Florence, 11 March 2026. The 13th edition of DIDACTA ITALIA opened this morning at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence with the Concert of the National Orchestra of the Italian Music High Schools and in the presence of the Minister of Education and Merit, Giuseppe Valditara. From the early hours of opening, the event recorded a large turnout of teachers, school principals, educators and professionals from all over Italy.

“I would like to thank Didacta for the content proposed this year and for the attention dedicated to music, a fundamental tool in the projects of our schools,” declared the Minister of Education and Merit Giuseppe Valditara. “The orchestra of the Italian School, which I strongly supported, represents a significant tribute to our school system and to its ability to educate through art. This is why we have given prominence to the history of classical music in the new National Guidelines, starting from primary schools. It is also why music is central to the Agenda Sud and Agenda Nord projects, which aim to combat school dropout through a new strategic vision. Finally, I appreciated the fair’s reference to Pinocchio, a symbol of the values of listening, respect and commitment necessary for the growth of the new generations.”

“Didacta Italia is an event that grows year after year, becoming an increasingly rich appointment both in terms of the number of exhibitors and the quality of the events,” said the President of Firenze Fiera, Lorenzo Becattini, who added: “I find it particularly beautiful that this inauguration opens with these young musicians. The relationship between music and education is deeply meaningful: music helps open students’ minds, stimulates creativity and contributes to their cultural and personal growth. For this reason, I would like to extend special thanks to Minister Giuseppe Valditara for the sensitivity and attention he shows toward music education. Thanks also to the Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, to the Mayor of Florence Sara Funaro, to the President of the Tuscany Region Eugenio Giani, and to all the civil and military authorities present. Finally, thanks to Didacta International, with whom we have carried out a particularly fruitful collaboration for many years. Just last October we signed an agreement looking ahead to the next twelve years. The relationship between Italy and Germany, from which this experience originates, represents a solid basis for developing educational projects of great value.”

“I have seen Didacta being born and growing over the years, becoming a reference point for the world of school and education,” said the Mayor of Florence Sara Funaro. “This is an important opportunity to reaffirm how essential it is to invest in education and keep attention high on the paths of younger generations. As a municipal administration we are carrying out a significant plan of interventions in school buildings: over the next three years we will invest more than 40 million euros in energy efficiency, seismic upgrading, redevelopment and reconstruction of school facilities. I am thinking, for example, of the new Ghiberti school we are building, with spaces dedicated to sport and new classrooms and laboratories around it, designed with the flexibility needed to update teaching methods. We want structures that are increasingly safe, sustainable and modern, because investing in schools means choosing the future of our country.”

“With this event, which for Italy was born here and has continued to grow over the years, Tuscany becomes a leading region for innovation in the world of education,” declared the President of the Tuscany Region, Eugenio Giani. “Tuscany is school. For us this is a fundamental element in the life of a community. The topic is of extraordinary importance and complexity, and trying to address its many aspects through a major event that sparks interest, promotes best practices, creates relationships and stimulates a lively and constructive debate is something that fills us with pride. I thank Firenze Fiera which, together with Indire, created this opportunity. The Region is present in the exhibition spaces with many proposals of best practices both in education from 0 to 6 years old — I am thinking, for example, of initiatives such as Nidi Gratis — and in actions aimed at promoting school success. It is also particularly significant that this edition of Didacta is dedicated to Collodi, Carlo Lorenzini, on the 200th anniversary of his birth. His figure represents Tuscan identity and, with Pinocchio — the book par excellence — he also performs an extraordinary pedagogical function.”

“For us at Didacta International,” added Reinhard Koslitz, “the surprises never end! This year’s inauguration, accompanied by an extraordinary orchestra, will certainly remain in everyone’s memory. The presence of two Ministers at the fair further underlines the importance and prestige of Didacta Italia. Our sincere thanks go to the organizing team and the committee for making such an exceptional event possible.”

Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. the national conference “4+2. When training becomes a supply chain. A model that is changing the Italian school system” will take place at the Auditorium–Villa Vittoria (Room 20). The conference represents an important opportunity to highlight the results achieved, reflect on future strategies and strengthen the new organizational model of the educational supply-chain curriculum. During the conference, the Foundation for the Italian School will award 20 supply chains that participated in the Foundation’s public call, and 10 will be awarded by INDIRE.

Regarding artificial intelligence, at the INDIRE stand at 9:30 a.m. the seminar “INDIRE AI Network and Innovation Movements” will take place. This is an event of the AI Thematic Network with schools belonging to the INDIRE innovation movements, aimed at sharing experiences and needs, aligning ethical and organizational references, and defining a common experimental path for the use of AI.

At 12:30 p.m., the seminar organized by the Ministry for Sport and Youth titled “Countering the phenomenon of doping in sport between science and current affairs” will be held (Spadolini Pavilion, Attic Floor). The event represents an opportunity to explain and better understand the phenomenon of doping, also in light of the Olympic and Paralympic event Milano Cortina 2026 and the opening of the new analysis laboratory.

At the stand of the Regional School Office of Tuscany (Padiglione delle Ghiaie) at 12:30 p.m., the President of the Tuscany Region Eugenio Giani will recall the figure of Pinocchio and Collodi in the presence of 40 students from the Dance High School of the Convitto Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele II of Arezzo.

Didacta Italia is organized by Firenze Fiera with the scientific partnership of INDIRE. Partner: Didacta International. The fair offers a very high-level program supported by an Organizing Committee composed of: the Ministry of Education and Merit, the Ministry of University and Research, the Conference of Italian University Rectors, the Tuscany Region, the Regional School Office for Tuscany, the Municipality of Florence, Unioncamere, the Florence Chamber of Commerce, ITKAM and the Destination Florence Foundation.

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