Lineapelle Trade Show Hit by Winter Olympics in Difficult Macro Scenario

Exhibitor and visitor numbers dropped as the leather industry faces rising costs and declining exports.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The Lineapelle trade show in Milan faced challenges due to scheduling conflicts with the 2026 Winter Olympics, leading to a drop in exhibitors and visitors. Organizers expressed dismay over the Olympics' impact on their biggest event of the season, which normally takes place alongside the Milan ready-to-wear shows. The leather industry is grappling with rising energy costs, tariff pressures, and declining revenues and exports, especially to key markets like China and the U.S. Despite some signs of recovery, 2026 is seen as a season of evaluation and a difficult effort to maintain market position.

Why it matters

Lineapelle is a crucial event for Italy's leather supply chain, which is dominated by small and medium-sized firms. The drop in attendance highlights the broader challenges facing the industry, including inflationary pressures, trade issues, and the impact of global events like the Olympics on regional business. The industry is looking to consolidation, technology, and sustainable materials as ways to navigate the complex economic environment.

The details

The number of Lineapelle exhibitors dropped from 1,100 in 2025 to 848 in 2026, while the number of visitors plunged from 24,977 to around 16,000. Organizers cited numerous problems caused by the Olympics, including high hotel rates and logistical issues that prevented exhibitors and visitors from attending. The leather goods industry in Italy is expected to have contracted 5.2% in 2025, with exports dropping 5.5% in the first 10 months of the year. Exports to key markets like China and the U.S. fell 23% and 12%, respectively, during that period.

  • Lineapelle 2026 took place from February 11 to 13, rescheduled from its normal timing due to the Winter Olympics.
  • The September 2026 edition of Lineapelle is expected to unfold as scheduled, from September 15 to 17.

The players

Fulvia Bacchi

Chief executive officer of the Lineapelle exhibition.

Alessandro Corsi

CEO of MinervaHub, a group established in 2022 to protect and support Italian manufacturers in the country's leather supply chain.

Florent Pavan

Senior creative manager at LVMH Métiers d'Art, which showcased embellished hides and collections at Lineapelle.

Megan Beck

Product director at Rheom Materials, a bio-based materials company that launched a sustainable capsule collection at Lineapelle.

Jacopo Tonelli

Creative director at MinervaHub, who combined technical aspects of the hub's core firms to produce new products.

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What they’re saying

“Amid a delicate moment, the Olympic Games [part of which unfolded at the fairgrounds] led to numerous problems, primarily preventing exhibitors and visitors from attending due to an array of issues that included high hotel rates and logistical issues.”

— Fulvia Bacchi, Chief executive officer of the Lineapelle exhibition (WWD)

“When all companies [within the group] are operating at the same pace, we can move forward with those we've identified as a perfect fit.”

— Alessandro Corsi, CEO of MinervaHub (WWD)

“Here we put the world of real technical sport together with the more glamorous world of hand embroidery. It's our job to put these contrasting worlds together.”

— Jacopo Tonelli, Creative director at MinervaHub (WWD)

“With this new collaboration, Rheom can connect brands directly with manufacturers who already know how to work with Shorai, making the transition to more sustainable materials far more accessible.”

— Megan Beck, Product director at Rheom Materials (WWD)

What’s next

Lineapelle Designers Edition, which includes runway shows, installations and artistic showcases, will take place in Milan's 5Vie neighborhood from February 26 to March 1 in an attempt to attract key brands and partners that were absent from the main trade show.

The takeaway

The challenges faced by Lineapelle 2026 highlight the broader difficulties confronting Italy's leather industry, which is grappling with rising costs, declining exports, and the disruptive impact of global events. However, the industry is responding with consolidation, technological innovation, and a focus on sustainable materials as it seeks to navigate the complex economic environment.