Castanea Expo returns to Fortezza da Basso in Florence from December 11 to 13, 2026, with a second edition full of new features

Firenze, May 20, 2026. Castanea Expo, the first international trade fair dedicated to the world of chestnut cultivation and its many production chains, returns to Florence for the second consecutive year.

The event, which aims to outline the boundaries of a new renaissance for the chestnut sector, is scheduled from December 11 to 13, 2026, in the spaces of Fortezza da Basso, for a three-day program of meetings, exhibitions, tastings, in-depth discussions and networking activities aimed at all industry operators, institutions, buyers, representatives from the worlds of education, research, tourism and the general public.

Organized by Firenze Fiera, Castanea Expo benefits from the support of a scientific steering committee that will contribute to the realization of a comprehensive calendar of events, exhibitions and meetings addressed both to professionals and enthusiasts.

The format of the first edition, which received the patronage of various international institutions such as the European Parliament and counted on the active participation of prestigious organizations such as MASAF (Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry), has been confirmed. Alongside the exhibition area, which will host leading companies in the chestnut sector, the three-day event will offer a rich program of seminars, workshops, training laboratories, tastings, masterclasses and show cooking sessions for a 360-degree analysis and discussion of industry-related topics.

Ample space will be dedicated to Italian and foreign chestnut-producing territories, with the participation of regions, institutions, consortia and international delegations. Already during its first edition, Castanea Expo acquired a strong international vocation thanks to the presence of foreign exhibitors, especially from Greece and France, and to the attractiveness of Fortezza da Basso, a key asset of Firenze Fiera and one of the leading exhibition venues at the European level.

An absolute novelty this year will be the five thematic areas set up within the exhibition: Castanea Tech dedicated to technologies and machinery; Castanea Lab Innovation focused on agronomic applications, regulations and economics; Castanea Tour dedicated to tourism in chestnut groves through villages, roads, trails, walking routes and museums; Castanea Wood focused on the wood supply chain, environmental and civil engineering, furniture and design; and Castanea Food dedicated to chestnuts and their traditional, innovative and gourmet processed products.

“With great satisfaction we present the second edition of Castanea Expo, a trade fair that enhances one of the most authentic excellences of the Italian territory and of the entire agri-food supply chain. Firenze Fiera thus confirms its commitment to promoting events capable of combining tradition, innovation, sustainability and economic development,” declared the President of Firenze Fiera, Lorenzo Becattini. “Castanea Expo represents not only a quality showcase for producers, institutions and industry operators, but also an important opportunity for discussion on issues such as the enhancement of inland areas, biodiversity protection and new opportunities linked to food and wine tourism. We are confident that the 2026 edition will further strengthen the international profile of the exhibition, fostering meetings, collaborations and new growth prospects for the entire sector.”

“The mountain economy in Italy has in chestnut cultivation, with its 700,000–800,000 hectares of chestnut groves, a highly important strategic asset for economic regeneration and social and heritage enhancement, considering that the sector’s economic value ranges between 2 and 4 billion euros per year with wide margins for growth,” added Massimo Seragnoli, Head of Commercial Development and member of the scientific steering committee. “With Castanea Expo, Firenze Fiera brings together all stakeholders: from landowners to consortium organizations, PGI and PDO entities, and all companies involved in the processing chains of fresh fruit, wood and innovative products. It is here, in the magnificent setting of Fortezza da Basso, that from December 11 to 13 the guidelines for the renaissance of chestnut cultivation will be laid down.”

INFO: www.castaneaexpo.it