Ecomondo 2026 concluded in Rimini with international attendance up 14% year on year, reinforcing the event’s position as a major European platform for the green, blue and circular economy. The 29th edition, held from November 3 to 6 at the Rimini Expo Centre, hosted more than 1,800 exhibiting brands across 171,000 square meters, with 21% of exhibitors coming from outside Italy. Domestic attendance increased by 1%, while the event also welcomed 1,300 hosted buyers and delegations through cooperation with Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency. The four-day program covered resource efficiency, recycling, sustainable finance, bioenergy, circular cities, water, plastics, packaging and other areas relevant to the transition toward more circular industrial systems. For recycling sectors, including end-of-life tire management and recycled materials, Ecomondo continues to provide a forum where technology suppliers, recyclers, policymakers, researchers and industrial users can discuss regulation, markets and new recovery technologies.

More than 1,800 brands exhibit in Rimini

Italian Exhibition Group reported that Ecomondo 2026 hosted more than 1,800 exhibiting brands, with international companies accounting for 21% of the total.

The exhibition occupied approximately 171,000 square meters at the Rimini Expo Centre.

IEG also reported 651 accredited journalists, 15% of whom came from outside Italy.

International attendance rises 14%

International visitor attendance increased by 14% compared with the previous edition, while domestic attendance rose by 1%.

The result reflects Ecomondo’s continuing effort to expand beyond the Italian market and position the event as an international meeting point for circular economy technologies and environmental services.

1,300 hosted buyers and delegations attend

The event welcomed approximately 1,300 hosted buyers and delegates through cooperation with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency.

Fourteen international collective exhibitions participated, representing countries including Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Germany, Norway, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland.

Mexico becomes first official guest country

Mexico participated as the first official guest country in Ecomondo’s history.

IEG said the partnership reflects Mexico’s growing focus on circular economy development and will continue through Ecomondo Mexico, scheduled to take place in Guadalajara from April 20 to 22, 2027.

Africa Investment HUB debuts

The 2026 edition also introduced the Africa Investment HUB, intended to support business development and networking between European companies and organizations from African markets.

Africa remained an important part of Ecomondo’s internationalization strategy, with discussions addressing investment, environmental infrastructure and cooperation across the continent.

More than 10,000 business meetings facilitated

IEG said Ecomondo facilitated more than 10,000 business matching meetings involving companies, institutions, associations, researchers and technology developers.

The meetings were designed to support commercial partnerships, technology transfer and exchange of technical expertise across environmental and circular economy sectors.

Innovation District features 20 startups and SMEs

The Innovation District hosted 20 startups and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises presenting technologies and business models aimed at accelerating ecological transition and circular economy development.

Innovation remained one of the central themes of the event, with emphasis on technologies capable of improving resource efficiency, recycling and industrial sustainability.

Resource efficiency remains central to conference program

Ecomondo hosted approximately 200 conferences and events, including 70 organized by its international Technical Scientific Committee chaired by Professor Fabio Fava.

Topics included resource efficiency in textiles, water, plastics, packaging and paper recycling, together with sustainable finance, blue economy, bioenergy, regenerative bioeconomy and circular urban development.

European regulation and climate policy discussed

The conference program also examined the evolution of European environmental regulation, climate change adaptation, ecosystem restoration and international cooperation.

For recycling industries, regulatory development remains particularly important because changes in waste classification, recycling targets, extended producer responsibility and secondary raw material standards can directly affect investment and market development.

Recycling industries remain important part of Ecomondo

Ecomondo continues to serve as a meeting point for companies active in waste treatment, material recovery and recycling technologies.

For the tire recycling sector, the wider exhibition provides opportunities to evaluate equipment, downstream applications and circular economy solutions alongside developments in other material recovery industries.

Recycled materials increasingly linked to industrial competitiveness

The 2026 conference program emphasized that ecological transition is increasingly being discussed not only in environmental terms but also in relation to industrial competitiveness and resource security.

This approach is particularly relevant for recycling sectors seeking to convert waste streams into secondary raw materials capable of replacing virgin resources in established industrial markets.

Green economy report presented during opening session

The 15th edition of the States General of the Green Economy was held during Ecomondo in cooperation with Italy’s Foundation for Sustainable Development.

The opening plenary presented the 2026 report on the state of the green economy in Italy, while a subsequent international session examined developments in China, the United States, Europe and Africa.

International cooperation remains strategic focus

IEG said cooperation across the Mediterranean and Africa remained a major theme of the event.

The sixth Africa Green Growth Forum was organized in cooperation with institutions including the Italian government’s Mattei Plan mission structure, Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo and RES4Africa.

Ecomondo to mark 30th edition in 2027

The next edition of Ecomondo will take place at the Rimini Expo Centre from November 9 to 12, 2027.

The event will mark Ecomondo’s 30th anniversary, with Italian Exhibition Group indicating that the edition will include new initiatives linked to the continued expansion of the circular and green economy platform.

Source: Italian Exhibition Group.