AcquariaItalia 2026: Italy’s Largest Aquarium Exhibition

Less than two months remain until AcquariaItalia 2026, the second edition of the Italian exhibition entirely dedicated to the aquarium world, taking place on September 19, 20 and 21, 2026 at Malpensa Fiere, near Milan. It is therefore time to take a closer look at everything we have built so far and begin revealing what visitors, exhibitors and aquarium professionals can expect from this year’s event.

Table of contents

• Three days, two identities, one major event
• The floor plan and the two halls
• Events at AcquariaItalia 2026
• Meet leading aquarium personalities
• Free guided tours
• The digital event guide
• The B2B Day
• Companies, retailers, aquariums and associations
• Tickets and practical information
• Why you should not miss it

When we began working on the second edition of AcquariaItalia, we had a very clear objective: to build on everything that worked well in 2025, listen carefully to exhibitors and visitors, and transform the exhibition into something larger, more complete and more useful for the entire aquarium sector.

We did not simply want to add a few more stands. We wanted to give the exhibition a clearer structure, increase the presence of manufacturers and distributors, expand the programme for hobbyists and create a professional environment where retailers, producers, distributors and other industry operators could meet with the time and space needed for meaningful conversations.

The result is an exhibition spread across two large halls, with the weekend of September 19 and 20 open to the public and a third day, Monday, September 21, entirely dedicated to B2B professionals.

AcquariaItalia 2026: three days, two identities, one major event

On Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, AcquariaItalia will welcome aquarium enthusiasts, families, curious visitors and anyone wishing to discover the aquarium world. These two days will be devoted to encounters, shopping, livestock, displays, exhibitions, live events and education.

On Monday, September 21, the perspective will change. The hall dedicated to manufacturers and distributors will remain open, while the exhibition will become a professional meeting place reserved for aquarium industry operators.

This is an important decision in which we have invested considerable energy. The Italian aquarium sector needs major public events, but it also needs occasions where manufacturers, retailers and distributors can calmly discuss products, markets, distribution strategies and future collaborations.

The AcquariaItalia 2026 floor plan

The provisional floor plan shown below already demonstrates how much the exhibition has developed since its first edition. The spaces have been organised according to a precise logic, making the experience easier both for freshwater enthusiasts and for visitors primarily interested in marine aquariums.

The hall dedicated to livestock, retailers and associations

The hall on the left will be open on Saturday and Sunday and will host exhibitors mainly dedicated to livestock, specialist aquarium retailers, associations and a large number of special events.

As far as possible, we have maintained the distinction between freshwater and marine aquariums that visitors appreciated during the first edition. This will allow everyone to move easily towards their main area of interest without losing the opportunity to discover something new in the other half of the hall.

Visitors will find fish, aquatic plants, corals, crustaceans, aquascaping materials, equipment and specialist retailers from several regions of Italy and other European countries. Most importantly, however, this hall will be animated by shows, exhibitions and special projects that will make the visit much more than a simple walk between commercial stands.

The company hall and major exhibitions

The hall on the right will be the professional and technological heart of AcquariaItalia 2026. Here visitors will meet manufacturers, distributors and companies from Italy and across Europe, with the opportunity to see established products and many of the innovations presented only a few months earlier at Interzoo 2026.

This will not be a cold succession of purely commercial booths. We have encouraged companies to include at least one aquarium within their exhibition space because we want even the most professional side of the event to remain deeply connected to the passion that brings us all together.

The same hall will also host some of the most important installations of the event, including the Centropyge Show, the Museum of Aquarium History, a major aquascaping exhibition and other projects that will be presented progressively over the coming weeks.

Events at AcquariaItalia 2026

A major part of this year’s organisational work has been devoted to the event programme. We want visitors to discover something new throughout the day and to ensure that AcquariaItalia is interesting both for experienced aquarium keepers and for people approaching the hobby for the first time.

A major part of this year’s organisational work has been devoted to the event programme. We want visitors to discover something new throughout the day and to ensure that AcquariaItalia is interesting both for experienced aquarium keepers and for people approaching the hobby for the first time. The events presented below are only some of the attractions already confirmed, with many more exhibitions, activities and special guests to be announced over the coming weeks.

Centropyge Show: Italy’s first major exhibition dedicated to dwarf angelfish

The Centropyge Show will be one of the most spectacular attractions for marine aquarium enthusiasts. For the first time in Italy, an exhibition will be devoted entirely to dwarf angelfish, among the most colourful, fascinating and highly desired fish found in reef aquariums.

The aim is to bring together several species and colour forms within one dedicated area, allowing visitors to compare their patterns, sizes and behaviours. This will be a rare opportunity even for experienced hobbyists, because some of these fish can be difficult to observe together even in highly specialised aquarium stores.

The Centropyge Show will also have a strong educational component. It will not focus only on colours and beauty, but will also provide information about geographical origin, aquarium requirements, behaviour and compatibility with reef aquariums.

The Centropyge Show will be made possible thanks to the main sponsorship of AquaDistri.

A 5,000-litre aquarium at AcquariaItalia

We can already reveal one of the most spectacular surprises planned for AcquariaItalia 2026: thanks to the sponsorship of New Wave, the exhibition will feature an extraordinary 5,000-litre aquarium.

This unusually large display is destined to become one of the main attractions of the event and will undoubtedly impress hobbyists and first-time visitors alike. For the moment, however, we do not want to reveal too much. The project deserves a dedicated presentation, and in the coming weeks we will explain how it will be built, what it will contain and which companies and specialists will be involved.

We can only say that it will not simply be a large aquarium placed inside an exhibition hall. It is a project designed to demonstrate what can be achieved when technology, planning and genuine passion operate on an exceptional scale. Keep following us, because we will soon have much more to reveal.

AIC at AcquariaItalia: the National Congress for cichlid enthusiasts

The cichlid community will play an important role at AcquariaItalia thanks to the participation of AIC-APS, the Italian Cichlid Association, which will hold its National Congress during the exhibition.

This will be a major meeting point for the Italian cichlid community, with presentations and discussions focused particularly on the biotopes of the African Rift Valley, from Lake Tanganyika to Lake Malawi.

One of the most anticipated guests will be Heinz Büscher, an internationally recognised specialist known for his work studying and observing the cichlids of Lake Tanganyika. His presence confirms the increasingly international character we want to give to AcquariaItalia.

Aquascaping becomes a live show: ten aquariums across twelve metres

The exhibition organised by IAC – Italian Aquascaping Crew will be one of the highlights of the freshwater area. The display will extend for an impressive twelve metres and will include ten complete aquariums.

Each aquarium will be different because every aquascaper will bring an individual style, personal sensitivity and unique interpretation of rock, wood, plants, depth and perspective.

This will therefore be more than a sequence of beautiful aquariums to photograph. It will offer a broad view of the different languages and approaches found in contemporary Italian aquascaping. The project has been designed both to inspire experienced planted-aquarium enthusiasts and to show newcomers how creative this branch of the hobby can be.

Guppy Show and Betta Show

The provisional floor plan also reveals a Guppy Show and a Betta Show. These exhibitions are devoted to fish that have accompanied generations of aquarium keepers but which, when selectively bred at the highest level, can display colours, patterns and body shapes very different from the specimens normally seen in domestic aquariums.

These areas will showcase the work of specialist breeders, introduce the public to unusual varieties and help explain the importance of responsible selection, genetics and proper animal care.

Further details will be revealed as the programmes are finalised, but we can already say that both shows will appeal to specialist breeders, families and younger visitors.

The Guppy Show and Betta Show will be organised with the support of specialist retailer La Mangrovia and AMTRA, which will provide the aquariums required for the two exhibitions.

Tamasaba Expo

Another event shown on the provisional plan is the Tamasaba Expo, dedicated to a distinctive Japanese goldfish variety characterised by a robust body and single tail. Among the announced specimens will be fish with values reaching as much as €5,000.

This is a branch of the aquarium hobby that remains relatively unknown to part of the Italian public, which is precisely why it fits perfectly with AcquariaItalia’s mission: not only to show visitors what they already know, but also to introduce specialist breeding traditions and aquarium cultures capable of opening completely new perspectives.

The Tamasaba Expo will be organised with the support of specialist retailer Koi Style.

Museum of Aquarium History

Another especially interesting attraction will be the Museum of Aquarium History, an area dedicated to the memory and evolution of the aquarium hobby.

Aquarium keeping is not only about the latest electronic pumps, modern lighting systems or aquariums controlled through smartphones. Behind us lie decades of technical development, books, magazines, equipment, materials and pioneering ideas that made today’s knowledge and possibilities achievable.

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Understanding this history also helps us understand the present. This will therefore be an area unlike any other in the exhibition, but an extremely fascinating one for anyone who loves aquarium keeping in all its forms.

The fascinating world of jellyfish

AcquariaItalia 2026 will also explore one of the most fascinating and visually striking aspects of marine aquarium keeping: the care and display of jellyfish. Thanks to the presence of Meduseria Milano, visitors will be able to observe these ancient, elegant and apparently delicate organisms at close range as they move through the water with an almost hypnotic grace.

Jellyfish require aquariums designed specifically around their unusual needs, with water circulation engineered to keep them suspended and prevent contact with sharp edges, pumps or intake systems. The exhibition will therefore offer not only an opportunity to admire them, but also to learn about the specialist techniques, equipment and care required to maintain them correctly.

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This sector remains relatively unfamiliar to the wider public and is very different from traditional marine aquarium keeping. For this reason, we believe the jellyfish area will be one of the most photographed and appreciated parts of the event, especially among families and visitors discovering AcquariaItalia for the first time.

Meet the people behind the aquarium community

AcquariaItalia 2026 will also be a major opportunity to meet some of the most recognised educators, authors and content creators in the Italian and international aquarium community. These will not simply be guests appearing briefly on a stage, but passionate aquarium keepers available to speak with visitors, exchange experiences, answer questions and share their knowledge.

Alongside myself and the DaniReef team, the confirmed guests currently include Gloria Ciriello, Irish Shrimp Guy, Mr Récif Captif, Reef NC, internationally recognised author and photographer Tony Vargas, Reef Vic from France and Maurizio Vendramini, known on social media as Zio Pesce and featured in the first episode of DaniReef Talks.

These are very different personalities who communicate marine aquariums, freshwater aquariums, shrimp keeping, aquascaping, fish breeding, photography and education through a wide variety of approaches and perspectives. One of the objectives of the exhibition is precisely to create a place where visitors can finally meet the people they follow every day through articles, videos and social media.

The list is naturally still provisional. Further international guests and creators will be added over the coming weeks, and we will announce their participation and scheduled meeting opportunities progressively as the event approaches.

Free guided tours return in 2026

Following the positive experience of the first edition, we have decided to bring back and further develop our free guided tours.

They are designed primarily for newcomers and curious visitors: people who enter the exhibition fascinated by aquariums, but who may initially feel overwhelmed by hundreds of tanks, animals, products and technical solutions.

Participants will be accompanied for approximately one hour along separate routes devoted to marine aquariums and freshwater aquariums. During each tour they will be able to observe some of the most interesting displays, listen to explanations, attend demonstrations and ask questions directly to experienced aquarium keepers and exhibitors.

The tours will take place on both Saturday and Sunday, with departures scheduled at 11:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 16:00 for both routes. Participation will be free of charge, but advance registration will be required because the number of places is necessarily limited.

The AcquariaItalia 2026 digital guide

To help visitors navigate the two exhibition halls, we are also developing a dedicated AcquariaItalia 2026 digital guide, accessible directly from any smartphone through a QR code displayed at several locations throughout the venue.

The QR code will open a mobile-friendly webpage designed to accompany visitors throughout the day. It will show the position of individual stands, clearly distinguish freshwater areas from marine aquarium areas, identify companies, retailers, associations and special exhibitions, and provide the latest event schedule.

Our aim is to create a simple, immediate and permanently available tool that allows every visitor to plan a personal route without missing a stand, presentation, demonstration or special event.

It will therefore be much more than a digital version of the printed floor plan. It will be a genuine support guide for AcquariaItalia 2026, continuously updated until the exhibition opens with all the practical information visitors may need.

Monday, September 21: the B2B Day

Probably the most important structural innovation at AcquariaItalia 2026 will be the B2B Day on Monday, September 21, open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and reserved for aquarium industry professionals.

We do not consider it simply an additional day. It will be a different exhibition within the exhibition, created specifically for manufacturers, brands, distributors, specialist retailers, buyers and other professionals.

During the public weekend, exhibitors will inevitably be busy meeting thousands of visitors. Monday will instead offer more time for technical and commercial discussions, detailed product presentations and the development of professional relationships.

The aquarium industry needs places where people can meet in person. Video calls and digital communication are extremely useful, but seeing a product, meeting the people who developed it and discussing a project beside a working aquarium remain irreplaceable experiences.

For this reason, we strongly believe in the potential of the B2B Day and in its ability to become, year after year, an important meeting point not only for the Italian market but also for the European companies attending the exhibition.

For a complete explanation of how the professional day will work, who may attend and what opportunities it will offer to retailers, companies and distributors, read our dedicated article: AcquariaItalia B2B 2026: September 21 exclusively for the aquarium industry.

An evening dedicated to exhibitors

An exhibition does not exist only during its official opening hours. Many of the best ideas, future collaborations and strongest professional friendships emerge after the stands close and exhibitors finally have time to speak in a more relaxed atmosphere.

For this reason, we are also working on an evening gathering reserved for exhibitors. It is not intended to be another formal commitment, but an enjoyable opportunity to spend time together, get to know one another and develop the network of relationships that represents one of the most valuable aspects of an event such as AcquariaItalia.

All organisational details will be communicated directly to participating exhibitors as soon as they are finalised.

Companies, retailers and breeders from across Europe

The floor plan already gives a clear impression of the level of participation achieved. AcquariaItalia will welcome manufacturers, distributors, specialist retailers, breeders and associations from Italy and several other European countries.

Some of the best-known brands in the aquarium sector will be represented in the professional hall, while the public hall will offer an extensive selection of corals, fish, aquatic plants, invertebrates and aquascaping materials.

The exhibitor list is already extensive and will continue to evolve. Rather than reproduce a list that could quickly become outdated, we recommend consulting the official AcquariaItalia 2026 exhibitors page.

The floor plan remains provisional and further additions or adjustments may still be made. Companies and retailers interested in the last available exhibition spaces can contact the organisers directly through the official website.

Among the international guests, one name deserves to be highlighted immediately: Julian Sprung. The renowned biologist, author and co-founder of Two Little Fishies will attend AcquariaItalia with his company’s stand, travelling from Miami. His presence represents an important achievement for the exhibition and a rare opportunity to meet one of the people who has most strongly influenced modern marine aquarium keeping.

Hundreds of aquariums to discover

AcquariaItalia will not be only a major commercial exhibition. Across the two halls, visitors will be able to admire hundreds of fully arranged aquariums, each representing a different philosophy, technique and interpretation of aquarium keeping.

From coral-rich reef aquariums to spectacular planted aquascapes, natural biotopes and displays devoted to goldfish, African cichlids, Bettas, Guppies, freshwater shrimp and many other specialised areas, every enthusiast will find something capable of offering inspiration.

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Internationally recognised aquascapers will also take part, bringing some of their most representative layouts to the event. Visitors will therefore have the opportunity to study in person works that would normally be visible only at major competitions or through photographs and videos.

Whether you are looking for ideas for your own aquarium or simply want to be surprised by the creativity and technical ability of leading aquarium designers, AcquariaItalia will offer a rare opportunity to see so many exceptional displays together within a single Italian event.

Aquarium associations: the heart of the hobby

Alongside companies and retailers, AcquariaItalia 2026 will host numerous Italian aquarium associations. These organisations have promoted aquarium culture, responsible breeding and the conservation and appreciation of species that often remain unfamiliar to the wider public.

Visitors will be able to speak directly with experienced breeders, observe aquariums dedicated to particular groups of fish and discover breeding, reproduction and husbandry techniques developed through many years of practical experience. This will be valuable both for newcomers and for highly experienced aquarium keepers.

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The participating associations will include AAA (Associazione Acquariofili Abruzzese), Acquari Naturali, AIB (Italian Betta Association), AIC (Italian Cichlid Association), AIK (Italian Killifish Association) and CIR (Club Ittiologico Romano) for the freshwater community, together with Reef World and ORTO (Ocean Reef Tank Owners) for the marine aquarium community. Each will present aquariums, exhibitions and activities related to its particular field of expertise.

AcquariaItalia 2026 tickets

Several ticket options are available for the public weekend, designed to meet the needs of individual visitors, families and groups.

• Standard ticket: €14 for one day, with admission from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.;
• Weekend Combo ticket: €21 for admission on both Saturday and Sunday. Considering the size of the programme, this is the option we personally recommend;
• Early Entrance ticket: €39, including admission from 9:00 a.m., breakfast and one Aquatic LAB ICP FreshWater or Marine Water test to be collected from OceanLife;
• Group ticket: €70 for six people, subject to limited availability.

Parking at Malpensa Fiere will be free of charge. Full details, reduced-price categories and admission conditions are available on the official AcquariaItalia 2026 ticket page.

Organising AcquariaItalia: the work behind the event

From the outside, it is easy to see a colourful floor plan, a list of companies and a programme of events. Behind every rectangle on that plan and behind every individual project, however, lie months of telephone calls, emails, meetings, revisions, practical problems and people who must be brought together.

Organising an exhibition of this type does not simply mean selling floor space. It means planning electricity supplies, water distribution, drainage, accessibility, animal welfare, visitor routes, communication, international guests and the very different requirements of companies, retailers, breeders and associations.

It is an enormous effort led by myself, Daniel Baiocco, the Esotika team, the DaniReef team, the participating associations and all the people who have chosen to believe in the project.

Many details still have to be completed and many surprises remain to be announced, but we can already say that AcquariaItalia 2026 will be substantially larger and more ambitious than its first edition.

We can also rely on several technical partners contributing their expertise, products and services to the exhibition. Among them, OceanLife will play an important role behind the scenes: it will supply the reverse-osmosis water required to prepare the aquariums, support several technical areas of the event and provide the Aquatic LAB ICP FreshWater and Marine Water tests included with Early Entrance tickets.

This is the kind of contribution visitors may not immediately notice, but it is essential to the correct operation of the exhibition and to ensuring suitable conditions for exhibitors and animals throughout the three days.

Why you should not miss AcquariaItalia 2026

AcquariaItalia was created to bring the entire aquarium world together in one place. It is not only marine and not only freshwater; not only shopping and not only conferences; not only for experts and not only for beginners.

We want to build an event where visitors can see extraordinary animals, meet the people who develop the technologies used in our aquariums, speak with breeders and aquascapers, discover specialist associations, learn through a guided tour and return home with new ideas for their own tanks.

At the same time, we want everyone working in the aquarium industry to finally have an appropriate Italian venue where they can meet, exchange ideas and plan the future.

Save the dates: Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026 for the public exhibition, and Monday, September 21 for professional B2B visitors. The venue will once again be Malpensa Fiere in Busto Arsizio, conveniently located near Milan Malpensa Airport.

Over the coming weeks, we will continue to introduce the events, guests, exhibitions and new products that will be present. In the meantime, visit the official AcquariaItalia.com website for the latest information and ticket sales.

The complete DaniReef team will naturally be present throughout the event, wearing our unmistakable orange shirts. We look forward to meeting you at Malpensa Fiere.

For questions, suggestions or further information, leave a comment or contact us through Telegram, Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube. You can also join the discussion with other aquarium enthusiasts on the DaniReef forum.