pre-sale ticket | K50 |
| Daily entry at the gate | K70 |
| Adult badge (full show period) | K300 |
| Child badge (full show period) | K100 |
| Exhibitor badge | K270 |
| VIP badge | K700 |
If you are going more than twice, the adult badge is the cheaper option. Confirm current pricing and any e-ticket arrangements directly with ACSZ before travelling.
Who is exhibiting
ACSZ has pointed to India, China, Germany and the Czech Republic among the countries represented this year, alongside the usual Zambian mix of agribusinesses, banks, insurers, equipment dealers, manufacturers, government agencies, regulators and development partners.
The stated value of foreign participation is technology transfer, machinery, irrigation, processing equipment and seed genetics that Zambian operators can see working before committing capital. Whether that translates into purchases depends on the same constraints that apply everywhere else in the economy: financing cost, foreign exchange and power reliability.
Why this year’s Show carries more economic weight
Three things make the 2026 edition different from a routine trade fair.
1. Agriculture is currently doing the heavy lifting
Q1 2026 real GDP growth came in at 7.7% year on year, driven largely by agriculture, off the back of two consecutive record maize harvests. Over the same quarter, copper production fell 4.27%. For once, the sector on display at the Showgrounds is the one carrying the growth number, which is precisely the diversification outcome policy has been asking for, arriving through rainfall rather than design. We set out the fuller ledger in what the next government inherits.
2. The theme is a trade and investment pitch, not a farming one
“Fostering Trade and Investment” positions the Show as an investment-promotion platform rather than an agricultural exhibition. That is consistent with the direction we have tracked in beyond copper: economic diplomacy and diversification, using trade infrastructure and external engagement to convert commodity earnings into productive capacity.
3. It is the last large commercial gathering before the election
The Show closes on 3 August; the country votes on 13 August. Expect political visibility at the Showgrounds and a quieter commercial fortnight afterwards. Practical guidance on trading through that window is in how Zambian businesses should plan for the election period.
How to get value out of it if you run a business
For SMEs the Show is one of the few settings where procurement officers, financiers and regulators are in the same place at the same time. Three practical points:
- Regulators are on site. ZRA, NAPSA and PACRA typically staff stands and handle queries in person, often faster than a branch visit. If you are not yet formally registered, see how to register a company in Zambia. The Office of the Auditor General is also exhibiting, engaging showgoers on its role in public accountability.
- Financiers are pitching, not screening. Banks and lenders come to the Show to originate. Bring management accounts, not just a business card. Smaller operators should also look at CDF grants and loans.
- Equipment pricing is negotiable at the Show and rarely afterwards. Dealers carry show-period terms. If you have been deferring a machinery decision, this is the week the numbers are softest.
The July inflation release from the Zambia Statistics Agency falls on 30 July, the second day of the Show, the last inflation print before polling, and a direct read on whether food prices are still easing. Both dates, and the rest of the year’s schedule, are in our Zambia economic calendar 2026.
Beyond that, the substantive test of any trade-themed show is what gets signed rather than what gets exhibited. Memoranda announced at the Showgrounds are worth revisiting in six months against actual disbursement.
The Zambian Economist will cover the policy discussions, deals and investment announcements coming out of the Showgrounds over the coming days. More coverage in Agriculture & Mining and our Zambia economy 2026 guide.
Part of our Zambia agriculture and mining coverage.
Details current as at 29 July 2026. Confirm dates, pricing and programme with ACSZ before travelling.
Today at the ZNBC stand: Franklin Tembo Jr and Innocent Kalaluka meet show visitors.
Related OAG engagement: OAG helps showgoers access audit reports and understand its mandate.
