Ecomondo 2026 Expands its Global Reach
From 3 to 6 November, the 29th edition of Ecomondo, the Italian Exhibition Group’s (IEG) international event on the green, blue, and circular economy, is scheduled to take place at Rimini Expo Centre.
As European policies driving the ecological transition continue to gain momentum, Ecomondo confirms its role as the leading ecosystem where industry, institutions, the research community, and policymakers come together to address the major industrial and environmental transformations reshaping global markets. The event provides a strategic platform for companies to foster dialogue, build partnerships, and unlock new business opportunities. It also serves as a catalyst for start-ups, scale-ups, and SMEs operating in the circular economy, supporting their growth and accelerating innovation.
International reach: A growing sustainability platform
For the 2026 edition, Ecomondo is further strengthening its international profile, with the aim of attracting an increasing number of buyers, delegations, and industry associations from all continents, in collaboration with the MAECI – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – and ICE – the Italian Trade Agency.
With the involvement of new European and international institutional partners, including the European Commission, as well as leading continental agencies and key stakeholders such as the OECD and FAO, Ecomondo’s conference program – curated by its international Technical and Scientific Committee – will feature additional summits, conferences, and conventions held in English. Strong focus will be placed on key European regulatory dossiers, with high-level insights into the Circular Economy Act, Bioeconomy Strategy, Biotech Act II, the Pact for the Mediterranean, the RESourceEU Action Plan, and the Critical Raw Materials Act, as well as new provisions on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Other key themes at Ecomondo 2026, with a continued focus on international cooperation and strengthening partnerships with the Mediterranean and Africa, will include healthy and circular cities, artificial intelligence and new digital technologies to support the ecological transition, as well as the bioeconomy and bioenergy – two sectors that form one of the pillars of the transition to low-emission, highly circular production systems.
During the first two days of the event, the States General of the Green Economy will return. This event is organised by the Foundation for Sustainable Development in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and promoted by the National Green Economy Council, with a second plenary session held entirely in English. The presence of a growing number of vertical communities, united by the shared goal of accelerating the ecological transition, confirms Ecomondo’s role as an increasingly cross-cutting global platform.
A new layout dedicates an entire hall to the textile supply chain
One of the key new features of the 29th edition of Ecomondo is a dedicated exhibition sector for textiles, which will take up an entire hall. It will act as an international hub for the full supply chain at a crucial moment in the rollout of new European regulations on sustainability in the sector.
The Waste as a Resource exhibition area is also expanding, while the Water Cycle & Blue Economy sector will be reorganised into the Blue Economy and Trenchless Districts, focusing on wastewater recovery and reuse, trenchless (No-Dig) technologies, and advanced solutions for pumps, valves, and control systems supporting smart network monitoring and sustainable water resource management.
The following sectors have been confirmed: Sites & Soil Restoration, Earth Observation and Environmental Monitoring, Bio-energy & Agriculture, and Circular & Regenerative Bio-Economy as well as the Circular & Healthy City and Paper District, and the Innovation District, dedicated to start-ups, innovations, and sustainable expertise.
(Published in GLOBAL RECYCLING Magazine 2/2026, Page 14, Photo: Italian Exhibition Group – IEG)
