Vicenzaoro Highlights, January 2026 The Art and Business Ecosystem

Vicenzaoro January 2026 was inaugurated yesterday with a crowded Opening Ceremony during which institutions and IEG Italian Exhibition Group management reported important numbers: first and foremost, over 1,300 exhibitors – of which 40% foreign from 30 countries – attracting the interest of an audience of over 560 hosted buyers from 65 countries in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), who together paint a complex and dynamic picture of the sector, confirming Vicenzaoro’s established role as an “ambassador” of Italian excellence around the world. The proceedings were opened by Deputy Director of TG5, Giuseppe De Filippi, who immediately drew the attention of entrepreneurs and accredited media to the progress of the redevelopment work on the Expo Center: «The promise to complete 22,000 square meters of extra space within a maximum of two years, with work starting in February 2024, will be kept, and this is an extraordinary achievement and a powerful message of growth for the industry.» The first two guests on stage continued on this theme: Alberto Stefani, the Veneto Region’s new governor, who described Vicenzaoro as «an extraordinary reality and a source of pride for the region», noting that «with over 1,200 artisan businesses, the area generates 26% of the sector’s national exports», and then Corrado Peraboni, CEO of IEG, who spoke of a turning-point edition. «Two and a half years ago, everyone thought we would have to move the show elsewhere for four editions. Instead, in 24 months, with the support of the industry and institutions, we have managed to meet the deadline. And this magic happens when the right people come together in the right place.» Hence this edition’s claim: “People. Products. Places”. Mentioned in the CEO’s speech, Luca Zaia added: «Vicenza’s goldsmiths are world ambassadors for Veneto and Italian craftsmanship: they take quality, style, innovation and a work culture that sets us apart wherever they go at a time that can be complicated, with conflicts affecting markets and an international climate in which the word “war” rather than the word “peace” is heard all too often. As institutions and business associations, we must continue to stand by the world of goldsmithing.» Speaking of exports, Matteo Zoppas, President of the Italian Trade Agency, pointed out that «ITA brings 12,000 foreign operators, including buyers and journalists, every year, and according to recent Istat research, companies that decide to use our services have an average growth of 10%.» Giovanni Possamai, Mayor of Vicenza, focused on the perfect combination of business and art that his city offers, recalling how the first edition of The Vicenza Symposium was appreciated by the more than 100 entrepreneurs who attended last September, thanks in part to the impressive setting of the Basilica Palladiana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. «Talking of innovation in a 16th-century building is extraordinary. It means talking about growth that involves both public and private investment, as in the case of the new station that will soon be built in front of the Expo Center and the connection to Venice airport.» Andrea Nardin, President of the Province, emphasized IEG’s valuable contribution in stimulating the growth of future generations of goldsmiths with talks and training. Maria Cristina Squarcialupi, the new President of Confindustria Federorafi, closed the ceremony: «My term of office begins in a complex market context: in the first nine months of 2025, sector exports fell by more than 15% compared to 2024, with an estimated loss of around €2 billion at the end of the year. Geopolitical instability, rising raw material prices, tariffs and changes in consumer behaviour are weighing heavily, with markets such as Turkey and the United States slowing down, while the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and the United Kingdom are holding steady. Despite this, the Italian jewellery industry is still an Italian manufacturing excellence and the third largest producer in the world. My mandate focuses on continuity of governance, enhancement of the supply chain and strengthening of services to businesses. The key word is “systemization”!»