Timeless stone at Marmomac

The 60th edition of Marmomac, held at Veronafiere from 22 to 25 September 2026, marked an important anniversary, but above all offered a snapshot of an industry in transition, in which natural stone is increasingly connected to technological innovation, sustainability and contemporary design. With around 1,400 exhibitors from more than 54 countries and a community of over 50,000 operators and professionals from 140 nations, Marmomac today confirms an international reach that extends well beyond the fair's local origins. Founded in 1940 in Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella as the Marble and Machinery Exhibition, at the heart of one of Europe's most important stone districts, the fair has progressively evolved, particularly following its move to Veronafiere in the early 1990s, expanding its industrial vocation towards design, research and experimentation.

This evolution is reflected in the growing focus on innovation across the entire supply chain. Alongside finished materials, Marmomac now presents machinery, processing technologies, tools and production systems, highlighting how innovation is reshaping every stage of the process, from quarrying to architectural application. Sustainability was one of the most tangible aspects of this transformation. The new International “Sustainable Excellence” Award, organised under the patronage of and in collaboration with the University of Verona, recognised solutions capable of improving production efficiency, reducing consumption and promoting more responsible use of resources. This approach broadens the very concept of innovation within the stone industry, encompassing not only design and products, but also processes and technologies.

Alongside this new award, the Best Communicator Award, now in its 18th edition, continued to recognise companies and figures capable of interpreting stone through design, architecture and art, highlighting the evolution of the language through which the material is communicated and perceived internationally. Education also remains central to the event. Active since 1998, Marmomac Academy brings together designers, researchers and companies through talks, case studies and sessions exploring processing techniques, sustainability and innovation.

The 60th edition opened with a lecture by Carlo Ratti, focusing on the relationship between technology, cities and architecture – a perspective that reflects a fair increasingly looking at stone not simply as a material rooted in tradition, but as a resource capable of engaging with the transformations of contemporary design. After sixty years, Marmomac thus reflects the evolution of an entire industry: from stone as a material to stone as a field of innovation, where technology, design, sustainability and culture are helping to shape its future.