FED Europe – Forum Europeo Digitale will return to Lucca on May 28–29, 2026 for its 23rd edition, reaffirming its position as one of Europe’s longest-running and most influential B2B events dedicated to the media, digital and technology industries.
Hosted once again at
the historic Real Collegio in Lucca, the event brings together executives,
broadcasters, streaming platforms, technology companies, telcos, advertising
professionals and innovators to discuss the future of the audiovisual
ecosystem. Unlike consumer-facing trade fairs, FED Europe is designed as a
high-level professional forum focused on strategic networking, industry insight
and practical applications of innovation.
For the first time in
its history, the event will take place in May, a strategic shift aimed at
creating new opportunities for engagement and participation among delegates.
“The 23rd edition of
FED represents an extraordinary moment of transformation,” said Lorenzo
Michelozzi, CEO of FED Europe. “For the first time in our twenty-three-year
history, we are moving the event to May — a conscious decision designed to
introduce new engagement methods and allow every delegate to participate
actively, not passively.”
The 2026 edition will
revolve around five key thematic pillars reflecting the rapid evolution of the
European media landscape: ADV, SPORT, TOTAL VIDEO, AI and PRODUCTIONS &
CONTENTS.
“These five thematic
pillars are not just topics,” Michelozzi continued. “They reflect a reality:
technology and innovation are reshaping the European media industry in real
time. We want our 350–400 top experts, our more than 8,600 participants, and
especially our CEOs — who represent 37% of the audience — not simply to listen,
but to create connections that will leave a lasting impact.”
The ADV section will
explore advanced advertising technologies and data-driven solutions designed to
reach increasingly targeted audiences in a fragmented media environment. SPORT
will focus on the impact of the FIFA World Cup on production models, audience
engagement and sports content distribution strategies.
TOTAL VIDEO, one of the
most strategic themes for broadcasters and streaming platforms today, will
examine how companies are responding to distribution challenges and platform
fragmentation in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
Artificial intelligence
will also be one of the central subjects of the forum, with dedicated sessions
addressing practical AI applications and real-world use cases in media and
technology. Discussions are expected to cover automation, personalization, workflow
optimization, audience analytics and AI-powered content production.
Meanwhile, the
PRODUCTIONS & CONTENTS pillar will focus on the evolution of audiovisual
production, including remote production workflows, user participation models
and the rapid growth of vertical channels.
Among the speakers
already announced for the 2026 edition are several prominent figures from the
European media and digital sectors, including Elena Capparelli (RaiPlay),
Federico di Chio (MFE-Mediaset), Pierluigi Magliano (Sky Italia), Nicolò Moschi
(Brightcove) and Marcello Dolores (Warner Bros. Discovery), alongside
representatives from the European Broadcasting Union, Eutelsat Group and
leading technology and analytics companies.
Sports media will also
play a major role in the discussions, with contributions from Tommaso Bianchini
of SSC Napoli and Italian water polo legend Stefano Tempesti, highlighting how
live sports continue to drive innovation across streaming and digital engagement
platforms.
The 23rd edition will
also introduce new engagement formats designed to transform FED Europe into a
more participatory experience. Organizers confirmed the return of the exclusive
Gala Night, which has become one of the forum’s signature networking moments,
as well as the FED Awards ceremony celebrating innovation and excellence across
the media-tech ecosystem.
FED Europe’s unique
positioning continues to lie in the high level of its audience: approximately
37% of attendees are CEOs from the media industry, joined by CTOs, COOs, senior
executives and decision-makers from across Europe.
“FED is not simply a
conference — it is a community,” Michelozzi said. “It is one of the few
European events capable of bringing together 37% CEOs from the media industry,
350–400 top-level professionals and creating connections that continue long
after the event itself. It is where industry standards are shaped, where
partnerships are born, and where innovation stops being an abstract word and
becomes operational reality.”
As the European
audiovisual sector navigates profound transformations driven by AI, streaming
fragmentation, advertising evolution and new business models, FED Europe 2026
positions itself once again as a key observatory for understanding where the
future of the media and digital industries is heading.
