Paint & Coatings Italy 2026 returns to Milan on 28 and 29 October with a bigger venue, a broader technical programme and an even stronger focus on the future of the paint, coatings and surface technology industry.

Following a record-breaking 2025 edition, Paint & Coatings Italy moves to Allianz MiCo for 2026, creating a larger and more dynamic meeting point for professionals working across paints, coatings, inks, adhesives, sealants, construction materials and surface treatments.

This year’s event is designed around one clear idea: helping the coatings industry connect innovation with practical application. Across two focused days, visitors will be able to discover new raw materials, explore formulation technologies, meet specialist suppliers, compare testing and production solutions, and follow a rich programme of scientific and technical content.

For formulators, chemists, R&D teams, manufacturers, technical managers, product developers, procurement professionals and industry decision-makers, Paint & Coatings Italy 2026 offers a concentrated opportunity to understand where the sector is heading and what that means for future products, processes and performance.

A bigger stage for coatings innovation

One of the biggest changes for 2026 is the move to Allianz MiCo in Milan. The new venue gives Paint & Coatings Italy the space to build on the momentum of last year’s edition, which brought together more than 150 leading brands and 2,227 visitors over two days.

That growth reflects the increasing importance of focused, technical events for the coatings sector. As the industry responds to changing regulations, sustainability expectations, performance demands and cost pressures, professionals need more than a general trade show. They need direct access to the suppliers, experts and technologies that can help them solve real formulation, production and compliance challenges.

Paint & Coatings Italy 2026 has been shaped with that need in mind.

The exhibition will cover the full value chain, from raw materials, resins, binders, additives, pigments and fillers to laboratory equipment, testing systems, measuring technologies, production solutions and application tools. This wider scope is especially important for visitors who want to understand not only what new chemistries are entering the market, but also how those materials can be tested, validated, scaled and optimised.

A programme built around the future of the industry

The 2026 agenda brings together different content formats, each designed to offer a specific type of insight.

The main Conference will focus on the regulatory, technological and strategic changes transforming the paints, coatings, adhesives and construction materials sectors. Sessions will address some of the most urgent topics facing the industry, including REACH restrictions on microplastics and PFAS, environmental certifications, greenwashing rules, packaging regulation, VOC management, product compliance and chemical legislation.

Alongside the Conference, the TechFocus programme will offer two days dedicated to innovation, sustainability and formulation technology. These short, targeted sessions are designed to help visitors discover new products, new ingredients and new performance solutions directly from the companies developing them.

The agenda also introduces dedicated specialist areas including Adhesives Forum, Sustainability Academy, Inks Academy and Wood Industry, giving visitors more ways to explore the topics most relevant to their work.

Regulation, sustainability and new chemistry

For many companies in the paint and coatings industry, 2026 is a critical moment.

Regulatory pressure around PFAS, microplastics, VOCs, labelling, packaging and product compliance is reshaping how coatings are developed, tested, communicated and brought to market. At the same time, customers and end users are demanding products that deliver high performance with lower environmental impact.

This combination of pressure and opportunity is driving a new generation of coatings chemistry.

At Paint & Coatings Italy 2026, visitors will be able to explore alternative technologies and emerging solutions across areas such as bio-based materials, low-VOC binders, water-based systems, PTFE and microplastic-free additives, PFAS alternatives, UV curing systems, sustainable wood coatings, anti-corrosion primers, dispersants, rheology, waterproofing technologies and high-performance resins.

TechFocus: practical innovation in short, targeted sessions

TechFocus is set to be one of the most important parts of the 2026 visitor experience.

Across 28 and 29 October, the programme will feature presentations covering a wide range of formulation and performance topics, including wood coatings, acrylic resins, epoxy curing agents, biocide reduction, bio-based waxes, polyaspartic technology, polyurethane dispersions, modern additive approaches, catalyst innovation, dispersibility, packaging solutions, waterborne resins, UV curing systems, anti-corrosion primers, waterproofing technologies, graphene hybrids, ink innovation, PFAS alternatives, AI in coatings R&D and more.

For technical visitors, this format is especially useful because it provides a fast, focused way to compare innovations and identify relevant supplier conversations. Rather than spending the day trying to piece together what is new across the exhibition floor, visitors can use TechFocus to quickly understand which technologies are entering the market and how they may support their own development projects.

A stronger focus on specialist sectors

Paint & Coatings Italy 2026 also expands the agenda with dedicated formats for key specialist areas.

Together, these specialist formats make the agenda more relevant to a wider range of visitors, while still keeping the event focused on technical value and real industry needs.

Why visit Paint & Coatings Italy 2026?

Paint & Coatings Italy 2026 is designed for professionals who need to make informed decisions about materials, technologies, suppliers and future product development.

The timing of the event is also important. Taking place in October, Paint & Coatings Italy gives companies the opportunity to return from the event with supplier conversations, technical ideas and product insights that can feed directly into planning for 2027.

The place to see what’s coming next

The coatings industry is changing quickly. New regulations are moving closer, sustainability expectations are rising and formulation challenges are becoming more complex. But this is also a period of real opportunity, with new chemistries, technologies and supplier solutions creating fresh possibilities for performance, compliance and innovation.

Paint & Coatings Italy 2026 brings those conversations together.

Across the exhibition, Conference, TechFocus, Sustainability Academy, Inks Academy, Adhesives Forum and Wood Industry programme, visitors will find a practical and focused view of where the sector is going next.

For anyone working in paints, coatings, inks, adhesives, sealants, construction materials or surface technology, Paint & Coatings Italy 2026 is the place to discover what is changing, meet the people driving that change and explore the solutions shaping the future of the industry.

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