NEWS | Industry Updates
Venditalia set to break records in 2026
Venditalia 2026 (6–8 May 2026) is shaping up to be a record- breaking edition: more than 300 expected brands (including industry leaders), 30,000 square metres of exhibition space, eight halls, rising international visibility, and a well-established network of relationships with the market’s key players. The trade show is taking place
Ernesto Piloni, chief executive of Venditalia and Marco Cecchini, President of Venditalia
for the first time at the modern Rimini Expo Centre thanks to the strategic partnership between CONFIDA – the Italian Vending Association – and Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), one of Europe’s leading exhibition organisers.
As of today, more than 50% of the exhibition space has already
been booked, and foreign exhibitors account for 41% of the total—a record for the event. It is a strong result for a sector that, in Europe in 2024, generated €26.4 billion in revenue, with 4.5 million machines installed and 34.5 billion products sold. Venditalia will be the ideal opportunity to showcase the entire ecosystem that brings together all the key players in the vending supply chain: technology manufacturers, operators, product suppliers and stakeholders. It will create real business and networking opportunities through a programme of conferences and workshops (including sessions in English) on the most relevant topics in the vending industry. Never before has the vending sector experienced such rapid technological acceleration, affecting the entire value chain—from machine design to remote management, digital payments and customer experience.
At Venditalia 2026, SmartLink will make its world premiere—the
new communication protocol between vending machines, payment systems and management software, promoted by the European Vending & Coffee Service Association (EVA). Its goal is to create a more connected, efficient, future-ready system. “The vending sector is undergoing a true ‘Digital Revolution’,”
explains Ernesto Piloni, chief executive of Venditalia. “With connectivity, a vending machine can be managed remotely, adjusting settings and parameters in real time and analysing big data. The integration of AI will make many processes more efficient. And let’s not forget consumer-facing innovations: from touchscreens to cashless digital payment systems, and the rapidly growing payment apps—33% of the more than 800,000 vending machines installed across Italy are equipped with them, and for one in four consumers, it’s the preferred payment method. Vending technology also has significant potential beyond the traditional channel: it can provide 24/7 service in many sectors, from retail to hospitality.” “Venditalia is a prestigious showcase for Made in Italy foodtech
innovation,” adds Marco Cecchini, President of Venditalia. “Thanks to the partnership between Italian Exhibition Group and CONFIDA—which enhances IEG’s already extensive portfolio of out- of-home trade shows—the event will now benefit from a dynamic, international setting that will expand its audience of exhibitors and visitors, strengthening its presence both in Italy and globally.” New consumption models will take centre stage at this edition
under the claim “Think Automatic”: vending machines are entering unconventional spaces (from coworking hubs to smart hotels, equipped camper areas and retail environments) to diversify, expand and differentiate the offer in non-food sectors (fashion, tech, personal care, health and pharma), going beyond traditional vending. An exhibition area will be dedicated to emerging products and technologies from start-ups and young entrepreneurial ventures, both Italian and international, while workshops on trends and innovations in the vending sector will complete the programme.
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