Events

Italian Pet Summit 2026: 15 September in Milan

The third edition of the event dedicated to the pet economy and the role of animals in society. The proceedings will be opened by Fabio Tamburini, Editor-in-Chief of Il Sole 24 Ore, and Federico Silvestri, Chief Executive of the 24 ORE Group

23 July 2026

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4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The Italian Pet Summit, the event organised by *Il Sole 24 Ore* dedicated to the world of pets and the entire pet economy sector, returns on 15 September in Milan at Magna Pars. Now in its third edition, the Summit is driven by what has become a structural phenomenon: in Italia, almost 10 million households – equivalent to 37.7 per cent of the total – live with at least one pet, contributing to the growth of a market now worth €6.7 billion in products and services, which continues to demonstrate resilience and potential for growth despite inflation, economic uncertainties and geopolitical instability.

During the event, moderated by Giulia Crivelli and Micaela Cappellini of *Il Sole 24 Ore*, institutions, companies, trade associations, experts, academics and professionals will discuss the key transformations that are reshaping the sector, analysing scenarios, opportunities and future prospects for the Pet Economy: the evolution of pet owners’ preferences, sustainability as an essential element, right through to how innovation and technology are transforming the methods and quality of animal care. There will also be a focus on the ever-widening impact of pets on society: from the profound change in the relationship between people and animals, to cities becoming increasingly ‘pet-friendly’, right through to the role of animal-assisted interventions in managing patients with various conditions. There will also be an in-depth look at the world of work, with a focus on the challenges and developments within the veterinary profession.

The proceedings will be opened by Fabio Tamburini, Editor-in-Chief of *Il Sole 24 Ore*, and Federico Silvestri, Chief Executive Officer of the 24 ORE Group. This will be followed by a presentation from Fabio Degli Esposti, Managing Director of Purina Italia and Regional Director for Purina Southern Europe, who will offer his insights on the growth and resilience of the pet economy, considering its social impact and cultural evolution, whilst Paolo Garro, Senior Director of Business Insights at Circana, will present the latest data on the pet care and pet food market up to 2026. Next, Giulia Bertini, Senior Client Officer at IPSOS, will explain how the role of pet owners is changing with the advent of digital technology and artificial intelligence.

The discussion will continue with a session dedicated to the role of industry associations and a comparison between Italia and Europe, featuring Giorgio Massoni, President of ASSALCO, and Franco Garbelotto, Deputy Secretary General of FEDIAF – the European Pet Food Industry Federation. The topic of pet-centred cities and new European urban models will be addressed by Andrea Gavinelli, Head of Unit for Animal Welfare at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, Elena Eva Maria Grandi, Councillor for the Environment and Green Spaces at Milan City Council, and Paola Fossati, a member of the Office of the Animal Ombudsman at Milan City Council, a veterinary surgeon and researcher at the University of Milan.

Considerable attention will be given to the cultural shift that is redefining the relationship between humans and animals. The discussion will feature Giusy D’Angelo, national president of ENPA; Michela Vittoria Brambilla, MP, chair of the Parliamentary Intergroup for Animal Rights and founder of LEIDAA; Roberto Marchesini, director of SIUA – Institute of Zooanthropological Training and Director of the Centre for Post-Humanist Philosophy Studies, and Rosalba Calabrese, Head of Cabin Pet at Aeroitalia.

The Summit will also explore the growing role of animal-assisted interventions within therapeutic and rehabilitation programmes, thanks to contributions from Riccardo Masson, senior paediatric neuropsychiatrist at the IRCCS Besta Neurological Institute Foundation in Milan, Franco Mutinelli, director of the National Reference Centre for Animal-Assisted Interventions at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, and Andrea Ungar, president of VETeris – the Italian Association of Geriatricians and Veterinarians for Animal-Assisted Interventions. The conclusions of the morning session will be presented by Marta Marsilio, President of the IRCCS Besta Neurological Institute Foundation.

In the afternoon, the proceedings will resume with a focus on sustainability and resilience in the petcare sector. Stefano Bonelli, Head of Decarbonisation at AXA Climate, will introduce a round-table discussion on the new environmental challenges facing the supply chain, featuring, amongst others, Kerstin Schmeiduch, Head of Communications and Sustainability at Purina Europe, and Carlotta Giromini from the University of Milan.

The focus will then shift to the role of pet food and complementary foods in strengthening the bond between people and animals, with a presentation by Stefania Strasserra of Purina Europe and a contribution from a veterinary behaviourist. Innovation and technology will take centre stage in the session dedicated to Pet Tech, featuring Clara Mancini, Professor of Animal-Computer Interaction at The Open University in the UK, and Hugues Salord, CEO and co-founder of Santévet, who will analyse how artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and automation are transforming animal care and welfare.

The day will conclude with an in-depth discussion on the veterinary profession and the challenges facing the next generation of professionals, featuring contributions from Marco Melosi, President of ANMVI; Vincenzo Buono, FNOVI Councillor; and Marco Genchi, Chair of the Degree Programme Board at the University of Parma.

The Italian Pet Summit 2026 thus reaffirms its status as a key event for understanding the transformations taking place in the pet economy, analysing the trends that will shape the market in the coming years, and exploring the increasingly central role that pets play in people’s lives, in cities, in health and in contemporary society.

The Italian Pet Summit 2026 is organised by Il Sole 24 Ore, in collaboration with PURINA. It is held under the patronage of the City of Milan, ANMVI, ENPA and FNOVI.