IVS 2026 concludes with record numbers: 20,400 visitors from 72 countries

Opublikował 26/05/2026

Bergamo confirms its position as an international reference point for the industrial valve and flow control sector.

Giovanna Ricuperati, President of Confindustria Bergamo: "A turning point that marked a leap in quality and raised the Fair's international profile."

Paolo Agnelli, President of Promoberg: "Goal achieved: ever-increasing attention to a cutting-edge sector, offering significant business and networking opportunities."

See you at the Bergamo Fair from May 16 to 18, 2028, for the seventh edition of the Summit.

The sixth edition of IVS 2026 - Industrial Valve Summit , the most important international event dedicated to industrial valve technologies and flow control solutions, concluded on May 21st with record numbers. The event, sponsored by Confindustria Bergamo and Promoberg, took place at the Bergamo Fairgrounds from May 19th to 21st, 2026.

The event organizers have announced that the seventh edition of IVS will take place at the Bergamo Fair from May 16 to 18, 2028.

A record-breaking edition

IVS 2026 concluded with a final influx of 20,400 visitors from 72 countries . The audience, representing all five continents, recorded a 36% increase in attendance compared to the fifth edition of the Summit, when the city of Bergamo attracted 15,000 guests.

The stars of IVS 2026 were the 420 exhibitors (+30% compared to the 2024 edition) from 20 countries: in addition to Italy, there were also Spain, Germany, France, the UK, USA, the Czech Republic, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Finland, Ireland, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, and the UAE. The international component proved to be very vibrant, accounting for over 25% of the total exhibitors.

The duration of the event has also been expanded, the first edition lasting three days , and the IVS scientific program , a space that over the years has increasingly consolidated itself as a forum for exchange where change can be interpreted and the latest technological innovations and new challenges in the sector can be explored in depth.

IVS 2026 organized 68 events (30% more than the 52 events in 2024) including conferences, round tables, and lectures around six main thematic areas , with a focus on artificial intelligence and nuclear energy . In a phase marked by geopolitical tensions , the Summit took on an even more important role as a moment of alignment and interpretation of scenarios .

The event also expanded its exhibition space, covering over 21,400 square meters —approximately 40% more than the previous edition—divided into four pavilions. These figures demonstrate how IVS has established itself as a key event for the entire global supply chain related to industrial valves and flow control.

The Prometeia Observatory The Oil&Gas Valve Industry in Italy 2026

During the Summit, the IVS-Prometeia Observatory , The Oil & Gas Valve Industry in Italy 2026 , was presented. This report provided a snapshot of the current state of the Italian industry, a sector of excellence for Made in Italy and a leader in Europe. The report, produced with the contribution of the Confindustria Bergamo research department, provided a snapshot of the Italian industrial valve industry, which confirms its position as a key segment of national manufacturing and a point of excellence in the European competitive landscape .

As stated in the document, with over 146 companies, 10,000 employees , and a turnover of over €3.8 billion , the Italian industrial valve industry remains a strategic sector of the national mechanical engineering industry . Furthermore, Italy is the leading European producer of oil and gas valves , with a share of nearly 40% of the entire EU production. Heavily concentrated in Lombardy , particularly in the Bergamo area, the local sector generates nearly 70% of the sector's national turnover .

In 2025, Italian exports of Oil & Gas valves exceeded 4 billion euros (+5.4%) , driven mainly by Western Europe and North America, consolidating Italy as the third largest exporter in the world in the sector , behind China and Germany, with a global share of 9.9% .

Since 2020, the global oil and gas valve market has seen a progressive shift in demand toward North America and the Middle East and North Africa , among the energy sector's key growth areas. Italian companies have effectively embraced this transformation, strengthening their presence in high-value markets. Meanwhile, Asia has gradually lost its share of Italian exports, and Western Europe, despite a slowdown, remains a key market.

In 2025, Italy outperformed its competitors in 38 markets , equal to 44% of global imports of Oil & Gas valves. Its performance in high-growth markets remains particularly significant, where it gained share in 18 expanding destinations , which alone are worth over 30% of global imports.

Synergies and partnerships

The synergies with ICE, AVR ANIMA, Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo, and UNIDO ITPO Italy significantly boosted the international attendance. IVS also signed agreements with BVAA, Fluidex, SPAP, CzechTrade, Evolen, CEIR, SPE, and ESA, including through the presence of country pavilions. These partnerships attracted international delegations composed of institutional representatives, entrepreneurs, decision-makers, speakers, and specialized operators to the fair.

The organizers invited qualified buyers from leading end-user and EPC sectors: a panel of attendees who interacted with operators from across the energy sector, fostering moments of exchange and discussion. This context opened up new opportunities for entry and consolidation in emerging markets, including Africa, characterized by a growing population and expanding energy demand, making it an area of growing interest for the development of the supply chain.

Targeted matchmaking activities provided a further opportunity for foreign delegations attending the fair to meet with stakeholders in the broader Oil & Gas supply chain.

The statements

Giovanna Ricuperati , President of Confindustria Bergamo , commented: " This was a turning point for IVS - Industrial Valve Summit, marking a qualitative leap, giving the event a markedly international profile, both in terms of exhibitors and visitors. At the same time, participation in the scientific and technical in-depth programs continued to grow. These figures establish the event as a leading event for the sector and confirm the importance of a careful approach to enhancing supply chains, which can also be applied to other industrial excellences in the area."

Paolo Agnelli , President of Promoberg , added: " The 2026 edition further highlighted the strategic importance of a trade fair strongly desired and supported by Promoberg in conjunction with Confindustria, an event capable of promoting a supply chain of excellence on an international level. IVS has fully achieved its goal of drawing ever greater attention to a cutting-edge sector, developing significant business opportunities while also providing unique opportunities for discussion and in-depth scientific and technological learning. The growth recorded this year, combined with the high quality of the companies and the overwhelmingly positive feedback received from buyers and operators, confirms the value of the project. The Summit represents the flagship event in the internationalization process of Promoberg and Fiera di Bergamo. We are strengthening synergies with the local area and international players, while also developing new events to position our hub and its activities at the heart of one of the most important macro-regions in the world ."

Francesco Apuzzo , President of Valve Campus , stated: " IVS 2026 marks an important step in the evolution of the event and, in particular, in the value of its technical and scientific contribution to the industrial valve supply chain. The fair was attended by highly qualified professionals, end users, EPCs, companies, universities, and international experts who shared operational experiences, application cases, and high-profile know-how. The scientific program confirmed an increase in the quantity of content, its depth, and its ability to address issues that are crucial to the sector today. The caliber of the speakers involved also confirms how IVS is now recognized as an authoritative space with a pragmatic and application-oriented approach. It is this consistency, maintained over time, that has allowed the event to consolidate its identity and grow year after year without losing its connection to the real needs of the market. Indeed, the direct relationship between industry, end users, and technical expertise today represents one of the key factors in the event's solidity and international recognition."

Aby uzyskać więcej informacji: IVS 2026

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Automation as one of the three central themes: Collaborative processes are gaining increasing importance AMB : The robotics and automation industry is forecasting a 5% decline in revenue by 2026; nevertheless, pressure on manufacturing companies to automate their processes continues to grow. Why is now the right time to focus on collaborative processes, and what factors are driving companies to take this step? Patrick Schwarzkopf : It's true, we're still observing a marked caution in investments, due to several reasons: from geopolitical tensions to the well-known challenges related to the competitiveness of production sites. However, the trend toward automation remains unchanged. Demographic change will become even more evident in the coming years; this will make it necessary to automate an increasing number of activities to support the remaining qualified personnel. Only in this way can we remain competitive. The interaction between humans and machines will be crucial. 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Ucimu assembly: in 2026 the italian machine tool, robot and automation manufacturing industry is exp

2025 proved to be a generally weak year for the Italian machine tool, robot, and automation manufacturing industry, with production essentially stagnating compared to the previous year. This disappointing result was driven by the sharp decline in exports. Domestic market activity fared better, driven by the recovery in demand, but despite double-digit increases, figures were still far from 2021-2022 levels. Despite this, the Italian industry in the sector confirmed its position, once again, as a major player on the international scene, ranking fifth in the world for production and consumption and fourth in exports. Forecasts for 2026 predict a modest recovery driven by improved collection performance on the domestic market, thanks in part to the availability of the Hyper-Depreciation program. Activity abroad remains weak. This, in short, is the framework outlined by Riccardo Rosa, President of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, during the Shareholders' Meeting. 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Jimtof 2026

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IVS 2026 concludes with record numbers: 20,400 visitors from 72 countries

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