The Florentine trade fair reaffirms its central role on the international men’s fashion scene: 12,500 buyers, 758 exhibitors and an energy that defies the uncertainties of the global market.
Fairs news
March 2026
Pitti Uomo sets the pace. The 109th edition, held at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, once again delivered solid figures — around 12,500 buyers and nearly 19,000 visitors in total — at a time when the international market is treading on thin ice.
“A Pitti Uomo where a wonderful, dynamic atmosphere was felt, injecting positivity into the entire system,” said Raffaello Napoleone, CEO of Pitti Immagine. The 5,000 foreign buyers in attendance — up on 2024 — speak volumes about the positive atmosphere that prevailed.
The growing markets paint an interesting geographical picture: the UK, the US, Japan, Greece and Portugal are doing well. The Nordic bloc is performing very well — Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland are showing a marked increase. Chinese attendance remains steady, with a balance between Hong Kong and mainland China. And among the surprises, Lebanon, Egypt and the Middle East are back on the scene.
Italian buyers have fallen slightly, standing at around 7,500: a sign reflecting the well-known difficulties in domestic distribution. No drama, but a figure not to be ignored.
Among the 758 exhibitors — the real protagonists, according to Napoleone — research and innovation dominated the scene. At the Fortezza, the future was discussed with a down-to-earth approach: no slogans, just collections and direct engagement with the world’s most important buyers.
Pitti 109 demonstrates once again that, despite international tensions, those who invest in quality find partners.
Last September’s edition saw an increase in the number of exhibitors, partly due to two new venues in the Tortona District. There was also a rise in the number of international (14 per cent) and Italian (10 per cent) buyers, bringing the total to 9,000 industry professionals.
Italian fashion returns to the forefront in Central Asia with 81 companies taking part in La Moda Italiana@Almaty, which took place from 30 September to 2 October in the Kazakh city.
MICAM Milan, MIPEL, Milano Fashion&Jewels and TheOneMilano bring the September 2026 edition to a close with buyers from Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa. The focus is on the relationship between digital tools and face-to-face meetings at the trade fair.