The 2026 edition of Ristorexpo is set to take place from January 25 to 28, marking a significant change in its traditional schedule. This B2B event, dedicated to out-of-home professionals, has been a cornerstone of the catering and hospitality industry for nearly three decades. Despite the change in dates, Ristorexpo remains committed to its mission of providing a cultural and economic platform that generates value for the territory while projecting itself onto the national panorama.
The Ristorexpo 2026 press conference
Anticipating the Needs of the Sector
The decision to move the event from mid-February to the end of January was made in response to requests from sector operators, highlighting the strong synergy that Ristorexpo has established over the years. This year’s edition will feature renowned chefs, including Andrea Berton, Fulvio Marino, Luca Picchi, and Julian Biondi, among others. The program will include masterclasses, thematic focuses on cooking, pizza, bar, and mixology, as well as national competitions and training sessions with hotel institutes.
A Program Focused on the Future
The four-day event will be a succession of activities designed to look to the future, starting from the fundamentals. The program will emphasize the importance of quality, respect for raw materials, and balance between technique, taste, and economic sustainability. Ristorexpo’s creator and curator, Giovanni Ciceri, notes that the event aims to “question ourselves about the profound meaning of cooking and doing business today” and to “reveal the aesthetic, sociological, and economic strength of well-made everyday life.”
The Praise of Normality: A Necessary Provocation
The underlying theme of the 2026 program, “The Praise of Normality,” aims to generate anticipation and interest by inviting attendees to look at the substance of cooking and doing business. This provocation encourages a focus on quality, respect for raw materials, and balance between technique, taste, and economic sustainability. As Giacomo Mojoli, Ristorexpo’s “thinker,” remarks, “Normality does not mean mediocrity, but going back to the fundamentals, with your feet on the ground, to better listen to what people want.”
Numbers, Territory, and Great Protagonists
Ristorexpo has established itself as a key event in the sector, with over 170 exhibitors and 300 brands represented. The event is expected to attract thousands of professional operators and will feature a range of activities, including masterclasses, competitions, and training sessions. Marco Galimberti, president of the Lariofiere Foundation, notes that “value is not measured only in numbers: here the market is oriented, and trends are anticipated, skills are built, and good practices are shared.”
Ristoexpo will award the Lifetime Achievement Award to chef Moreno Cedroni
Federico Quaranta and Tinto will once again be the “conductors” of the four-day event, which will feature a range of guests, including Confcommercio and the Genoa Chamber of Commerce. The event will also showcase the food and wine excellences of Lake Como, with a meeting and discussion place dedicated to the producers of Identità Lariane. For more information, visit Here