Maker Faire Rome – The European Edition returns for its landmark 14th edition from October 23 to 25, 2026, transforming the historic Gazometro Ostiense in Rome into a sprawling hub of technological marvels, human ingenuity, and collaborative research. Organized by the Rome Chamber of Commerce through its special agency Innova Camera, the event continues to cement its status as Europe’s premier celebration of maker culture, bringing together visionary inventors, global enterprises, ambitious start-ups, academic institutions, and eager students.
Spanning more than 400 exhibition stands, this year’s program is anchored by three foundational pillars: Innovation, Creativity, and Discovery. However, the true heartbeat of the three-day gathering remains its emphasis on hands-on experience. Visitors are invited to interact directly with working prototypes, test cutting-edge technologies, engage in immersive workshops, and witness firsthand as groundbreaking research steps out of sterile academic laboratories and into the public eye. While the primary action unfolds across the industrial backdrop of the Gazometro, portions of the dynamic program will also extend to the nearby Istituto Superiore Antincendi. Tickets for the event are available exclusively online through the official festival portal.
Humanoid Robots Take to the Football Pitch
Among the most anticipated highlights for the 2026 edition is the debut of Italy’s first International Italian Open RoboCup Humanoid Soccer tournament. Moving far beyond static displays, university and research teams will pit squads of five autonomous humanoid robots against one another on a dedicated football pitch. Once the referee signals the start of a match, these sophisticated machines operate entirely on their own, reading the dynamic geometry of the pitch, tracking the ball, and making split-second tactical decisions without any human intervention or remote control.
Competing in this high-stakes technological showcase is the renowned SPQR team from the Sapienza University of Rome. Operating out of the university’s Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, the SPQR squad has competed in RoboCup since 1998. Led by engineer and researcher Vincenzo Suriani, the team arrives in Rome fresh off an impressive run in August, where they reached the final of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, standing proudly as the sole non-Chinese team remaining in contention during the tournament’s final three days.
Robotics Beyond the Laboratory
Running in tandem with the main maker exhibition is the eighth edition of I-RIM 3D 2026, the premier conference organized by the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Machines. The comprehensive scientific program dives deep into assistive and medical robotics, collaborative multi-agent systems, Embodied Intelligence, and Physical AI, while also exploring the rapid integration of artificial intelligence and robotic agents into modern industrial manufacturing.
To bridge the gap between abstract academic theory and public understanding, the newly introduced I-RIM 3D DEMO program will place advanced research systems front and center. Continuous live demonstrations throughout the weekend will allow visitors to observe robotic agents in action and interact directly with emerging prototypes. Furthermore, the I-RIM 3D Exhibition will curate breakthrough research from universities nationwide, while the RoboPitch initiative grants selected start-ups and research groups the unique platform to present robotics proofs-of-concept directly to prospective investors, corporate partners, and innovation hubs. Additional commercial perspectives will be provided by CNA Roma, which will explore how smaller craft businesses and traditional artisans can successfully integrate robotics and artificial intelligence into their daily workflows.
Italian Craftsmanship Meets Advanced Technology
In a nod to Italy’s rich manufacturing heritage, Maker Faire Rome 2026 introduces AvantCraft, a specialized exhibition exploring the profound transformation underway as digital fabrication, advanced robotics, and artificial intelligence reshape traditional workshops. Curated by Stefano Micelli, Professor of Business and Management at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and organized by Upskill 4.0, AvantCraft is divided into three distinct zones: mobility and precision engineering; contemporary craft encompassing ceramics, glass, scagliola, and inlay; and fashion, high-end jewellery, and sustainable biomaterials.
The physical artifacts on display tell a compelling story of adaptation and excellence. Visitors will encounter high-performance supercars, precision-engineered titanium bicycles, intricately 3D-printed ceramics, and innovative biomaterials synthesized from industrial waste. Among the star attractions is the Dallara Stradale, a vehicle born in an environment where state-of-the-art composite engineering seamlessly coexists with meticulous manual assembly and deep specialist knowledge. Eschewing superfluous electronics in favor of mechanical purity, the Stradale is designed to deliver unadulterated driving pleasure both on the open road and the racetrack.
Technology Built Around People
A significant portion of this year’s exhibits shifts the focus from what technology can achieve in the abstract to how it can solve tangible human challenges in everyday environments. Inail, in close collaboration with the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), will present critical research dedicated to workplace safety, featuring wearable technologies, targeted robotics, and advanced training systems. Highlights include specialized eye-tracking systems designed to analyze how workers scan their environments for potential hazards, shedding light on the psychological connection between visual attention and risk perception.
Also featured is the SIDE haptic exoskeleton, jointly developed by Inail and Sapienza University of Rome, which faithfully replicates physical forces and interactions within virtual and augmented reality settings. This technology is engineered to facilitate safe, risk-free training for personnel operating in hazardous environments such as confined spaces or chemically compromised areas. Additionally, IIT and Inail will showcase wearable prototypes like the XoTrunk and FleXoTrunk, which provide vital ergonomic support to the lower back during heavy manual handling, alongside advanced fall-protection systems equipped with integrated airbags capable of deploying within milliseconds to protect vulnerable areas of the torso and neck.
From Food Design to Agriculture in Space
The agrifood sector at Maker Faire Rome 2026 represents a collaborative convergence of prominent scientific institutions, including CREA, ENEA, CNR, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Tuscia spin-off Value Groovers, and the CMCC Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change.
CREA is set to present pioneering research in food design, a software-controlled micromalting system, and innovative 3D food printing techniques. Meanwhile, ENEA turns its gaze toward the stars, exploring sustainable food production systems capable of withstanding extreme environments—technologies vital for future space exploration, cellular agriculture, and plant biotechnology. The National Research Council (CNR) will highlight FoodEye, an advanced spectroscopic tool capable of analyzing food samples to verify nutritional profiles, trace geographical origins, and detect potential contamination or fraudulent tampering.
Complementing these institutional efforts, Value Groovers presents a sophisticated digital platform designed to optimize agricultural treatments and help farmers determine the exact timing for crop interventions. Terravionics brings Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, Earth observation satellite data, and algorithmic analysis together to support proactive tree management, while Yeastime demonstrates how proprietary ultrasound technology can dramatically accelerate industrial fermentation processes while lowering overall energy consumption.
Books as Catalysts for Cultural and Social Change
Expanding the traditional boundaries of a technology festival, Books@MFR26 introduces a dedicated editorial strand exploring science, technology, and their profound impact on social change. The program features prominent authors discussing subjects ranging from modern education and human relationships to quantum physics and off-world space settlements.
As part of an interactive community initiative, visitors are invited to bring a cherished book focused on science, innovation, or technology to the event, delivering a brief two-minute pitch explaining why fellow attendees should read it. Donated volumes will subsequently form the foundation of a shared festival library known as the BiblioMaker collection.
From a DeLorean to a Robot That Cooks Cacio e Pepe
True to the spirit of discovery, the 2026 exhibition floor is packed with eclectic creations that defy simple categorization. A classic DeLorean DMC-12—the iconic gull-wing sports car designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and immortalized in the Back to the Future franchise—will travel to Rome from the Enter Technikwelt Solothurn museum in Switzerland.
On the racing front, Sapienza Corse will showcase Gajarda AWD Hybrid Driverless, an advanced Formula Student racing car outfitted with high-definition optical cameras and autonomous actuators that allow it to map circuits and navigate competitive tracks entirely without a human driver. Demonstrating youthful ingenuity, a 17-year-old Italian maker will debut a neural headset capable of translating biological body signals into direct commands, paired with a 3D-printed bionic hand that mimics natural human articulation via computer vision and electromyographic sensors.
For culinary enthusiasts, Robby Minichef demonstrates how robotics can infiltrate the home kitchen. This prototype robotic assistant learns directly from professional chefs, faithfully replicating the precise physical actions and timing required to prepare complex traditional dishes such as authentic spaghetti cacio e pepe. Meanwhile, a Sardinian maker presents P3DALO, a five-meter inflatable pedal boat featuring a hull, paddlewheel, and structural components largely fabricated on a standard desktop 3D printer, engineered to be fully modular and transportable in the trunk of an ordinary car.
CNR Expands Access to Open Science
The National Research Council (CNR) maintains its strong presence with a diverse array of interactive projects, workshops, and live demonstrations spanning robotics, environmental conservation, medicine, and open science. Notable displays include Babots, an exploration into biological robotics featuring living micro-organisms whose behaviors are adapted for specialized indoor farming applications. Other CNR initiatives include a novel 3D-printing approach to extracting fresh water directly from atmospheric humidity, Melandetect, an app-driven predictive medical diagnostic tool, and RoseBio, a project dedicated to advancing personalized oncology.
The CNR Central Library Guglielmo Marconi will also use the occasion to celebrate its centenary, highlighting open science initiatives and historic cultural heritage collections through its ongoing GLAM project.
Hands-On Learning and Educational Gaming
Embracing the fundamental philosophy that true learning begins through direct participation, the Educational and Gaming zone is packed with interactive experiences rather than passive displays. MakerCamp, recognized as Italy’s sole official Minecraft Partner and Minecraft Education Partner, will host coding and problem-solving workshops leveraging the popular sandbox platform.
The accompanying STEAM in Minecraft contest has already mobilized 417 registered school classes across Italy. Additional attractions include competitive robot battles, circuit-printing stations, augmented reality setups, virtual driving simulators, collaborative space-science activities hosted by the European Space Agency, and live chemistry experiments designed to inspire the next generation of innovators.
Institutional Support and Future Horizons
Maker Faire Rome continues to benefit from robust institutional backing. Eni returns as the Main Partner for the thirteenth consecutive year, hosting the festival within the industrial landscape of the Gazometro Ostiense as part of its broader urban and technological regeneration initiative, ROAD (Rome Advanced District). Marking the centenary of Agip, Eni will feature "Pioneers to Makers," an interactive pavilion employing immersive projections and virtual reality to trace a century of energy research, alongside exhibits from the Eni2050 Lab focusing on biofuels, carbon capture, and energy storage technologies.
Additional regional support is provided by Regione Lazio through dedicated exhibition spaces for start-ups and SMEs selected via the Lazio ERDF Regional Programme, alongside contributions from the FabLab Lazio network and Lazio Innova’s Spazi Attivi. Roma Capitale participates through the Casa delle Tecnologie Emergenti, showcasing accelerated start-ups, while the Italian Trade Agency facilitates crucial international connections by inviting overseas investors, journalists, and industry bloggers.
Produced and promoted by the Rome Chamber of Commerce through its special agency Innova Camera, and curated by Alessandro Ranellucci alongside a dedicated team of area coordinators, Maker Faire Rome 2026 stands ready to inspire tens of thousands of visitors. With production support from Regione Lazio, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, Inail, InfoCamere, Dintec, PID, Tecnopolo Roma, Unindustria, and CNA Roma—alongside major corporate partners including Arduino, DigiKey, MAIRE, STMicroelectronics, and Unidata—the festival reinforces Rome’s position as a vibrant global capital for creativity, technology, and collaborative maker culture.
