Rome, March 18, 2026. MIDA 90, the International Handicrafts Exhibition of Florence, which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, was presented this morning in Rome at the headquarters of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, in the presence of Minister Adolfo Urso.

Alongside Minister Adolfo Urso, the presentation was attended by Lorenzo Becattini, President of Firenze Fiera; Elisa Guidi, MIDA Art Director; and Alessandra Pastorelli from the Directorate General for the Country System of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The 90th edition of this important trade fair represents a decisive moment to reflect on what we can do, starting this year, to make the world of Italian craftsmanship—one of the fundamental assets of our country’s entire production system—ever more sustainable and competitive,” declared the Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Senator Adolfo Urso. “Our hope is that 2026 will truly become the year of Italian artisan enterprises, which now finally have the opportunity to benefit from the bill on small and medium-sized enterprises and craftsmanship, recently definitively approved by Parliament. This measure allows us to update a framework law that is now outdated, dating back over forty years, and to introduce concrete and innovative tools, such as support for the generational transfer of skills, in order to ensure continuity and enhance artisanal know-how.

“In this way,” Minister Urso concluded, “the work, enterprises, and territories of our country will be enhanced, with their artisanal districts representing a cornerstone of the Italian production system. A value that finds full expression thanks to MIDA exhibitors and visitors, who are the protagonists in celebrating what is today the heart of Made in Italy: Italian craftsmanship.”

The event, promoted and organized by Firenze Fiera in collaboration with the main institutions and trade associations, will take place at its historic venue, the Fortezza da Basso, from April 25 to May 3, 2026. This will mark the 90th edition since its founding in 1931. Nine decades of exhibitions within the Renaissance fortress designed by Antonio da Sangallo, with a brief interruption due to the tragedy of World War II, make this exhibition the longest-running in Italy and among the oldest in Europe. Each year it brings together the best of artistic craftsmanship from around the world, ranging from fashion to design, from home décor to jewelry, from objects to beauty. For nine decades, the exhibition has represented and elevated a sector—craftsmanship—that in Italy includes 1.25 million enterprises (just under a quarter of the entire national production system) and employs more than 2.6 million people.

MIDA is the first certified International Handicrafts Exhibition in Italy and has always sought to combine tradition and contemporaneity, following the evolution of the sector in all its facets. In 2026, as every year, it will host hundreds of artisans and companies from Italy and abroad, with around 500 exhibitors, confirming itself as one of the leading European events dedicated to high-quality craftsmanship.

The event has officially been included among those recognized by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy to celebrate the National Made in Italy Day, a recognition of great institutional value that highlights MIDA’s central role in promoting artisanal excellence, product quality, and the know-how that makes Made in Italy unique worldwide.

Alongside international participation, the exhibition also strengthens its relationships through the twinning of the City of Florence with the cities of Riga, Ningbo, and Kraków. From this year, collaboration and cultural exchange projects have been launched with these cities, focusing on the enhancement of artisanal knowledge.

“MIDA – International Handicrafts Exhibition,” said Lorenzo Becattini, President of Firenze Fiera, “has always represented a privileged space to discover, enhance, and grow the world of craftsmanship. It is no coincidence that Florence hosts this event every year: a city where artisanal traditions have historically played a fundamental role not only in the local economy but in the entire social and cultural fabric of the region. This is an event that carries in its DNA, and in its long and successful history, the values of tradition, creativity, and innovation.”

“MIDA,” Becattini continued, “will also be an opportunity to give voice to the profound changes affecting the sector: from generational turnover to the emergence of artificial intelligence. Technology is advancing at an extraordinary pace and cannot be ignored; yet, the sense of humanity, professionalism, and the inimitable flair of artisans remain—and will remain—at the center of everything. As Firenze Fiera, we take great pride in supporting an international event that enhances the city and its economic and entrepreneurial fabric, offering a 16th-century fortress integrated with modern exhibition spaces and globally competitive services.”

“For MIDA 2026, the 90th edition of the International Handicrafts Exhibition of Florence,” added Art Director Elisa Guidi, “we have developed a project path that, while enhancing the history of the event, introduces new elements aimed at a comprehensive valorization of craftsmanship. First and foremost, a program of national and international events focused on analyzing and highlighting the values that craftsmanship can take on in contemporary society, also thanks to new regulatory tools. We have built a network of relationships at various levels, which find in the exhibition a moment of synthesis in both content and display, giving it the role of a key meeting place for sector stakeholders. Finally, we have sought to open the exhibition to new audiences, from young people—through workshops introducing artisanal techniques—to tourists, thanks to tailored visit routes and experiences. MIDA 2026 will be all this and much more: a complex event reflecting an equally complex sector with strong economic, cultural, and social value, which constitutes one of the founding elements of our Made in Italy.”

Many side events are scheduled at the Teatrino Lorenese. Among them is the international conference “The national and European system of protection for Geographical Indications for artisanal and industrial products,” scheduled for April 29, organized by the Tuscany Region in collaboration with the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and the European Commission’s DG-GROW and EUIPO. The initiative is part of the CIGI Capitals Tour promoted by the European Union and aims to present and explore the new European system for the protection of Geographical Indications for artisanal and industrial products, which came into force in December 2025. The meeting will focus in particular on the functioning of the new intellectual property protection regime, the role of regions, and the opportunities for businesses and trade associations. In Tuscany, 58 potential products have already been identified as candidates for Geographical Indication, demonstrating the importance of the topic for the artisanal sector and local territories.

On April 30, the Teatrino will also host the European Crafts Alliance Annual Conference 2026, organized by the European Crafts Alliance and co-hosted by Artex, also streamed online. The international meeting, titled “Crafting Wellbeing: Practices, Communities and the Power of Making,” will bring together professionals, institutions, and sector organizations to reflect on the role of craftsmanship in the well-being of individuals and communities. The conference will explore how craft practices can help strengthen social connections, resilience, and quality of life, based on the results of new European research on the relationship between craftsmanship and health.

Other initiatives include a stand by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy for promotional and workshop activities, the presence of the LAO School of Goldsmithing Arts in the Sala della Volta, as well as guided tours of the underground areas of the Fortezza da Basso, organized in collaboration with the Florentine Civic Museums and the MUS.E Foundation.

An exhibition space is also planned on the top floor of the Spadolini Pavilion dedicated to the “MADE IN MIM” project, promoted by the Ministry of Education and Merit, aimed at promoting food and wine products created by Italian agricultural and hospitality institutes, which will be marked with a special quality label.

The 90-year history of the exhibition will be the subject of a display at the Cavaniglia Pavilion, curated by the archives of the Tuscany Region. There will also be numerous craft workshops held on the ground floor of the Spadolini Pavilion, as well as cooking shows on the top floor, open to the public.

To enrich the celebrations, from April 25 to May 2 (7:00 pm–10:00 pm), evening outdoor musical performances will transform the Fortezza into a large shared stage, featuring live performances—from saxophone to harp to solo voice—reinterpreted in a contemporary style with DJ accompaniment.

Ninety years after its founding, MIDA thus confirms itself as a cultural and productive platform where tradition, education, innovation, and territory intertwine to narrate the present and build the future of craftsmanship.

INFO:
Opening hours: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Street food and live music: free entry 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm*
*May 3 closing at 8:00 pm
Info and tickets: www.mostrartigianato.it