Durban Business Fair

The Durban Business Fair (DBF) continues to deliver life-changing impact for entrepreneurs, with exhibitors crediting the platform for business expansion, market access, and global opportunities.

For Thando Mdladla, founder of Uthando Glow Beauty and Wellness, the fair has been a significant turning point. “What began as a small skincare showcase has grown into a fully-fledged brand offering advanced treatments and products. The fair provided me with visibility, credibility, and access to opportunities I never imagined, including exhibiting internationally,” she said.

Mdladla has been exhibiting at the DBF for six consecutive years, with the highlight being winning the Durban Business Fair Excellence Awards last year under the youth category. “Through creating networks and exposure, I secured an opportunity to exhibit in Ghana, demonstrating how far a vision can travel with the right platform. This recognition also led to my business being acknowledged by the National Youth Development Agency and the Durban University of Technology Centre for Social Entrepreneurship. The Durban Business Fair is a powerful platform, and once you thrive there, you attract more opportunities,” she said.

Similarly, Celiwe Ntuli of Zulu Brides, who has participated for eight years, said the platform has expanded her client base and strengthened business operations. “The exposure connected us to new markets, while the seminars equipped us with tools to run a more structured and sustainable business,” she said.

Building on this impact, the 2026 DBF edition, takes place from 30 April to 2 May at Durban Exhibition Centre under the theme; ‘28 Years of connecting SMMEs to markets and opportunities’. It will offer a dynamic programme featuring seminars, masterclasses, skills workshops, networking sessions, market access platforms, and engagements on innovation, funding, and international trade opportunities within the fair’s international pavilion.

With exhibition space filling up fast, businesses that have not yet registered are urged to act immediately and not wait for the registration deadline of 17 April, as limited spaces remain.

Chairperson of the City’s Economic Development and Planning Committee, Councillor Thembo Ntuli, said the fair remains a platform that unlocks growth, builds brands, and connects businesses to real opportunities.

Registration forms can be downloaded here: https://tinyurl.com/ye96s948

Alternatively, forms are available at:

• 199 Anton Lembede Street (7th Floor)
• All Sizakala Customer Centres
• Online at www.durban. gov.za (Business SMME Development Durban Business Fair)
• Email zamani.shezi@durban.gov.za