Vicenza capitale dei preziosi con la fiera e il congresso mondiale

Vicenza will be the international capital for precious stones from September 4 to 8, 2026, as the new edition of Vicenzaoro, Europe's leading jewelry fair and one of the top worldwide, is set to open. The event kicks off with the inauguration of a brand-new exhibition hall designed by German architect Vokwin Marg of Studio Gmp in Hamburg, which the Italian Exhibition Group (Ieg) has invested 60 million euros into.

The Cibjo World Congress, presided over by Italian Gaetano Cavalieri for the past 26 years, is also underway. Cavalieri explains that the annual Cibjo congress chose Italy to celebrate the centenary of the confederation, thanks to its partnership with Ieg and a demonstration of Italy's productive capabilities in high jewelry. Among the approximately 600 delegates from 50 countries worldwide are prominent figures in the precious stones and jewelry industry, including Gareth Penny, head of the pre-selected elite list by Anglo American and Botswana's government as the preferred bidder for De Beers.

Cyrielle Vigneron, former Cartier president and CEO and current Cartier Foundation chairman, is also among the notable attendees. Vicenzaoro 2026 is set to be a record-breaking edition, particularly due to the large international buyer presence (a third more than the September 2025 edition): 910 buyers from 73 countries, hosted thanks to the contribution of Ice Agency and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The fair will host 1,300 exhibitors from 40 countries, including 170 brands at the T.Gold b2b parallel show, which debuts in the September edition. There will also be spaces dedicated to vintage watches and historical jewelry, with the VO Vintage areas open to the public upon prior online registration. Matteo Farsura, head of Ieg's gold exhibition areas (a leader among European event organizers in the fair and congress sector guided by Ad Corrado Peraboni and President Maurizio Ermeti), emphasizes that they respond to the international demand expanding in terms of origins and consistency, confirming Vicenzaoro's ability to attract operators from the main global markets; they achieve this by rearranging the exhibition areas, thanks to the new exhibition hall.

Many key events are organized (the full program is available on vicenzaoro.com). At the inauguration on Friday, September 4, Sottosecretario della Ministro delle Imprese e del Made in Italy Mara Bizzotto, Ice Agency President Matteo Zoppas, Confindustria Federorafi President Maria Cristina Squarcialupi, Ieg executives, and representatives from city, provincial, and regional institutions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attend.

Saturday, September 5, will focus on the industrial and corporate environment, with a Confindustria Federorafi event analyzing the perspectives of Daniela Corsini, Stefania Trenti, and Sara Giusti of Intesa Sanpaolo, along with a roundtable discussion featuring four companies representing each of Vicenza's productive districts: Arezzo, Valenza, and Torre del Greco.

Also on Saturday, Trendvision, Vicenzaoro's independent observatory directed by Paola De Luca, presents the Jewellery Trendbook 2028+. The Cibjo congress, ongoing until September 7, will feature the presence of World Diamond Council President Ronnie VanderLinden, Responsible Jewelry Council President Dave Maleski, Gems & Jewelry Trade Association of China President Ye Zhibin, International Colored Gemstone Association President Damien Cody, World Gold Council Director John Mulligan, and Ieg President Maurizio Ermeti.