The 101st edition of MICAM and the 129th edition of MIPEL ended in Milan on 24 February 2026 after 3 days of business meetings, trend discussions and industry networking .
Organisers reported strong international participation, welcoming over 20,000 visitors, 54% international and 46% Italian.
The event hosted 795 exhibitors in total, including 402 international and 393 Italian companies.
Faraz Salman, Director, Leather Goods, Superhouse Limited, who visited MIPEL, told Leathernews.org
“The leather goods industry is no longer driven by legacy or scale alone. The market is resetting & the winners will be those who combine strong design with speed, engineering depth, sustainable materials & operational efficiency.”
– Faraz Salman, Director, Leather Goods, Superhouse Limited
Among the most appreciated features was the MICAM Next area, with seminars organized in collaboration with WIRED Italia and the fashion shows.
“Brands & manufacturers who adapt quickly & push newness with intent are gaining attention. Those waiting for demand to return to old patterns risk becoming irrelevant.”
– Faraz Salman, Director, Leather Goods, Superhouse Limited
Italy’s education minister Giuseppe Valditara attended the event, where industry representatives formally signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) on education and training.
The agreement aims to strengthen collaboration between Italy’s technical institutes and companies in the leather and footwear industries. Businesses are expected to play a more active role in student training, including sending technicians into classrooms.
There was also strong interest in M&M – The Hub, the space dedicated to training and advanced manufacturing, where the MICAM Academy and craft workshops curated by Arsutoria School attracted over 500 students during the three days of the event.
Industry leaders see the move as a practical step to bring younger talent with digital skills into traditional manufacturing sectors.
The next editions of Micam and Mipel are scheduled to take place in Milan from September 13 to 15, 2026.
