Packaging Première wrapped up its 2026 edition. The reference event for high-end packaging once again transformed Milan into an international stage for excellence in the sector.
Three intense days, held at Allianz MiCo, welcomed 8012 visitors from around the world, confirming the show as an essential appointment for those seeking to anticipate the developments of a constantly evolving industry.
With 312 exhibitors from 21 countries and a highly qualified audience of brand managers, designers and suppliers, Packaging Première proved once again to be an unmissable networking opportunity for the entire packaging community. The event brought together exhibitors from beauty, fashion, jewellery, wine and spirits, and premium food, presenting solutions that successfully combined artisanal tradition and technological innovation.
"This edition confirmed that the sector is driven by an increasingly structured push towards innovation. It is no longer just about finding aesthetic or functional solutions: packaging has become a language, a way of building lasting relationships between brands and people. Seeing such a diverse community gathered in Milan is proof that dialogue between different worlds is today the true lever of innovation", says Lara Castagna, Head of Event at Packaging Première.
The leitmotif of the edition, Paper Tracks — the concept developed by Elisabetta Bonuccelli of Unokostudio — permeated every corner of the show, translating into an ongoing dialogue between craftsmanship and industry, between matter and gesture. Folds, paper weights and embellishments became traces of different skills meeting and renewing one another: a message embraced with enthusiasm by exhibitors and trade visitors alike.
The programme featured 32 talks across two conference spaces — the Trend Hall and the Future Stage — with around 90 speakers including brand representatives, designers, creative agencies and international guests. Design, innovative materials and sustainability led the conversation, alongside supply chain evolution and the role of packaging as a tool for brand storytelling and identity.
The Discovery Zone – Powered by Oropress, dedicated to emerging start-ups and cutting-edge technologies, drew considerable interest, as did The Factory, the experiential area where machinery and skilled artisans showcased live screen and digital printing techniques on materials such as paper, leather, fabric, glass, plastic, and metal, as well as artisanal craftsmanship involving wood, fabric, and paper. The Beauty Hub – Powered by PCD served as the dedicated hub for primary packaging in perfumery, skincare, make-up and personal care.
During the event, special mentions were assigned for the best stand designs: the Best Stand Custom Built mention went to Corvasce (F76-F82), and a special was assigned to MCC Srl (E109-E11). The Best Stand Pre-Fitted was awarded to Furlanis (D82). All the projects embodied the values of the edition, combining creativity, functionality and attention to detail.
A particularly meaningful moment was the presentation of the Packaging Woman of Italy 2026 award to Anna Paola Cavanna, Amministratore Unico di Laminati Cavanna Spa, a recognition celebrating the contribution of women to excellence and innovation in the packaging sector.
Special thanks go to partners and sponsors: Oropress, Santa Margherita, Promoline, Bold – Bologna Live Design, TypeCampus sponsored by Zeta Fonts, Mosaiq Group, Levitology, Hamk, Birrificio 620 Passi, Comieco, Istituto Italiano Imballaggio, Click Agency, Domus Academy, Pawa, Integra Fragrances, Materially and Cosaporto. Technical sponsors: Furlanis, Artegraf, Grafica Valdarno, Winter & Company, Fedrigoni, myCordenons, Samorani Group, Grafical, D’Auria Packaging – Mosaiq Group, Pusterla 1880 and Luxoro. For the Paper Tracks – The Gift project: Eurographic, Fedrigoni, Europress Vinyl, Furlanis and Luxoro.
Packaging Première is not only a showcase for products and solutions, but a true hub of ideas where the international packaging community meets, exchanges and builds the future of the sector together. The next edition is already scheduled from 18 to 20 May 2027 in Milan.
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