The Verona trade fair reaches its sixty-edition milestone, opening a new era for international architecture and design
Authentic materials are driving the transition of contemporary construction. From September 22 to 25, 2026, Veronafiere will host the sixtieth edition of Marmomac. Today, the event represents the global benchmark for the entire sector. This edition does not merely celebrate the exhibition’s history; on the contrary, it connects industrial excellence with cutting-edge design visions. Taking center stage, the natural stone supply chain showcases solutions capable of combining design, technology, and sustainability.
A global hub born from Veronese tradition
The exhibition originated in 1940 in Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella as a small local show. Over the decades, the appointment has experienced extraordinary growth. Industry data confirms the event’s global leadership:
- 1,400 exhibitors from over 54 countries.
- A community of 50,000 operators and professionals in the sector.
- Visitors and buyers arriving from 140 different countries.
The fair unites local manufacturing traditions with major foreign markets. Today, the latter responds to the challenges of modern architecture by offering a comprehensive overview of raw materials, machinery, and innovative finishes.
THE BEDROCK: Design culture at Hall 10
This year’s true cultural revolution takes place inside Hall 10. The historic exhibition space shifts its identity to become THE BEDROCK – Leading the Future of Natural Stone. Four guest curators guide the public through a highly stimulating, multidisciplinary journey.
Architects Davide Fabio Colaci and Joseph Grima—protagonists of design’s new wave—are spearheading two major exhibition projects. Their installations interact with the reflections of Raffaello Galiotto and Giuseppe Fallacara. In this space, the natural stone supply chain pushes past traditional boundaries. Marble ceases to be a mere commercial product and transforms into a tool for interpreting urban metamorphoses.
City installations and sustainability awards
The bond between architecture and material extends beyond the fair’s exhibition halls. The widespread program Marmomac & The City, organized in partnership with White Carrara, brings the event directly into Verona’s historic center. Internationally renowned designers such as Ross Lovegrove, Antonio Aricò, and Claudio Nardi are behind high-impact installations in the city’s squares.
Furthermore, the sixtieth edition launches the International “Sustainable Excellence” Award in collaboration with the University of Verona. This accolade recognizes machinery and projects capable of reducing energy consumption. The award joins the famous Best Communicator Award, which celebrates companies that successfully enhance marble through art and visual communication.
Professional training and ecological transition with Carlo Ratti
Professional growth remains a strategic pillar thanks to the activities of the Marmomac Academy. This international platform organizes workshops dedicated to new stone processing techniques. The 2026 edition opens with a highly anticipated keynote lecture by Carlo Ratti. The architect and curator will analyze the major transitions of the present day, focusing on the connection between advanced technology and urban spaces.
Sixty years after its inception, Marmomac demonstrates an extraordinary capacity for renewal. Consequently, the entire natural stone supply chain gathers in Verona to shape the cities of tomorrow and redefine the parameters of sustainable design.
