Decortech Conference: Two Days Dedicated to the Future of Surfaces at TECNA 2026
Among the flagship events in TECNA 2026’s conference programme, the Decortech Conference is set to be an “event within the event”: two full days of talks and presentations featuring companies, architectural firms, universities and training institutions, all coming together to explore the latest aesthetic trends and the most innovative solutions for the customization and design of tomorrow’s surfaces.
The 29th edition of TECNA – The Global Expo for Ceramics and More is fast approaching. The leading international exhibition dedicated to suppliers of the ceramic and surface industries will take place in Rimini, Italy, from 22 to 25 September 2026. Organised by IEG – Italian Exhibition Group in collaboration with ACIMAC, TECNA 2026 will offer a brand new programme of conferences, talks and events devoted to technologies, materials, digitalisation, design and market scenarios, exploring the future development of the global surfaces industry.
The programme at a glance
The calendar will open with the TECNAwards, which recognise outstanding technological investments made by tile, sanitaryware and heavy clay producers worldwide. This year, the awards will be held over two days: 22 September, with a focus on the Americas, and 23 September, devoted to Europe, Asia and Africa. The technical conferences will address the sector’s key topics, ranging from raw materials (in collaboration with the Italian Ceramic Society - I.Cer.S.), to intralogistics, and from the European Ceramic Centre project to the “Macchine X” conference on digitalisation and servitisation organised by Digital Industries World. There will also be a focus on advanced ceramics in collaboration with BEX – Beyond Exploration, the new trade fair dedicated to the space economy that will be held concurrently at Rimini Expo Centre.
Decortech Conference: Spotlight on Materials, Aesthetics and Design
The highlight of the 2026 edition will be the Decortech Conference – Surfaces made to matter, a series of talks and meetings devoted to digital decoration and surface finishes to be held on 23 and 24 September in a dedicated arena and exhibition area. Promoted by IEG and ACIMAC with the support of GIMAV, Ceramicolor-Federchimica, FESPA Italia and DIPA, the conference will bring together leading technology companies, international buyers, opinion leaders, architecture firms, universities and training institutes to explore aesthetic trends and the most innovative solutions for surface customisation and design. The focus sectors for 2026 will be housing and interior components and the space industry.
The first day of the conference, Materials and Aesthetics (23 September), will be curated by journalist and Technical Committee member Patrizia Catalano and will explore three different themes: surface design as a defining element of architecture and furniture; the relationship between research, innovation and sustainability; and interior and outdoor spaces. Speakers will include Francesco Zurlo, Dean of the School of Design at Politecnico di Milano, architect Duccio Grassi (Duccio Grassi Architects), Giacomo Geroldi of Park Associati, Armando Bruno, CEO of Studio Marco Piva, and Mario Bisson of POLI.design.
The day’s events will conclude with the workshop “Advanced ceramics: the materials platform for next-generation aerospace and future applications”, curated by CNR – ISSMC (Institute of Science, Technology and Sustainability for the Development of Ceramic Materials at the National Research Council of Italy), in collaboration with BEX – Beyond Exploration Expo.
The second day, entitled Materials and Technology (24 September), will be curated by Ascanio Zocchi of Ascanio Zocchi Design, also a member of the Technical Committee. The programme will take an in-depth look at materials and their evolution, exploring wood from both technical and aesthetic perspectives, glass in relation to transparency and sustainability, and the relationship between the material and the immaterial through digital transformation, 3D and artificial intelligence.
Speakers will include Diego Epifanio (TABU), Evgeny Borovin (X-LAM Dolomiti), Prof. Vincenzo Maria Sglavo (University of Trento), industrial designer Alex Terzariol and Manwen Li, Director of Material Bank, Miami.
For the first time, the content the Decortech Conference’s two-day programme has been chosen by a Technical Committee made up of professionals, associations and leading sector companies, including Ceramicolor-Federchimica, GIMAV, FESPA Italia, ACIMAC and firms such as Torrecid, Cefla Finishing and Biesse. This team of experts has selected the themes and speakers, ensuring that each contribution is grounded in genuine innovation.
With this two-day focus on materials, aesthetics, technology, trends and design, TECNA 2026 establishes itself as a strategic platform for knowledge and vision for the entire surfaces supply chain.
→ TO STAY UP TO DATE, VISIT WWW.TECNAEXPO.COM
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