The industry gets back on track at Lineapelle, embodying internationalism and resilience

LINEAPELLE 108, held at Fiera Milano Rho from 15 to 17 September 2026, firmly established the event’s role as an international benchmark and strategic hub for the global leather, materials, accessories and components industry serving the fashion, luxury and design sectors. Against a global macroeconomic backdrop still characterised by economic uncertainty and persistent geopolitical tensions, the event recorded a solid performance, demonstrating the sector’s remarkable resilience and its strong ability to adapt.

The three-day fair saw the participation of 1,029 exhibitors and attracted 22,800 trade visitors, including over 17,000 buyers. The most significant figure relates to international appeal: as many as 43 per cent of visitors travelled to Milan from 114 countries, confirming the event’s indispensable global reach.

This result marks a 10 per cent increase compared with the benchmark edition in September 2025. This increase takes on even greater significance when compared with last February’s event, against which there was a strong upturn in both visitor numbers (+35%) and exhibitor numbers (+21%), brilliantly overcoming the logistical challenges that had characterised the start of the year due to the event coinciding with the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Beyond the figures, LINEAPELLE 108 succeeded in interpreting and conveying the image of an industry which, whilst facing a complex economic climate and markets whose foundations have been profoundly transformed, is now seeing the first positive signs that emerged during 2026.

The event’s effectiveness was also reflected in the success of its cultural and educational programme. The packed programme of talks, workshops and presentations broadened the commercial scope of the event, transforming it into an indispensable forum for discussion. At the heart of the debate were the key themes that are reshaping the sector’s future: the interplay between creativity and innovation, the urgent need for tangible sustainability supported by new technologies, the training of the next generation, and an analysis of the changing market landscape.

With this chapter now successfully concluded, the event will return for its next edition, dedicated to the 2028 summer season, which will once again take place in Milan from Tuesday 23 to Thursday 25 February 2027.