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Guide · Exhibiting in Italy
Exhibiting at a trade fair in Italy: a practical guide for foreign exhibitors.
What a company coming from China or from abroad needs to know before exhibiting at Milan, Bologna, Verona, Rimini or any other Italian fair: the timeline, the organiser's rules, the certificates Italian halls ask for, and the mistakes that cost money on the first build-up day.
When to start: a realistic timeline
- 9–12 months before. Book your space with the organiser. For the big Milan and Bologna shows the best positions go to returning exhibitors, so ask early.
- 6–4 months before. Choose the stand builder, agree on the design and get the 3D render. Book hotels for your team: during big fairs they fill up fast.
- 3–2 months before. Submit the stand drawings to the organiser and order services: electrical power, water, internet, cleaning. Each has a deadline in the exhibitor manual.
- 6–4 weeks before. Graphics files final, shipping of your exhibits organised with the forwarder, visas and invitation letters ready.
- Build-up days. Usually two to five days before opening, with strict hours and unloading slots. Dismantling starts right after closing.
The organiser's technical regulations
- Exhibitor manual. Every Italian fair publishes a technical regulation (regolamento tecnico): maximum heights, distance from neighbouring stands, rules for two-storey stands and hanging structures. Read it before designing, not after.
- Drawing approval. Stands above a certain height, two-storey stands and hanging rigging need drawings and sometimes a structural report signed by an engineer, approved by the organiser.
- Hanging structures. Banners and trusses hung from the hall ceiling can only be installed by the organiser's authorised riggers, on request and at extra cost.
Certificates Italian halls will ask for
- Electrical declaration of conformity. The stand's electrical system must be installed by a qualified company, which signs a declaration of conformity under Italian law (Ministerial Decree 37/2008). Without it the organiser will not switch on the power.
- Fire-rated materials. Panels, fabrics, carpets and decorations must have the fire reaction class required by the regulation, with certificates available on the stand. Materials bought abroad without Italian or EU certification may be refused.
- Safety on site. Build-up and dismantling are construction work under Italian safety rules: crews need safety documentation, protective equipment and, where required, the organiser's passes.
Shipping exhibits and travelling to Italy
- Use an exhibition forwarder. Most fairs have an official forwarder who knows the halls, the unloading slots and customs. Goods from China usually travel by sea, so plan in months, not weeks.
- Temporary import. Exhibits that return home after the show can enter under temporary admission, for example with an ATA Carnet. Your forwarder or chamber of commerce can advise on the right procedure.
- Visas and invitation letters. Staff from countries that need a Schengen visa should request an invitation letter from the organiser and apply early, especially before busy seasons.
- Who builds the stand. Your exhibits are your forwarder's job; the stand structure, furniture, graphics and electrics are ours. We coordinate the two so they arrive in the right order.
Stand pages for the main Italian fairs
EICMA stand builderCosmoprof stand builderMICAM stand builderMIDO stand builderHostMilano stand builderSalone del Mobile stand builderCersaie stand builderMarmomac stand builderEIMA International stand builderVicenzaOro stand builderEcomondo stand builderMacfrut stand builderVinitaly stand builderSigep stand builderCibus stand builderPitti Uomo stand builderExpo Riva Schuh stand builderSicam stand builderLineapelle stand builderKEY stand builderEMO Milano stand builderZoomark stand builderLamiera stand builderMECSPE stand builderTUTTOFOOD stand builder
How we work
How we work with foreign exhibitors.
- BriefFair, hall, floor space and type of stand, goals and budget. If you already have a design, we start from that.
- Design and quote3D render and itemised quote. Work starts only when you approve.
- Organiser approvalsDrawings, electrical system, connections and passes submitted according to the fair's technical regulations.
- Production and build-upStructures, graphics and furniture checked before leaving; installation during the build-up days.
- Show and dismantlingAssistance during the show, dismantling at the end and, if the stand is yours, storage for next time.
Request your stand
Fill in the fields: WhatsApp opens with your request ready. No WhatsApp? Use the email link.
- Free itemised quote
- Also at short notice
- One contact person until dismantling
FAQ
Questions we are often asked.
How early should a foreign company book a stand builder in Italy?
Four to six months before the fair is comfortable for a custom stand. With modular or rental solutions we can work with much less time; write to us anyway, even close to opening.
Can an Italian stand builder work from our own design?
Yes. We build from your designer's drawings, check them against the Italian technical regulations and propose changes only where the rules or the materials require it.
Do we need Italian certificates for the stand?
Yes: the electrical declaration of conformity and the fire-rating certificates of the materials. We provide both as part of our service.
Can we pay and sign the contract from China?
Yes. We sign directly with your company and send an itemised quote in euro; payment is by international bank transfer.
Exhibiting at a fair in Italy?
Tell us the fair, the dates and your floor space. We will reply with what you need and what it costs, also at short notice.