Ecomondo 2026: Rimini to Host Over 1,800 Exhibitors Driving the Circular Economy

• Climate change
• Events

The Italian city of Rimini is preparing to host Ecomondo 2026, one of the leading international events dedicated to environmental technologies, recycling and the circular economy. The exhibition will take place from November 3 to 6, 2026, at the Rimini Expo Centre, with Mexico participating as the event’s first-ever guest country.

Organized by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), the 29th edition will strengthen its international presence while expanding its focus on strategic sectors such as waste management, water treatment, material recovery and sustainable industrial solutions.

The organizers expect more than 1,800 exhibiting brands, with approximately 170,000 square meters of exhibition space distributed across 30 halls. The event will also welcome international buyers, institutional representatives, researchers and professionals from a wide range of industries.

One of the main objectives will be to encourage knowledge exchange and business opportunities among companies developing solutions to reduce the environmental impact of economic activities.

Mexico Becomes the First Guest Country at Ecomondo

One of the most significant developments at Ecomondo 2026 will be Mexico’s participation as the first guest country in the exhibition’s history. The initiative aims to strengthen commercial and institutional relationships between Europe and Latin America in areas such as sustainability, technological innovation and efficient resource management.

The exhibition will also feature an extensive international business program, with more than 1,000 invited buyers expected from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

The initiative is supported by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), which are helping promote business relationships and the international expansion of Italian companies.

Representatives from more than 60 international associations and delegations from several countries are also expected to participate. These include Spain, Egypt, Morocco, Greece, Serbia, Hungary and South Africa.

This international presence will provide opportunities to discuss environmental challenges across different markets and explore cooperation in areas such as recycling, renewable energy, water management and resource recovery.

New Exhibition Area Dedicated to Sustainable Textiles

The textile industry will receive particular attention in 2026 with the introduction of a dedicated exhibition area in Hall D2. The space will bring together companies, manufacturers and other supply-chain stakeholders interested in developing more sustainable production models.

The textile industry faces significant environmental challenges involving water consumption, raw material use, waste generation and the difficulty of recovering certain materials. Improving textile reuse and developing more efficient recycling systems have therefore become important priorities in the transition toward a circular economy.

The new exhibition area will showcase technologies and solutions designed to extend product lifecycles, recover textile fibers and reduce the volume of materials discarded as waste.

Ecomondo will also present The Shade of Circularity, an artistic installation developed in collaboration with the Hera Group and SCART – The Beautiful and Useful Side of Waste.

Using the seven colors of the rainbow, the installation will illustrate the complexity of the textile supply chain and the environmental challenges facing the sector. The project aims to communicate the importance of circular production through a combination of art, innovation and sustainability.

Africa Investment HUB to Promote International Business Opportunities

International cooperation will be another major focus of Ecomondo 2026. The exhibition will introduce the Africa Investment HUB, a new space in Hall B8 designed to facilitate connections between African associations, companies and investors.

Its objective is to encourage professional networking and business meetings while identifying investment opportunities in environmental infrastructure and sustainable development.

African countries face significant investment needs in areas such as urban waste management, water access, wastewater treatment and renewable energy generation. These challenges also create opportunities for companies specializing in environmental technologies and industrial services.

The new initiative will complement the sixth edition of the Africa Green Growth Forum, which will also take place during Ecomondo. The forum is organized in collaboration with the working group responsible for implementing Italy’s Mattei Plan, Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo and RES4Africa.

Together, these initiatives highlight the growing importance of cooperation between Europe, the Mediterranean region and Africa in advancing the ecological transition.

Waste Management, Water and Circular Economy Technologies

The expansion of the Waste as Resource area will be another important development at the exhibition. This section will focus on technologies that transform waste into reusable resources, reducing dependence on virgin raw materials and improving industrial efficiency.

Visitors will be able to explore solutions for waste collection, sorting, treatment and material recovery, alongside technologies designed to optimize waste management processes.

The Water Cycle & Blue Economy area will also be reorganized, with a stronger focus on sustainable water resource management and economic activities connected to marine environments.

Among the technologies expected to feature prominently are intelligent water network monitoring systems, infrastructure management tools and solutions designed to improve water distribution and consumption efficiency.

The exhibition will also include several specialized areas:

• Sites & Soil Restoration: Technologies for recovering contaminated land and restoring degraded soils.

• Earth Observation and Environmental Monitoring: Digital tools for Earth observation and environmental monitoring.

• Bio-energy & Agriculture: Solutions related to bioenergy and sustainable agriculture.

• Circular & Regenerative Bio-Economy: Technologies and production models based on the sustainable use of biological resources.

• Blue Economy: Activities and solutions connected to the protection and sustainable use of marine resources.

• Circular & Healthy City: Proposals for developing healthier, more efficient and sustainable cities.

• Trenchless: Technologies for installing and rehabilitating underground infrastructure while minimizing excavation work.

The paper industry will also receive a dedicated space developed in collaboration with the Italian Federation of Paper and Graphic Arts. Its program will focus on sustainable production, material recovery and improvements in recycling processes.

More Than 70 Conferences on Innovation and the Ecological Transition

Ecomondo’s technical and scientific program will feature more than 70 conferences, meetings and workshops, organized by its International Technical-Scientific Committee, chaired by Professor Fabio Fava.

The program will address issues related to European environmental policies, research, industrial innovation and international cooperation opportunities.

Key topics will include resource efficiency, sustainable packaging, paper recycling, sustainable textiles and financing for environmental projects.

The event will also examine the challenges associated with climate change and the adaptation of territories to its effects. Environmental monitoring and digital technologies for observing changes in ecosystems will receive particular attention.

Other subjects will include natural disaster prevention and risk management, soil restoration, regenerative bioeconomy and the development of new solutions for making better use of biological resources.

The southern exhibition hall will once again host Italian institutions, including the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE), the Energy Services Operator (GSE) and the Emilia-Romagna Regional Government.

Hall B5 will feature an area dedicated to international delegations, bringing together more than 100 companies from different countries.

General States of the Green Economy to Open the Program

The first two days of Ecomondo 2026 will feature the General States of the Green Economy, an initiative organized by the Foundation for Sustainable Development in collaboration with Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.

The event will provide an opportunity to assess the state of the green economy and examine the main challenges facing businesses and institutions as production models undergo significant changes.

On November 3, the opening plenary session will present the 2026 Report on the State of the Green Economy in Italy. The session will examine the international factors influencing the sector’s development amid significant geopolitical and economic changes.

On November 4, an international plenary session titled The Geopolitics of the Green Economy: A Window on the World will take place in collaboration with Italy for Climate.

The discussion will explore how international environmental policies are evolving and examine the role that new technologies, investment and international cooperation can play in accelerating the ecological transition.

European Regulations Drive Textile Recycling

Ecomondo’s increased focus on the textile industry comes at a time of significant regulatory changes across the European Union.

The revised Waste Framework Directive introduces new requirements concerning textile and footwear waste management. Among its key measures are extended producer responsibility schemes, under which companies placing these products on the market must contribute financially to their collection and treatment at the end of their useful life.

This approach aims to ensure that manufacturers take greater responsibility for the environmental impact of the products they introduce to the market.

The new mechanisms are also intended to encourage the development of infrastructure capable of collecting, sorting, reusing and recycling textile materials. The ultimate objective is to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and improve the use of available resources.

For businesses operating in the sector, these changes will require adjustments to production processes, product design and the development of new solutions that make material recovery easier.

In this context, Ecomondo’s new textile exhibition area will provide an opportunity to discover technologies and projects that can help companies respond to regulatory requirements and changing market demands.

Innovation, Start-ups and Green Employment

Business innovation will also play an important role at the 2026 exhibition. The Innovation District will once again bring together 20 start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises showcasing technologies and projects related to sustainability.

The area aims to facilitate connections between entrepreneurs, investors, established companies and institutions interested in supporting new environmental solutions.

The Green Jobs & Skills initiative will also return, helping connect companies looking for qualified professionals with candidates who have the skills and experience needed in the green economy.

Ecomondo will additionally present the Lorenzo Cagnoni Green Innovation Awards, recognizing innovative technologies and solutions across the exhibition’s different sectors.

Meanwhile, the event will welcome a delegation of 11 Brazilian start-ups specializing in agrifood technology as part of the BRAVI2026 initiative (Brazilian AgriFoodTechs Innovation in Italy).

Their participation will provide opportunities to explore new forms of collaboration between the innovation ecosystems of Brazil and Italy.

Ecomondo 2026: An International Meeting Point for the Environmental Industry

With its 29th edition, Ecomondo is strengthening its position as an international meeting point for companies, public administrations, research centers and professionals involved in environmental technologies.

The combination of specialized exhibition areas, business meetings and technical conferences will provide a platform to address some of the main challenges of the ecological transition, from waste reduction and efficient water management to material recovery.

Mexico’s participation as the first guest country, the new textile industry exhibition area and the launch of the Africa Investment HUB also demonstrate the organizers’ ambition to expand commercial and technological relationships with markets across different regions.

Ecomondo 2026 will take place from November 3 to 6 at the Rimini Expo Centre in Italy, bringing together industrial innovation, international cooperation and new business opportunities centered on the circular economy.

For companies developing sustainable technologies and professionals interested in the future of the environmental industry, the exhibition will once again offer an opportunity to exchange knowledge, discover emerging solutions and connect with international industry leaders.