Vinitaly 2026: the future of Italian wine is already being showcased at the trade fair. Here are the highlights of the latest edition

There will be 4,000 exhibitors at the 58th edition of the Verona trade fair from 12 to 15 April. The focus will be on non-alcoholic drinks, spirits and tourism

In partnership with Vinitaly

According to figures from the Uiv-Vinitaly Observatory, with 670,000 hectares of vineyards, 530,000 businesses, an estimated 2025 production of 47.4 million hectolitres and a turnover of around €14 billion, Italian wine remains one of the best-performing sectors of ‘Made in Italy’, with a trade surplus of €7.5 billion per year. The sector also employs 870,000 people and has vineyards valued at €56.5 billion, with a direct and indirect economic impact of over €45 billion and a 1.1% share of national GDP.

Vinitaly 2026 figures

The figures for this year’s fair promise another successful edition: 4,000 exhibitors (7% of whom are international) across 18 halls (covering a total of 100,000 square metres of exhibition space); 97,000 trade visitors, 33% of whom are from 130 countries (+7% compared to 2024). There has been an increase in buyers from the top three target markets for Italian wine: the United States (+5%), Germany (+5%) and the United Kingdom (+30%), whilst there has been a decline from China (-20%). Feedback from European buyers has also been positive. The organisers have already scheduled more than 100 events, including masterclasses and tastings, over 30 events such as conferences, panels and round tables, and almost 19,000 B2B meetings organised by Veronafiere/Vinitaly during the event.

Consumer habits: here’s how they’re changing

As it does every year, the Verona event rises to the challenge posed by the changes shaking up the sector. According to an analysis by the Uiv-Vinitaly Observatory, Italian consumers have changed significantly compared to the past. There are 29.4 million Italians who consume wine, representing a penetration rate of 55% of the total population; daily drinkers are in structural decline, standing at 39% with 11.4 million (in 2006 the share was 57%), whilst occasional drinkers are growing significantly, now accounting for 61% of consumers. On the export front, the value of Italian wine sales in 2025 stood at €7.7 billion, a 3.7% decline in value, caused by a fall in demand from outside the EU, driven by declines in the UK, Switzerland, Canada and, above all, US tariffs.

What’s new at Vinitaly 2026

Precisely to counter the winds of crisis, this year Vinitaly is strengthening its focus on the needs of businesses and the promotion of the sector, and, thanks to an incoming tourism and investment plan in collaboration with ICE-Agenzia, it reaffirms its position as the only international event entirely dedicated to the Italian wine business.

Mindful of the trends of this historic phase, the 2026 edition presents a series of new features.

Firstly, the expansion of NoLo – Vinitaly Experience: content dedicated to non-alcoholic and low-alcohol products is now systematically organised within a dedicated exhibition area on the second floor of the Palaexpo, bringing together the entire supply chain – from producers to technology providers – alongside leading Italian brands.
The Xcellent Spirits area makes its debut with a pavilion designed to foster dialogue between the wine and spirits sectors.
There is also space for wine tourism, which is becoming a permanent feature of the event with the consolidation of Vinitaly Tourism, which is strengthening its exhibition presence and offering an incoming programme aimed at specialised buyers and tour operators, with the possibility of arranging bespoke experience packages (incoming visits to local areas and at wineries).
The Vinitaly Plus app is evolving into a two-way business tool; the platform recorded 412,000 views in 2025 and has built up a library of around 20,000 wines from 4,000 producers. From this year, exhibiting wineries can also contact buyers directly and schedule appointments at the fair without waiting for a direct invitation from operators.

The thematic areas have been confirmed: from Enolitech, the international exhibition dedicated to design, products and technologies for wine and beer production, to Vinitaly Bio, the area dedicated to certified organic wine, and Raw Wine, the event celebrating natural, organic and biodynamic wines (with a full-immersion tasting day on 13 April), to Amphora Revolution in collaboration with Merano WineFestival and The WineHunter, right through to Micro Mega Wines, the selection of small wineries representing the biodiversity of Italian terroirs and grape varieties, curated by Ian D’Agata, one of the world’s leading experts and advocates of Italian wine.

The fuori salone fringe events

Finally, make way for events designed for wine lovers with Vinitaly and the City, the “off-site” event that will lead you on a journey of discovery of wine excellence in the historic heart of Verona. Thanks to the collaboration with the Valpolicella Wine Route, you’ll be able to visit a series of local wineries by purchasing a tasting booklet. Finally, on 11, 12 and 14 April, it’s time to party with Vinitaly & the Night, the evening parties scheduled at the Gallerie Mercatali.

photo credit ©Veronafiere-Ennevifoto

Gambero Rosso looks forward to seeing you at Vinitaly, where there will be plenty of events on offer, including tastings, masterclasses and presentations.

Register now