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ITALY – SALONE DEL MOBILE 2026 KICKS OFF WITH OVER 1,900 EXHIBITORS AND THE DEBUT OF SALONE CONTRACT AND SALONE RARITAS. 300,000 TOURISTS AND 255 MILLION EUROS IN REVENUE EXPECTED
The Milanese kermesse prepares to welcome nearly two thousand companies, confirming its central role in the global furnishing landscape. This year’s edition focuses on two strategic pillars: a section dedicated to large-scale international projects and a space reserved for limited editions and niche design. These new growth areas offer industry professionals a comprehensive overview ranging from high-end interior architecture supplies to the most sought-after unique pieces, expanding the fair’s traditional boundaries toward high-value-added market segments.
Over 1,900 exhibitors (36.6% from abroad), 227 brands making debuts or returns, and over 169,000 square meters of net exhibition space. The 64th edition of Salone del Mobile.Milano (April 21-26, Fiera Milano, Rho) confirms itself as a strategic engine for the industry and the host city, with an estimated tourism impact exceeding 255.3 million euros, marking a 14.7% increase compared to 2025. This data comes from the Research Center of Confcommercio Milano Lodi Monza Brianza, which also highlights an increase in attendance: over 319,400 visitors (+5.5%), of whom 62.4% are from abroad. These figures clearly illustrate the international weight of the event and Milan’s increasingly central role in the global design scene.
Four annual events at the heart of the offering trace the future of living: Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition, Workplace3.0, and S.Project, for a total of 915 brands (38.57% from abroad), including 139 first-time or returning exhibitors. Great anticipation surrounds the Biennials EuroCucina / FTK – Technology For the Kitchen, featuring 106 brands from 17 countries, and the International Bathroom Exhibition with 163 brands from 14 countries. Meanwhile, SaloneSatellite will once again highlight the most experimental frontiers of design with 700 designers under 35 and 22 schools and universities from around the world.
The common thread for the 2026 edition is an architecture of content and exhibition paths that are increasingly integrated. The most significant shift is the expansion of the Salone’s scope, consolidating its evolutionary path from a product platform to a system infrastructure, with a vision oriented toward the future of manufacturing and international markets. This direction is embodied by the year’s two novelties: Salone Contract and Salone Raritas.
Salone Contract was created to open the Salone system to the scale of large integrated projects. The goal is to strengthen the supply chain’s presence in high-growth sectors: hospitality, real estate, public spaces, and yachting—contexts that require new skills and access tools. The heart of this 2026 spin-off will be the first day of the International Forum, featuring a lecture by Rem Koolhaas and the public presentation of the Masterplan 2027 signed by David Gianotten of OMA. This will be accompanied by a thematic path among exhibitors already active in the segment and a new matchmaking platform dedicated to international top players.
Exploring a different project scale, Salone Raritas. Curated icons, unique objects, and outsider pieces (Pavilion 9) will open an “architectural lantern” onto a parallel universe focused on unique collectible objects. Featuring 28 exhibitors and an international constellation including galleries like Nilufar, COLLECTIONAL, and Salviati x Draga & Aurel, the new platform—curated by Annalisa Rosso with exhibition design by Formafantasma—expands the Salone’s dialogue with architects and interior designers, establishing itself as an authoritative reference for the professional design market.
Maria Porro, President of Salone del Mobile.Milano, states: “The Salone del Mobile was born from a clear idea: to give shape each year to an event where the industry can recognize itself and strengthen its ability to navigate change. Today, this responsibility is even more evident. We are in a phase where markets, supply chains, and industrial priorities are being redesigned. In this scenario, the Salone must help the sector read the present with clarity and build its future positioning. Salone Contract and Salone Raritas respond to these transformations.”
Under the spotlight is a home industry expressing production solidity and innovation. Within this context is Aurea, an Architectural Fiction, by the Parisian studio Maison Numéro 20, led by Oscar Lucien Ono—an imaginary hotel built as a sequence of narrative spaces reflecting on luxury as sensitivity and awareness.
At EuroCucina / FTK, the focus is on kitchens and large appliances as a convergence point for technology, sustainability, and AI. The International Bathroom Exhibition interprets the space as a “home spa” oriented toward wellness and longevity.
SaloneSatellite remains one of the most sensitive observatories. The chosen theme, Skilled Craftsmanship + Innovation, puts craftsmanship back at the center as a language for the future, bridging manual heritage and technological vision.
Claudio Feltrin, President of FederlegnoArredo, comments: “When geopolitical instability dominates the 2026 international context, the Salone del Mobile.Milano remains an essential appointment. According to our Research Center, the wood-furniture supply chain closed 2025 with a turnover exceeding 52 billion euros. The Salone is a tangible response to the difficulties of the moment: a place where companies, especially SMEs, can strengthen their positioning and intercept new interlocutors.”
Culture as Project Infrastructure
Alongside the exhibition, the Salone is investing in culture. The public program Drafting Futures. Conversations about Next Perspectives returns for its fourth edition. Additionally, the exhibition ABITO, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relates fashion and design to show how society changes. The Ministry of Culture also joins with MADE IN MiC, featuring a section on “Archetypes” (1900-1945), while The Wonder Chain by Beppe Finessi retraces the history of the Italian wood-furniture sector.
Milan, the City of the Salone
For the sixth consecutive year, the opening night will be celebrated at Teatro alla Scala with a concert by the Filarmonica della Scala conducted by Michele Mariotti.
On April 24, Common Archive – Design White Night will see Milan’s historical design archives open to the public for over 50 guided tours and talks. Other urban initiatives include the Design Kiosk in Piazza della Scala and an itinerary by Bianca Felicori (Forgotten Architecture) through five iconic 20th-century buildings.
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala notes: “The Salone del Mobile reflects the drive for innovation and creativity that animates our city. It is thanks to the Salone that Milan is an established international reference point for design.”
Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardy Region, concludes: “The 2026 edition presents numerous strategic initiatives. Milan and Lombardy offer an extraordinary showcase for our tradition of design and the spirit of ingenuity emanating from our territories.”
Partners The ICE Agency continues its vital support, welcoming international operators to the IBL — International Business Lounge. Partners for 2026 include Intesa Sanpaolo, Panerai, K-WAY, Ca’ del Bosco, S.Bernardo, illycaffè, Maserati, Sigma, Messika, Trenord, OVS, and various radio networks. Frecciarossa is the official train of this edition.