SHOES & ACCESSORIES Pre-Show Report | BLLISS 2026, 3-5 December, International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), Dhaka
A USD 1.76 billion export business. More than a million people on the payroll, directly and indirectly. Women making up over 60 percent of the factory floor. That is the footwear and leathergoods sector of Bangladesh in FY2025-26, and in early December it will throw open its doors to the world’s buyers, brands and sourcing agents.
The 5th Bangladesh Leather Footwear & Leathergoods International Sourcing Show (BLLISS-2026) runs 3-5 December at ICCB in Dhaka, under the tagline “Manufacturing Excellence.” For retailers rethinking where their next season will be made, and for manufacturers eyeing new markets and partners, it is a three-day look at a sourcing base that is moving up the value chain.
Why Dhaka, Why Now
The numbers explain the ambition. Leather products and footwear is Bangladesh’s second-largest export-earning industry. Exports reached USD 1.76 billion in FY2025-26, up 5.4 percent, and the Government counts the sector among the country’s main growth generators.
Timing matters too. Bangladesh is set to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in the near future, and the industry wants to be a proud contributor to that milestone. As global supply chains realign, the Government and the industry association are positioning the country as a cost-effective, sustainable and reliable manufacturing hub for the leather products and footwear value chain.
BLLISS is the showcase for that pitch. The show debuted in 2017 and followed with editions in 2018, 2019 and 2023. The 2026 show is the fifth. The show is jointly organised by the Ministry of Commerce of the Government of Bangladesh and the Footwear Leathergoods & Accessories Exporters Association (FLAXA). Mr. Tarique Rahman, Hon’ble Prime Minister, is expected to inaugurate it on Thursday, 3 December, at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC). That puts policymakers, development partners and industry leaders in the same rooms as visiting buyers, which organisers see as the right setting for sector-wide conversations as well as business deals.
Show Essentials
- Dates: 3-5 December 2026
- Venue: International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Organisers: Ministry of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh, and FLAXA
- Exhibitors: 36 manufacturers across 8 pavilions and 28 mini booths
- International delegates: 50+ from 15 countries invited
- Website: blliss.show
On the Show Floor
The exhibition is expected to feature 36 manufacturers of footwear, leathergoods and bags, spread across 8 pavilions and 28 mini booths. Leather and non-leather footwear, leathergoods and accessories will all be on display, alongside allied industries and service providers.
Organisers are inviting more than 50 international delegates from 15 countries for direct B2B meetings with Bangladeshi manufacturers. Brand representatives, buyers, distributors, sourcing agents, designers and industry experts are expected from overseas and from Bangladesh, with potential investors, ancillary service providers and government agencies also attending. Factory visits, networking sessions and a media and promotional campaign round out the programme.
Three Conversations Worth Having
Breakout sessions tackle the issues shaping where and how footwear is sourced:
- Strengthening Readiness of the FLG Sector for LDC Graduation
- Responsible Business Conduct (RBC): From Compliance to Competitive Advantage
- Traceability to Transparency: Roadmap to Digital Product Passport in the FLG Sector
The second and third will interest any buyer facing sustainability requirements and evolving expectations from their own customers. The organisers say they want to highlight the sector’s progress on RBC and traceability, and the Digital Product Passport session signals that Bangladeshi producers are preparing for that conversation.
What “Manufacturing Excellence” Means
The tagline reflects three priorities: creating employment, producing high-end, value-added products, and adopting automation to improve production efficiency, product quality and global competitiveness. For buyers, the message is that Bangladesh wants to be judged on capability and quality, not on cost alone.
BLLISS-2026 is expected to deliver new market access, technology know-how transfer, lasting business relationships, and matchmaking between producers and suppliers of raw materials and machinery. For manufacturers, there is also direct contact with government dignitaries and opportunities for investment. For retailers and brands, it is a chance to test a sourcing base that is actively reinventing itself.
