WMF 2026 unveils first exhibitors, delegates and tech districts

By AI, Created 10:30 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – WMF - We Make Future has announced the first exhibitors, sponsors and foreign delegations for its June 24-26, 2026 expo at BolognaFiere. The event is positioning itself as a global B2B meeting point for AI, robotics, fintech, mobility and startup investment, with more exhibitors and content still to come.

Why it matters: - WMF 2026 is building one of Europe’s broadest innovation marketplaces, bringing together companies, startups, research centers, investors and institutions in one place. - The expo is aimed at turning AI, robotics, fintech, mobility and other emerging technologies into business deals, hiring opportunities and cross-border partnerships. - The 2025 edition drew more than 70,000 attendees from 90 countries and over 700 exhibitors and sponsors, setting a high bar for 2026.

What happened: - WMF - We Make Future announced the first exhibitors, sponsors and previews of its Expo Area for June 24-26, 2026, at BolognaFiere in Bologna. - The event is a certified international B2B fair focused on AI, tech and digital innovation. - More than 20 foreign delegations are already confirmed through collaboration with ITA - Italian Trade Agency. - Delegations are coming from Belgium, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the Netherlands, Estonia, Albania, Guatemala and Greece. - International startups and companies will also participate through Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad, including those in Thessaloniki, Belgrade and Zagreb. - Turkey will be represented by Invest in Turkey and Boğaziçi Ventures. - Palestinian territories will be represented by Flow Ventures, with support from AICS - Italian Agency for Development Cooperation of Jerusalem. - Confirmed participants include Dell Technologies, Intel, Qonto, Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, ESA - European Space Agency, CNR - National Research Council, Credem Banca, BNP Paribas, Netval, Invitalia, ITA Agency, AB Innovation Consulting, Kahuna, ALTEN Italia, Cosmofarma, OPENAPI, AVASK, Arsenalia, humans.tech, UNIBO and IIT - Italian Institute of Technology. - Main sponsors for 2026 are Dell Technologies and Intel.

The details: - The Expo Area is organized into thematic districts covering AI, manufacturing, automation, martech, fintech, digital agency, e-commerce, entertainment and digital culture. - The AI District and the Manufacturing & Automation District are positioned as the core of the event’s technology offering. - Other focused areas cover emerging technologies, mobility, automotive, gaming and publishing. - The Startup & VC District will bring together selected startups from around the world with institutional and private investors. - WMF says the format is designed to support B2B meetings, business matching, networking and its Digital Job Placement service. - The event also plans direct contact between companies, startups, institutions and research centers to launch shared projects and commercial opportunities. - Cosmano Lombardo, founder and CEO of Search On Media Group and creator of WMF, described the Expo Area as a meeting place where innovation can become development, collaboration and growth. - WMF is conceived, organized and produced by Search On Media Group. - The event has the patronage of the European Commission and the Comune di Bologna. - Support comes from the MAECI - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, ITA - Italian Trade Agency and the Regione Emilia-Romagna. - Visit Emilia-Romagna is a partner. - BolognaFiere, Cineca and ESA - European Space Agency are collaborators.

Between the lines: - WMF is broadening its pitch beyond a trade show into an ecosystem event that mixes business, recruitment, research and public-sector networking. - The international pavilions and delegation mix suggest a deliberate effort to position Bologna as a crossroads for European and non-European innovation flows. - The range of sectors, from space and cleantech to entertainment and publishing, signals an effort to capture both deep-tech and consumer-facing innovation. - The Sports & Gaming, Future Show and mobility areas add an experiential layer that can help draw visitors beyond core industry attendees.

What’s next: - WMF says the Expo Area will add more exhibitors, sponsors and content in the coming weeks. - The last Top Visibility spots for the 2026 Expo Area are still available, with information requests due by May 15. - The Future Show will feature humanoid and quadruped robots, conversational AI systems, immersive installations, the EFLYKE flying motorcycle, One Love Machine, Vitruvian, Extraceleste and the Jet Suit from Gravity Industries. - The Sports & Gaming area will include competitive tournaments, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch stations, the Gamers Arena and Drone Soccer’s first European tournament at WMF. - The mobility program will include Tesla test drives, racing simulators and prototypes from the University of Bologna’s Department of Industrial Engineering tied to the Solar Challenge and Rocket Challenge.

The bottom line: - WMF 2026 is shaping up as a large-scale showcase for AI and future tech, with a strong international business and investor focus anchored in Bologna.