Cooperation: „Promoting Italian Exports Worldwide. Trade Fair Calendar and Italy System Actions for 2026″ and Italy System Actions for 2026“

Prague January 27, 2026

PRESENTATION OF 2026 TRADE FAIR CALENDAR

On 27 January at 3:30 p.m., the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, will present the 2026 Trade Fair Calendar at the Farnesina in Rome. The event will provide an opportunity to present the calendar of the most significant international trade fairs scheduled to take place in Italy in 2026 across key productive sectors, as well as the initiatives undertaken to support exports and the internationalization of Italian companies. Representatives of AEFI and IT-EX, Italian trade fair organizations, and key Sistema Italia institutions—ICE, SACE, SIMEST, and CDP—will take part in the event.

Trade fairs constitute a strategic pillar of Italy’s economic system, serving as an indispensable platform for showcasing and promoting Made-in-Italy supply chains on international markets.

Italy ranks fourth in the world in terms of covered exhibition space (2.5 million square meters), behind China, the United States, and Germany. In terms of turnover, Italy is the third country in Europe behind Germany and France and ahead of Spain, which is the fastest-growing European country in this sector.

Italian trade fairs are a direct expression of the national economic system more oriented towards foreign markets, structured around five key sectors: Agri-food, Construction-Furniture, Fashion-Beauty, Technology, and Leisure. These sectors represent the heart of Made-in-Italy exports, accounting for 63% of the country’s total export value.

In 2025, 915 trade fairs were held, most with a B2B focus, attracting more than 17 million visitors. Furthermore, during 2025, 89 Italian fairs were organized abroad in 20 countries.

A total of 878 events are planned for 2026, including 276 international fairs and 202 national ones. Food, beverage and hospitality sectors will account for 12% of the total events, followed by textiles, clothing and fashion at 11% alongside the combined sports, hobbies, entertainment and art segment. Significant shares also for technology and mechanics (9%) and for agriculture, forestry and livestock (8%), as well as jewelry, watches and accessories (7%).

The Italian Trade Agency represents the operational arm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for international promotion and plays the main role in supporting exports through trade fairs. In 2025, it has allocated over €200 million to support SME internationalization programs, investing over €90 million to support their participation at trade fairs and events abroad, and another €35 million to attract international operators to Italian trade fairs. The Agency organized approximately 245 national pavilions at foreign trade fairs, enabling the participation of 6,560 Italian companies. It also set up 125 incoming pavilions at trade fairs in Italy, which attracted 11,500 foreign operators to events across the country. Trade fairs and events abroad represented 46.7% of activities, while incoming delegations to Italian fairs accounted for 15.9%. In terms of geographical distribution:

Italy’s Trade Fair System – Key Facts & Figures

Global & European Position
4th worldwide for covered exhibition space 2.5 million m², behind China, the US, and Germany
3rd in Europe for turnover after Germany and France, ahead of Spain (fastest‑growing market)

Italian trade fairs reflect the country’s export‑oriented attitude, centered on five major sectors:

Agri-food
- Construction & Furniture
- Fashion & Beauty
- Technology
- Leisure

These sectors together account for 63% of national exports

2025 Overview
- 915 trade fairs held in Italy – Majority B2B – 17+ million visitors
- 89 Italian fairs abroad – Organized in 20 countries

2025 ITA Investments in trade fairs