Final Figures
Taste 19
News
Edition 19
12.02.2026
A magnificent 19th edition of Taste sparked enthusiasm among exhibitors, buyers, media and enthusiasts from 7 to 9 February at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence
The fair dedicated to the world of small, high-quality Italian agri-food and gastronomic businesses  (there were 810 exhibitors this year) continues to grow and consolidate the B2B profile it has developed in recent seasons: the total number of visitors remained the same as last year,  over 12,300, with a further increase in international buyers and a  slight decline in the final public.

Selection, product variety, exhibition format, and food culture are the winning factors of Taste, but what truly makes the difference are the products and the  stories of the people behind its counters!
First off, the figures from this 19th edition of Taste: 810 exhibitors; 8,500 specialised buyers (of whom over 900 international, there were 615 in 2023, 750 in 2024, 890 in 2025…); 1,500 professional visitors (suppliers, agents and representatives); 650 journalists (around seventy international); and 1,700 enthusiasts and gourmets.
Taste never disappoints, and above all, it is always a pleasure to walk through the corridors of the Fortezza da Basso. The quantity and quality of the producers, together with the comments and attendance of buyers, provide a clear snapshot of an event capable of evolving without losing its identity. This value becomes evident during the fair experience itself. It could be seen in the faces and heard in the words of our exhibitors as they told the stories of their products; there was a sense of harmony, passionate conversations, technical exchanges, and stories shared. I believe it is now widely acknowledged that Taste has gone beyond the definition of a trade fair — a label that no longer fully captures a show that is increasingly multifaceted and original.

— Agostino Poletto, Corporate Strategy Director of Pitti Immagine

This originality is increasingly appreciated by Italian and international buyers. The latter came from around sixty countries, the most represented being: United States, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Belgium, Poland, Romania… There were also visitors from more distant markets, clearly eager to discover and import the finest Italian products: Canada, Thailand, mainland China and Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, Mexico, Brazil…
Taste is an event built on direct relationships, and on the discovery of products that stand out for quality, origin and commitment. This is what makes our event recognisable and distinct from all other food fairs. At every edition, Taste achieves its objectives. First and foremost, the satisfaction of exhibiting companies; then the approval of buyers and industry professionals, who have shown their appreciation for the curated selection and the product diversity on offer. Promoting and communicating agri-food and gastronomy may seem straightforward, but at Pitti we know how challenging it is to bring excellence to the forefront — seeking it out across the territory and placing its creators at the centre. That is our winning strategy

— Daria Vagelli e Vanni Marchioni, Commercial Managers of the show

Once again, we wish to highlight with satisfaction the presence and attention of institutions, beginning with the Government, represented by the Undersecretary for Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Giacomo La Pietra, and naturally by ICE President Matteo Zoppas, who was supported by an Agency team working throughout all three days of the show. Together we are developing an important collaboration launched a couple of years ago to promote the arrival of international buyers. We also thank the Tuscany Region, represented by Councillor for Economic Development and Agriculture Leonardo Marras, and the Municipality of Florence, represented by Councillor for Economic Development, Tourism and Trade Fairs Jacopo Vicini. As always, we were also able to rely on the active participation of our main partner UniCredit, whose regional executives held close meetings with a number of exhibitors to gather useful information for the bank’s support services in internationalisation and technological innovation.”

— Raffaello Napoleone, CEO

In conclusion, it is worth highlighting the strong public success and the many positive responses received for the events and special participations of this edition: the focus on “heroic wines” from extreme territories; the Spirits section; the participation of Coldiretti with olive oil masterclasses. Also noteworthy were the original themes, international food trends and the key speakers invited to the TASTE TALK stage (the role of scent with Mane; synergies between tourism and true food; Gen Z consumption; the fermented food phenomenon; climate crisis and gastronomy; the relationship between chefs and producers; the new generation of catering; emerging trends in tea and infusions…), as well as the TASTE RING curated by Davide Paolini (the off-season panettone boom; from traditional bakery to contemporary bakery; Michelin-starred chefs becoming producers), and all the presentations held at the UniCredit Taste Arena.
E ancora, seguitissimi gli oltre 60 eventi in città per il FuoriDiTaste: sempre più originali e curati, che hanno reso protagoniste le aziende di TASTE in luoghi speciali di Firenze.
And finally, the over 60 citywide events of FuoriDiTaste were followed with great interest: increasingly original and carefully curated, they brought TASTE companies into special venues across Florence.