ITALY EYES STRONGER GLOBAL TRADE THROUGH 2026 TRADE FAIRS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Italy seeks to strengthen the strategic role of its trade fair system in driving global commerce by unveiling the 2026 Italian Trade Fair Calendar. 

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani presented the Trade Fair Calendar on Tuesday, which lists 878 trade fair events scheduled to take place across Italy in 2026, including 276 international and 202 national exhibitions.

The Trade Fair Calendar showcases the most significant international trade fairs, spanning key productive sectors and underlining Italy’s commitment to supporting exports and the internationalisation of its companies, according to a media release by the Italian Embassy in Malaysia. 

The food, beverage and hospitality sector will represent the largest share (12 per cent), followed by textiles, clothing and fashion (11 per cent), alongside sports, hobbies, entertainment and art.

Other significant sectors include technology and mechanics (nine per cent), agriculture, forestry and livestock (eight per cent), and jewellery, watches and accessories (seven per cent).

Trade fairs represent a cornerstone of Italy’s economic ecosystem, serving as a vital platform for promoting Made-in-Italy supply chains on international markets.

“The 2026 Trade Fair Calendar reinforces Italy’s position as a global hub for international exhibitions and a key partner for businesses worldwide, including those in Southeast Asia seeking access to European and global markets,” the release added.

Italy currently ranks fourth worldwide for covered exhibition space, with 2.5 million square metres, behind China, the United States and Germany. 

Italian trade fairs mirror the country’s export-oriented industrial structure, focusing on five strategic sectors: Agri-food; Construction and Furniture; Fashion and Beauty; Technology; and Leisure.

Together, these sectors account for 63 per cent of Italy’s total export value, reflecting strong alignment with global demand trends.

In 2025, Italy hosted 915 trade fairs, the majority with a B2B focus, attracting over 17 million visitors.

According to the release, the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), operating under the Foreign Ministry, plays a central role in export promotion through trade fairs.

Last year, ICE organised approximately 245 Italian national pavilions at foreign trade fairs worldwide, enabling the participation of 6,560 Italian companies, and facilitated 125 incoming pavilions at trade fairs in Italy, attracting 11,500 foreign operators.

-- BERNAMA