Motor Valley Fest 2026: Modena, the World Capital of Motorsport

Over 70,000 attendees for the edition dedicated to innovation, talent, and the future of mobility

The eighth edition of the Motor Valley Fest has drawn to a close with record-breaking numbers and increasingly broad international participation. For four days, this major city-wide festival transformed Modena into the beating heart of the global automotive industry. Over 70,000 attendees were recorded—including enthusiasts, industry professionals, students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and visitors from all over Italy and abroad—to experience an event that has now become one of Europe’s premier appointments dedicated to the future of mobility.

From May 28 to 31, Modena’s historic center was converted into an open-air laboratory where technological innovation, industry, culture, and motorsport passion met in a continuous dialogue between tradition and the future.

Motor Valley Looks Ahead: AI, Sustainability, and Digitalization

The central theme of the 2026 edition focused on the relationship between technological evolution and human responsibility, developed around the concept “Global Trends, New Frontiers and Human Responsibility.” This guiding thread ran through the entire conference program, bringing top-tier managers, entrepreneurs, institutions, and prominent international guests to the stage of the Teatro Storchi.

These topics confirmed Motor Valley’s role as an ecosystem capable of anticipating changes within the global automotive industry. The two-day conference involved over 200 international speakers and 20 workshops, attracting more than 1,400 in-person participants for a debate centered on dialogue between businesses, universities, startups, and investors.

Youth and Education Take Center Stage at the Festival

One of the strongest themes of the 2026 edition was the involvement of the newer generations. There was massive participation in the Talent Talks hosted at the Teatro del Collegio San Carlo, where over 1,500 young people met with iconic Motor Valley companies such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ducati, Pagani, and Dallara, alongside innovative entities like HPE Group, Loccioni, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, MUNER, and Accenture.

Success was also achieved by the University and Formula SAE Village set up in Piazza Grande, featuring 11 Italian universities and 16 teams engaged in engineering design competitions that attracted thousands of curious onlookers and students.

Supercars, Historic Cars, and Immersive Experiences Captivate the Public

Alongside the in-depth panel discussions, the Motor Valley Fest confirmed its ability to engage the general public through exhibitions, dynamic events, and immersive installations spread across the historic center and key city locations.

Among the most visited attractions was the “Best of Motor Valley” display set up in the Cortile d’Onore of the Military Academy of Modena, showcasing supercars, motorcycles, and historic vehicles from the symbolic brands of the Motor Valley.

Great enthusiasm was also seen at the Sim Racing Arena, created in partnership with Lenovo, which allowed visitors to experience latest-generation driving simulators, demonstrating how the digital world and gaming are now an integral part of the contemporary automotive experience.

The Charm of Classic Cars Enchants the Historic Center

Particularly appreciated by the public were the events dedicated to historic and collectible vehicles, culminating in the 26th Concours d’Élégance Trofeo Salvarola Terme, which brought some of the most iconic models in global automotive history back to the heart of Modena.

Among the most admired cars were an extremely rare Aston Martin DBS prototype bodied by Carrozzeria Touring and a 1940 Auto Avio Costruzioni 815, considered the very first car built by Enzo Ferrari.

The parades along the red carpet in the historic center transformed the city into a true runway of international automotive elegance.

Art, Cinema, and Culture Complete the Program

The Motor Valley Fest successfully intertwined art, fashion, photography, and cinema through a rich calendar of cultural appointments. From automotive-themed exhibitions hosted in the city’s exhibition spaces to the Cinematic Motor Fest at the Cinema Astra, the festival also narrated the world of motors through artistic and creative languages.

The exhibition “An Italian Story of Fashion and Motors” (Una storia italiana di moda e motori), set up in the Church of San Carlo, was also highly praised, creating a dialogue between automotive design and Italian high fashion.

An International Showcase for Emilia-Romagna

Confirming the festival’s growing global dimension was the presence of journalists and content creators from the United States and Japan, who participated in educational tours dedicated to discovering the Motor Valley and the culinary excellence of Emilia-Romagna.

This international attention reinforces the strategic role of the Motor Valley Fest as a tool for regional promotion, capable of enhancing the productive, cultural, and tourism identity of the region.

A Unique Ecosystem That Continues to Grow

The 2026 edition further consolidates the Motor Valley Fest as an international platform for discussion on mobility, innovation, and industrial culture.

It is an event that continues to showcase a unique model to the world—one where major brands, research, education, businesses, and the local territory collaborate to build the future without losing the link to a tradition that has made the Motor Valley a global symbol of Italian excellence.