The 90th edition of MIDA, the Florence International Handicrafts Exhibition, was presented at the headquarters of the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy, in the presence of Minister Adolfo Urso. The event, organized by Firenze Fiera with the support of the main institutions and trade associations, will be held from April 25 to May 3, 2026 in the historic venue of the Fortezza da Basso, thus celebrating nine decades of exhibitions dedicated to artistic craftsmanship.
The presentation was attended by Lorenzo Becattini, president of Firenze Fiera, Elisa Guidi, art director of MIDA, and Alessandra Pastorelli of the General Directorate of the Country System of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event, inaugurated in 1931 and interrupted only during World War II, is one of the oldest in Europe. Every year it gathers the best of world craftsmanship, ranging from clothing to design, from goldsmithing to furnishing accessories, from giftware to beauty, representing a sector that in Italy includes 1.25 million companies, equal to almost a quarter of the national production system, and employs more than 2.6 million people.
MIDA is the first Italian exhibition to obtain international certification and has historically sought to reconcile tradition and innovation, adapting to the evolution of the craft sector. The 2026 edition confirms this approach, welcoming some 500 Italian and foreign exhibitors, consolidating the event’s role as one of the main European events for quality craftsmanship.
The event has been officially included among the initiatives recognized by the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy for the National Made in Italy Day, underscoring the institutional importance of the exhibition and its role in promoting artisan excellence and the quality of Italian know-how. The event also strengthens the city of Florence’s international relations through twinning with Riga, Ningbo and Krakow, initiating collaboration and cultural exchange projects focused on the enhancement of artisan knowledge.
Among the side events, the international conference The National and European System of Protection for Geographical Indications for Artisan and Industrial Products, promoted by the Tuscany Region in collaboration with the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy and the European Commission’s DG-Grow and EUIPO, will be held at the Teatrino Lorenese on April 29. The meeting, part of the European Union’s CIGI Capitals Tour, will delve into the new protection regime for Geographical Indications that came into force in December 2025, explaining how it works, the role of the regions and the opportunities for businesses and trade associations. In Tuscany, 58 products have already been identified as Geographical Indication candidates, reflecting the relevance of the topic for the artisan sector and 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, with online streaming of the event available. The conference, titled Crafting Wellbeing: Practices, Communities and the Power of Making, will bring together practitioners, institutions and organizations in the field to analyze the role of craft in the well-being of communities and people. The initiative will present findings from European research on the link between craft practices, social resilience and quality of life.
Alongside the moments of discussion, MIDA offers promotional and dissemination activities through the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy’s booth and dedicated workshops. The LAO School of Goldsmith Arts will be present at the Sala della Volta, while guided tours of the Fortezza da Basso basement will be organized in collaboration with the Florentine Civic Museums and the MUS.E Foundation.
The Spadolini Pavilion will host on the attic floor the MADE IN MIM project, promoted by the Ministry of Education and Merit, aimed at enhancing food and wine products made by Italian agricultural and hotel institutes, marked by a dedicated quality label. On the ground floor, craft workshops open to the public and cooking shows will be held, while the Cavaniglia Pavilion will host an exhibition dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Exhibition, curated by the archives of the Tuscany Region. From April 25 to May 2, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Fortezza da Basso will host open-air evening musical performances: live performances, from sax to harp to solo vocals, reinterpreted in a contemporary key with DJ accompaniment, transforming the historic venue into a large shared stage.
“The 90th edition of this important trade fair event represents a decisive moment to reflect on what we can do, as early as this year, to make the world of Italian craftsmanship-one of the fundamental assets of our country’s entire production system-increasingly sustainable and competitive,” said Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Senator Adolfo Urso. “Our hope is that 2026 will truly become the year of Italian craft businesses, which today finally have the opportunity to benefit from the bill on small and medium-sized enterprises and craftsmanship, recently approved definitively by Parliament. A measure that makes it possible to update an outdated framework law, dating back more than forty years, and to introduce concrete and innovative tools, such as support for the generational transfer of skills, so as to ensure continuity and enhancement of artisan knowledge. In this way, the work, businesses and territories of our country, with their artisan areas that represent a backbone of the Italian production system, will be enhanced. A value that finds full expression thanks to MIDA exhibitors and visitors, protagonists in celebrating what is today the heart of Made in Italy: Italian craftsmanship.”
“MIDA - Mostra Internazionale dell’Artigianato,” said Lorenzo Becattini, president of Firenze Fiera, “has always represented a privileged space to learn about, enhance and grow the world of craftsmanship. It is no coincidence that Florence hosts this event every year: a city where craft traditions have historically played a fundamental role not only in the local economy, but in the entire social and cultural fabric of the region. An event that carries in its DNA, and in its long and successful history, the values of tradition, creativity and innovation. MIDA will also be an opportunity to give voice to the profound changes sweeping through the industry: from generational change to the irruption of artificial intelligence. Technology is advancing at an extraordinary pace and cannot be ignored; yet, the sense of humanity, professionalism and inimitable flair of artisans remain-and will remain-at the heart of it all. As Firenze Fiera, it is a source of great pride for us to support an international event that enhances the city and its economic and business fabric by providing a 16th-century fortress integrated with modern and globally competitive fair spaces and services.”
“For MIDA 2026, the 90th edition of the Florence International Handicrafts Fair,” added artistic director Elisa Guidi, “we have built a project path that, while enhancing the history of the event, includes some new elements aimed at an all-round enhancement of handicrafts: first and foremost a program of events, national and international, focused on the analysis and highlighting of the values that craftsmanship can take on in today’s society, thanks also to new regulatory tools.We have built a network of relationships, at various levels, that find in the exhibition a moment of exhibition and content synthesis, giving it the role of a fundamental meeting place for sector stakeholders. Finally, we have tried to open the exhibition to new users, from young people, with workshops to bring them closer to craftsmanship, to tourists, thanks also to targeted visit routes and experiences.MIDA 2026 will be this and much more: a complex event reflecting an equally complex sector with a strong economic, cultural and social value, which is one of the founding elements of our Made in Italy.”
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| MIDA 90: Ninety years of Italian craftsmanship in Florence. |
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