The 14th edition of Maker Faire Rome – The European Edition is set to open its gates, transforming the historic Gazometro Ostiense in Rome into a sprawling epicenter of human ingenuity. Running from October 23 to 25, 2026, the continent’s premier celebration of maker culture, technology, and grassroots research will feature more than 400 exhibition stands. Organized by the Rome Chamber of Commerce through its special agency Innova Camera, the event brings together international makers, forward-thinking start-ups, academic institutions, and leading research centers to showcase how practical experimentation can address contemporary challenges.
This year’s exhibition footprint highlights deep academic and institutional collaboration, welcoming participation from 26 secondary schools and 27 universities and research centers presenting a combined total of 145 distinct projects. Built around three overarching themes—Innovation, Creativity, and Discovery—the event emphasizes hands-on interaction. Visitors are invited to inspect working prototypes, test emerging technologies, engage directly with inventors, and participate in live workshops that pull advanced research out of sterile laboratory environments and place it squarely in the public sphere.
While the main activities remain centered within the Gazometro Ostiense, the expansive programme will once again extend to the nearby Istituto Superiore Antincendi, accommodating a growing array of specialized demonstrations and conferences. Tickets for the three-day event are available exclusively online through the official Maker Faire Rome portal.
Humanoid Robots Take to the Football Pitch
Among the most anticipated additions to the 2026 edition is Italy’s inaugural International Italian Open RoboCup Humanoid Soccer tournament. Pitting academic and research teams against one another in a rigorous athletic test, the competition features matches played with five fully autonomous humanoid robots on each side. Once the referee signals the start of play, the machines operate entirely without human intervention, relying on onboard sensors, computer vision, and real-time decision-making algorithms to read the pitch, track the ball, and execute strategic plays.
Representing the competitive field is the renowned SPQR team from the Sapienza University of Rome, hailing from the institution’s Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering. Having competed in the international RoboCup circuit since 1998 under the leadership of engineer and researcher Vincenzo Suriani, the team recently secured a final-round appearance at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, where they stood out as the sole non-Chinese team competing during the tournament’s final three days.
Robotics Beyond the Lab
Complementing the public exhibition floor, the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Machines will host the eighth edition of its annual conference, I-RIM 3D 2026. The scientific agenda addresses a broad spectrum of advanced fields, including assistive and medical robotics, collaborative multi-agent systems, and the burgeoning disciplines of Embodied Intelligence and Physical AI.
To bridge the gap between academic theory and public engagement, the newly introduced I-RIM 3D DEMO initiative will run continuous live demonstrations throughout the weekend, allowing attendees to interact directly with sophisticated research prototypes. Meanwhile, the I-RIM 3D Exhibition consolidates institutional breakthroughs, and the RoboPitch platform provides selected start-ups and research groups with a direct channel to present proof-of-concept projects to investors, industry leaders, and innovation hubs. The craft sector’s perspective is equally represented, with CNA Roma illustrating how artificial intelligence and advanced robotics can be practically integrated into traditional small businesses and artisan workshops.
Italian Craftsmanship Meets Advanced Technology
A major thematic thread for the 2026 faire is AvantCraft, a curated exhibition exploring the ongoing evolution of Italian craftsmanship as it absorbs digital fabrication, advanced robotics, and artificial intelligence into traditional production workflows. Curated by Stefano Micelli, Professor of Business and Management at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and organized by Upskill 4.0, the exhibition spans three distinct domains: mobility and precision engineering; contemporary craft covering ceramics, glass, scagliola, and inlay; and fashion, jewelry, and biomaterials.
The physical artifacts on display tell a compelling story of manufacturing evolution. Attendees can examine high-performance vehicles, titanium bicycles, 3D-printed ceramics, hand-set titanium jewelry, intricate large-scale textiles, and experimental materials synthesized from industrial waste. Among the featured centerpieces is the Dallara Stradale, an analog vehicle built in an environment where high-end composite engineering coexists with manual assembly. Designed to prioritize driver engagement without the intrusion of superfluous electronics, the car exemplifies a philosophy focused purely on mechanical purity and road performance.
Technology Built Around People
A significant portion of the 2026 showcase shifts focus from theoretical technological feats to practical solutions designed to enhance human safety and well-being. The Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work, known as Inail, is partnering with the Italian Institute of Technology to exhibit groundbreaking research in workplace safety. Their collaborative displays feature advanced wearable devices, specialized training systems, and an eye-tracking technology designed to study how workers visually assess environmental hazards and process risk perception.
Also featured is the SIDE haptic exoskeleton, developed jointly by Inail and Sapienza University of Rome. The wearable system simulates physical forces and interactions within virtual and augmented reality environments, offering a risk-free training platform for workers operating in confined or potentially hazardous industrial spaces. Additional collaborative prototypes include the XoTrunk and FleXoTrunk wearable devices, engineered to support the lower back during heavy manual material handling, alongside a rapid-deployment wearable airbag system equipped with advanced fall-detection algorithms capable of distinguishing between normal movement and an accidental fall within milliseconds.
From Food Design to Farming in Space
The agrifood research sector at Maker Faire Rome 2026 reflects a multidisciplinary effort involving 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 exhibiting innovations in food design, a software-controlled micromalting system, and advancements in 3D food printing. Concurrently, ENEA is showcasing technologies geared toward food production in extreme environments, spanning cellular agriculture, plant biotechnology, and agricultural systems adaptable for future space exploration. The National Research Council’s FoodEye project utilizes advanced spectroscopy to evaluate food quality, verify geographical origin, and detect potential contamination or counterfeiting.
Further contributions include digital crop-protection management tools from Value Groovers, microbiological research and technology transfer initiatives from Sapienza’s MicroBites, IoT-driven proactive tree management systems by Terravionics, and ultrasound-accelerated fermentation technologies from Yeastime aimed at reducing processing times and energy consumption.
Books Become Part of the Programme
Introducing a dedicated editorial dimension to the event, the Books@MFR26 program focuses on science, technology, and broader societal change. Featuring panel discussions and main-stage appearances by authors, the strand explores topics ranging from educational reform and space colonization to quantum physics and evolving human relationships. Additionally, visitors are encouraged to bring a favorite book concerning science or innovation and present a two-minute pitch explaining why others should read it, with all donated volumes contributing to a collaborative shared library collection known as BiblioMaker.
A DeLorean, a Driverless Racing Car, and a Robot That Cooks Cacio e Pepe
The exhibition floor balances high-end scientific research with iconic cultural touchstones and inventive maker projects. Transported from the Enter Technikwelt Solothurn museum in Switzerland, an original DeLorean DMC-12—designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and cemented in pop culture by the Back to the Future franchise—stands alongside cutting-edge student engineering.
Sapienza Corse presents Gajarda AWD Hybrid Driverless, a Formula Student racing car outfitted with autonomous actuators and optical cameras capable of mapping and navigating a track without human input. Other notable projects include a neural headset created by a 17-year-old Italian maker that translates physiological signals into commands, a computer-vision-enabled 3D-printed bionic hand, and the Da-Vinci Bicycle, which merges Leonardo da Vinci’s historical aerial screw design with a stationary pedaling mechanism and virtual reality flight simulation.
Fundamental physics is brought to the public by the Gran Sasso Science Institute through its "Seeing the Invisible" exhibit, featuring interactive demonstrations, microscopy, and cloud chambers tied to experiments such as DarkSide-20k. In domestic automation, the Robby Minichef prototype demonstrates a kitchen robot trained by professional chefs to replicate the precise timing and physical actions required to prepare traditional dishes like spaghetti cacio e pepe. Meanwhile, a Sardinian maker showcases P3DALO, a five-meter modular inflatable pedal boat whose structural components and paddlewheels were produced primarily on a desktop 3D printer, allowing the entire vessel to be dismantled and transported in a standard automobile.
CNR Opens Up Current Research
The National Research Council returns with an extensive array of interactive exhibits, workshops, and live demonstrations. Among them are "Babots," an exploration into biological animal robots featuring living micro-organisms modified for agricultural applications; a 3D-printing initiative focused on extracting usable water from ambient air; Melandetect, an app-driven predictive medical diagnostics tool; and RoseBio, which centers on personalized oncology.
The centennial of the CNR Central Library Guglielmo Marconi, marked officially on opening day, serves as the focal point for the GLAM project, which investigates open science initiatives and the preservation of cultural heritage through the institution’s historic collections. Additional displays cover sustainable mobility, digital education systems, architectural innovation, and interactive science education.
Learning Starts by Trying Things
The Educational and Gaming area centers entirely on experiential learning and direct participation. MakerCamp, holding the distinction of being Italy’s sole official Minecraft Partner and Minecraft Education Partner, leads coding and problem-solving workshops utilizing the popular platform. The initiative builds upon the success of the STEAM in Minecraft competition, which attracted registered classes from 417 primary and secondary schools across Italy for its 2026 edition. Additional activities across the educational zone include robot combat tournaments, circuit printing stations, augmented reality experiences, driving simulators, collaborative space programs with the European Space Agency, and live chemistry demonstrations.
Startup Opportunities and Skills for the Energy Transition
Institutional support for workforce development and enterprise is strongly represented by MAIRE through Fondazione MAIRE ETS and the newly established Green Innovation ITS Academy. Founded to train specialized technicians for the energy transition, the academy’s founding partners include prominent industrial and academic entities such as Acea, Kuwait Petroleum Italia, Orange Branded, local educational institutions, and the Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome. Its inaugural two-year curriculum is slated to begin in Rome by November 2026. Complementing this, Unindustria has selected ten member start-ups to exhibit free of charge on the main exhibition floor.
Design, Consumer Trends, and Future Scenarios
The broader implications of technology on society are examined through several specialized institutional exhibits. NABA presents "AURORA," an interactive project developed by students of its Graphic Design and Art Direction program. Assoutenti APS hosts the ninth edition of Expo Consumatori, investigating how artificial intelligence, financial literacy, cybersecurity, and circular economic models reshape daily consumer habits. Furthermore, Maker Faire Rome participates as a founding member of Ecosistema Futuro—an initiative promoted by the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS) involving over 100 organizations studying emerging megatrends—while IED Rome exhibits "Design for Schools" in collaboration with GAM Gonzagarredi Montessori to explore the co-design of modern educational spaces.
Tecnopolo Roma and Advanced Digital Skills
Representing regional technological infrastructure, Tecnopolo Roma highlights ongoing research and corporate developments from its Tiburtino and Castel Romano hubs. Its showcase features updates from the R.O.M.E. Digital Hub, an integral component of the European Digital Innovation Hub network that provides enterprises and public administrations with practical AI tools and digital skills training. This institutional outreach continues through participation in the EU Erasmus+ project E.U-Re.C.o.V.E, which centers on competence frameworks and technological transformation models for urban social regeneration.
Competitions and Awards
Several competitive programs culminate during the event, offering recognition and financial support to emerging innovators. The MakeITcircular 2026 competition, promoted by consumer associations under Italy’s National Council of Consumers and Users (CNCU), awards a €3,000 top prize for products and services grounded in repair, durability, reuse, and circular consumption principles.
Concurrently, the Top of the PID 2026 award, sponsored by Unioncamere via the Italian Chambers of Commerce Digital Enterprise Points network, acknowledges small and medium-sized enterprises successfully integrating Industry 4.0 methodologies and artificial intelligence into their operations. A newly introduced School Edition further links institutional digital innovation efforts directly with participating educational institutions and local enterprises.
Institutional Partnership and Practical Information
Eni returns for its thirteenth consecutive year as the Main Partner of Maker Faire Rome, hosting the event within its historic industrial revitalization site at the Gazometro Ostiense, an area currently undergoing broader development that includes the ROAD (Rome Advanced District) initiative. Marking the centenary of Agip, Eni’s interactive "Pioneers to Makers" space utilizes virtual reality, projections, and installations to trace a century of energy research, alongside technical presentations from the Eni2050 Lab covering biofuels, renewable generation, and carbon capture technologies.
Regional and municipal backing is further provided by Regione Lazio through dedicated exhibition spaces for regional start-ups and SMEs selected via the Lazio ERDF Regional Programme 2021–2027, alongside the FabLab Lazio network and Lazio Innova’s Spazi Attivi. Roma Capitale contributes through the Casa delle Tecnologie Emergenti, presenting accelerated local start-up projects. Internationally, the Italian Trade Agency has leveraged its overseas network to coordinate delegations of international investors, journalists, and media representatives.
Maker Faire Rome is promoted and organized by the Rome Chamber of Commerce through its special agency Innova Camera, curated by Alessandro Ranellucci alongside area coordinators. Production is supported by Regione Lazio, Lazio Innova, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, Inail, InfoCamere, Dintec – Unioncamere, PID, Tecnopolo Roma, Unindustria, and CNA Roma. Eni serves as Main Partner, with Arduino, DigiKey, MAIRE, STMicroelectronics, and Unidata acting as Gold Partners. Media coverage is supported by RAI as Main Media Partner, Il Messaggero as Main Media Partner for press and digital, alongside ANSA and Futura Elettronica as Technical Media Partners.
