The ecological transition ecosystem continues
to grow and evolve
More international, more innovative and increasingly cross-sectoral. From 3 to 6 November, the 29th edition of Ecomondo – the Italian Exhibition Group’s (IEG) international event dedicated to the green, blue and circular economy – will take place at the Rimini Exhibition Centre.
Against a backdrop characterised by the acceleration of European policy on ecological transformation, Ecomondo is establishing itself as a key ecosystem for industry, institutions, research and policy-makers to exchange views on the major industrial and environmental changes that are redefining global markets. The event positions itself as a strategic hub for companies, facilitating business meetings and promoting the development of new business opportunities, whilst also acting as a catalyst for start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs operating in the circular economy sector, supporting them in the development of their business models.
International dimension: the sustainability platform is growing
For the 2026 edition, Ecomondo is strengthening its international profile with the aim of attracting an ever-increasing number of buyers, delegations and associations from every continent – in collaboration with the MAECI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) and the ICE (Agency for the Promotion of Foreign Trade and the Internationalisation of Italian Companies).
By organising a multi-stage roadshow – Spain, Morocco, Germany, Hungary, Canada – the event aims to consolidate institutional and economic ties and expand its international network, which already includes: Ecomondo Mexico, a strategic event for the Latin American market and a key platform for „Made in Italy“ technologies in the environmental sector; Ecomondo China, which this year has evolved into a forum in Shanghai, to be held on 11 and 12 June; and the Green Med Expo & Symposium (27–29 May 2026) in Naples.
Furthermore, Ecomondo’s conference programme, curated by its international technical and scientific committee, is being expanded to include summits, conferences and sessions in English, thanks to the involvement of new European and international institutional partners, the European Commission, agencies and the continent’s key stakeholders (such as the OECD and FAO). Particular attention will be paid to the key European regulatory dossiers, with in-depth high-level discussions on the Circular Economy Act, the Bioeconomy Strategy, the Biotech Act II, the Pact for the Mediterranean, the RESourceEU Action Plan and the Critical Raw Materials Act, as well as the new provisions on extended producer responsibility (EPR).
Other key themes at Ecomondo 2026 – as part of an ongoing focus on international cooperation and the strengthening of partnerships with the Mediterranean region and Africa – will be healthy and circular cities, artificial intelligence and new digital technologies to support the green transition, as well as the bioeconomy and bioenergy, two value chains that represent one of the pillars of the transition to low-carbon and highly circular production systems.
The first two days of the event will also see the return of the General Assembly of the Green Economy, organised by the Fondazione per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile in collaboration with the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and supported by the National Council for the Green Economy, with a second plenary session to be held entirely in English.
The growing presence of vertical communities, all sharing the common goal of accelerating the ecological transition, confirms Ecomondo’s role as an increasingly cross-sectoral global platform.
New layout with an entire hall dedicated to the textile value chain
Among the key innovations of the 29th edition of Ecomondo is the new exhibition area for the textile sector, to which an entire hall is dedicated. The area will serve as an international hub for the entire value chain – at a crucial historical moment for the implementation of new European regulations on sustainability in the sector.
The "Waste as Resource" area will also be expanded, whilst the "Water Cycle & Blue Economy" area, comprising the "Blue Economy" and "Trenchless District" sections, will be reorganised. The focus will be on the recovery and reuse of wastewater, trenchless (no-dig) technologies, and state-of-the-art solutions for pumps, valves and control systems for the smart monitoring of networks and the sustainable management of water resources.
The other sectors Sites & Soil Restoration, Earth Observation and Environmental Monitoring, Bio-energy & Agriculture and Circular & Regenerative Bio-Economy have also been confirmed, as have the Circular & Healthy City District, the focus on Paper and the Innovation District, which is dedicated to start-ups, innovation and sustainable expertise.
