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.
From 25 to 28 October 2026, the Global Footwear Sustainability Summit returns to China for its fourteenth edition. Six hundred delegates, over two hundred brands and four days packed with crucial issues to address.
The Hanoi International Footwear and Leather Goods Fair, originally scheduled for 15–17 October 2026 at the Hanoi Vietnam Exposition Centre (VEC), has been rescheduled for 30 November to 2 December 2027.