Press releases

Over 50% of the exhibition spaces are already occupied, with foreign exhibitors at 41%.
In Rimini, “SmartLink” will make its world premiere: the new protocol that speaks the language of the future of vending.

Venditalia 2026 (May 6–8, 2026) is shaping up to be a record-breaking edition: over 300 expected brands (including industry leaders), 30,000 square meters of exhibition space, 8 halls, growing international visibility, and a well-established network of relationships with the market’s key players.
The trade show, taking place for the first time at the modern Rimini Expo Centre thanks to the strategic partnership between CONFIDA – the Italian Vending Association – and Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), one of Europe’s leading exhibition organizers, already confirms six months in advance its role as an international platform and the leading European event for the vending industry.

As of today, more than 50% of the exhibition spaces are already occupied, and foreign exhibitors account for 41% of the total—a record for the event. This is a significant response for a sector that, in Europe in 2024, generated €26.4 billion in revenue, with 4.5 million machines installed and 34.5 billion products sold.
Venditalia will be the perfect opportunity to showcase the ecosystem that brings together all the key players in the vending supply chain: technology manufacturers, operators, product suppliers, and stakeholders, creating real business and networking opportunities through a program of conferences and workshops (including sessions in English) on the most relevant topics in the vending industry.

Never before has the vending sector experienced such a technological acceleration, impacting the entire value chain: from machine design to remote management, digital payments, and customer experience.
At Venditalia 2026, SmartLink will make its world premiere—the new communication protocol between vending machines, payment systems, and management software, promoted by the European Vending & Coffee Service Association (EVA). The goal is to create a more connected, efficient system that is ready for the future.

“The vending sector is undergoing a true ‘Digital Revolution,’”- explains Ernesto Piloni, CEO of Venditalia - “With connectivity, a vending machine can be managed remotely, adjusting settings and parameters in real time and analysing big data. The integration of AI will make many processes more efficient. And let’s not forget consumer-facing innovations: from touchscreens to cashless digital payment systems, and the rapidly growing payment apps—33% of the more than 800,000 vending machines installed across Italy are equipped with them, and for 1 in 4 consumers, it’s the preferred payment method. Vending technology also has exceptional potential beyond the traditional channel: it can provide 24/7 service in multiple sectors, from retail to hospitality.”

“Venditalia is a prestigious showcase for Made in Italy foodtech innovation,” - continues Marco Cecchini, President of Venditalia - “Thanks to the partnership between Italian Exhibition Group and CONFIDA—which enriches IEG’s already extensive portfolio of out-of-home trade shows—the event will now benefit from a dynamic, international setting that will broaden its audience of exhibitors and visitors, strengthening its presence both in Italy and worldwide.”

New consumption models will take center stage in this edition, under the claim “Think Automatic”: vending machines are entering unconventional spaces (from coworking hubs to smart hotels, from equipped camper areas to retail) to diversify, expand, and differentiate the offering in non-food sectors (fashion, tech, personal care, health & pharma), going beyond traditional vending.
An exhibition area will be dedicated to emerging products and technologies from start-ups and young entrepreneurial ventures, both Italian and international, while workshops on trends and innovations in the vending sector will complete the program.

Find out more at www.venditalia.com

How to reach the trade show

Rimini Expo Centre, one of the most modern in Europe for technology and services, is easily accessible thanks to an efficient network of national and international connections:

• By plane: Bologna International Airport, just 60 minutes away, is connected by a comprehensive free shuttle bus service.
• By train: a high-speed railway station inside the exhibition center (“Rimini Fiera,” opposite the SOUTH entrance) connects major Italian cities: Florence (2h), Milan (2h30), Rome (3h30).
• By car: A14 highway, exit at Rimini Sud (7 km) or Rimini Nord (6 km).
• Parking: around 11,000 parking spaces available near the three entrances, connected by a shuttle service.
• Rimini Expo Centre is located at Via Emilia 155. The entrance dedicated to Venditalia will be the SOUTH entrance.
• The Expo Centre is just 10 minutes from Rimini city center and the seaside, where you’ll find a wide range of hotels offering competitive rates all year round.
• Several buses connect the city to the exhibition district and stop in front of the SOUTH entrance.
• Many hotels provide shuttle bus services to and from the e\xhibition center during trade show periods.

Press Office Venditalia – SEC Newgate Italia

Teresa Baroni – teresa.baroni@secnewgate.it - 340 760 8713

Martina Basile – martina.basile@secnewgate.it – 338 9034914

Vending Expo
A company jointly owned by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), one of Europe’s leading exhibition organizers, with a portfolio of over 60 events (including Sigep, Ecomondo, RiminiWellness) and a strong presence in major international markets, and CONFIDA, the only trade association representing the various product sectors across the entire food and beverage vending supply chain. It is a member of Confcommercio – Enterprises for Italy and, within the EU, a partner of EVA (European Vending & Coffee Service Association).

One and a half months before the opening of the event—taking place for the first time at the Rimini Expo Centre—exhibition space is virtually sold out.

Venditalia 2026, scheduled at the Rimini Expo Centre from 6 to 8 May 2026, is already shaping up to be a success thanks to the remarkable number of registrations recorded so far, with exhibition space now almost entirely sold out. Moreover, with just one and a half months to go before the opening, as many as 100 exhibitors will be making their debut at this year’s edition, out of more than 300 in total. This figure highlights the event’s ability to attract new players and further expand its exhibition scope, reinforcing its role as a key hub for the vending industry not only at a European level but globally.

Among the most notable trends is the increase in international participation. Europe, in particular, is experiencing strong growth. Spain and France, two strategic markets for the sector, are delivering significant performances: the number of Spanish companies participating has increased by 90% compared to the 2024 edition, with nearly 95% more exhibition space occupied, while French companies are recording a 33% increase in participation and a 118% rise in booked exhibition space. There is also strong growth among exhibitors from Eastern Europe: Poland has quadrupled its presence both in terms of exhibiting companies and square metres occupied (+300%), followed by the Czech Republic (+100% exhibitors and +125% sqm occupied), Ukraine (+50% exhibitors and +315% sqm occupied), Croatia (+50% exhibitors and +71% sqm occupied), and Hungary (+33% exhibitors and +41% sqm occupied). Compared to 2024, this year will also see participation from companies based in Greece, Estonia, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland. In addition, thanks to the Buyer Program, aimed at bringing selected vending operators from key non-European markets to Rimini, buyers from Africa, Europe, Asia and South America have already confirmed their attendance.

“The 2026 edition of Venditalia is set to become an even broader and more diversified international platform, capable of reflecting market evolution and the new opportunities for industry players,” commented Ernesto Piloni, CEO of Venditalia. “We will provide a 360-degree overview of our supply chain: from vending technologies to products and ingredients for on-the-go consumption; from payment systems and digital solutions to equipment and components; all the way to professional services and new automated retail models. A journey through our sector designed to highlight its resilience, innovation and sustainability.”

Among the new features is the introduction of the Innovation District, where a selection of innovative startups in the sector (currently 12, including three international ones) will showcase new solutions and emerging business models, enriching the dialogue between established industry players and new entrepreneurial ventures. Examples include smart vending and hydration technologies connected to IoT systems, AI applications for optimizing vending machine performance, healthy and gluten-free food & beverage solutions, workplace wellness services, devices for emergency health safety, sustainable systems for reducing waste and consumption in working environments, and much more.

Building on these strong results, the event will span 8 halls, covering a gross exhibition area of approximately 30,000 square metres, with over 300 brands represented across the entire vending supply chain.

Visitor interest is also on the rise: just a few days after the opening of the dedicated section on the official website, online registrations suggest an attendance of approximately 20,000 visitors over the three days of the event.

Among the new formats introduced this year is a thematic area dedicated to the hospitality sector, featuring the reconstruction of a hotel lobby where vending integrates with hospitality services. This project highlights how automated distribution can become part of the new guest experience, offering 24/7 solutions to support both staff and visitors.

Alongside the exhibition area, Venditalia 2026 will also feature a comprehensive programme of around 20 meetings, events and discussion sessions focused on the key topics shaping the industry: from technological innovation (with a focus on Artificial Intelligence and the preview presentation of the new SmartLink vending machine communication protocol) to sustainability (including insights into the European PPWR packaging regulation and the presentation of a life cycle assessment study on vending machines), as well as the evolution of consumption models.

Venditalia 2026 thus confirms its role as an international platform for networking, innovation and business in the vending sector, ready to welcome the entire automated distribution supply chain to share visions, technologies and new growth perspectives.

Ufficio stampa Venditalia – SEC Newgate Italia

Teresa Baroni – teresa.baroni@secnewgate.it - 340 760 8713

Martina Basile – martina.basile@secnewgate.it – 338 9034914

Vending Expo

Società partecipata da Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), uno dei principali operatori fieristici europei, con un portafoglio di oltre 60 manifestazioni (tra cui Sigep, Ecomondo, RiminiWelness) e una presenza consolidata nei principali mercati internazionali, e CONFIDA, l’unica associazione di categoria che rappresenta i diversi comparti merceologici dell'intera filiera della Distribuzione Automatica di alimenti e bevande. Aderisce a Confcommercio - Imprese per l'Italia e, nell'ambito UE, è partner di EVA (European Vending & Coffee Service Association).

• The leading international event dedicated to vending will have a new location, new organisational synergies and the same commitment to innovation.

• The 2026 edition will mark the start of the collaboration between CONFIDA, the Italian Vending Association which founded the event in 1998, and Italian Exhibition Group

 Rimini, 9 July 2025 – Venditalia, the go-to event for the vending world, officially announces the dates of its next edition: 6 to 8 May 2026. For the first time, the event will take place at Rimini Expo Centre: here, work will focus on creating a hub where the future of vending is taking shape.

With more than EUR 19 billion in annual turnover, 34 billion snacks, 4.5 million vending machines installed in Europe, more than 10,000 active companies and 110,000 jobs, the vending sector is a supply chain with a high economic impact, a key player in the digital transition and new models of automated consumption.

The 2026 edition also marks the start of the collaboration between CONFIDA, the Italian Vending Association which founded the event in 1998, and Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), one of Europe’s leading exhibition players. This synergy combines CONFIDA’s specialist skills and authority in the vending sector and the organisational strength of IEG’s global network.

Venditalia 2026 will provide the vending industry with eight completely reorganised exhibition halls, greater accessibility, an ample range of hotel accommodation and more competitive costs – key advantages to encourage Italian and foreign companies to attend.

The new exhibition will offer an even broader and more diverse range of exhibits, with Italian and international exhibitors ready to preview innovative products, cutting-edge technologies and solutions that are reshaping the future of vending.

The programme will also include debates, thematic meetings, workshops and in-depth discussions dedicated to global trends and new market requirements, to offer visitors a comprehensive, dynamic and forward-looking experience.

Venditalia 2026 will set the standard for all companies in the vending supply chain and beyond to get a close insight into how the vending world is changing and actively participate in its transformation.

Innovation, made-in-Italy excellence and business will therefore join forces at Venditalia at Rimini Expo Centre, from 6 to 8 May 2026.