Furniture Fair 2026

Towards the Salone del Mobile

Milan Design Week, tourist expenditure up to 255 million

Despite the war, Confcommercio estimates that both visitors and spending will increase this year (+14.7%), driven by foreigners

by R.I.T.

15 April 2026

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Expenditure breakdown
Driving foreign visitors
Hotels, more than 750 euro for a room

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Despite the difficult global transport situation generated by the war in Iran, estimates on visitor arrivals and spending in Milan during the Salone del Mobile and Design Week 2026 are positive: Confcommercio Milano, Lodi e Monza Brianza in fact calculates tourist spending of 255.3 million euro in the week of 20-26 April, up 14.7% compared to 2025 (with a "repartition on last year's final figures", a note from the association states.

The allocation of expenditure

Almost 41 per cent (104.4 million) will be spent on accommodation; 76.9 million (30 per cent) on catering; 59.9 million (around 23.5 per cent) on shopping and 14.1 million (5.5 per cent) on admission tickets to the Show.

The number of visitors is also on the rise, which is expected to exceed 319,400, also up (by 5.5%) compared to last year. The vast majority (62.4%) come from abroad, the rest from Italia, while the per capita tourist expenditure generated will be 251.7 euro (+8.6% over 2025). Estimates by the Confcommercio Milano Lodi Monza Brianza Study Centre are based on data from Banca d'Italia, Salone del Mobile, Aefi, and EuroFair Statistics.

The pull of foreign visitors

Spending will be driven, as always, by foreign visitors, with a total of EUR 179.9 million (up 31.5%), with spending of EUR 80.7 million on accommodation (almost 45%); EUR 52.9 million on catering (29.4%); EUR 37.4 million on shopping (around 20.8%) and EUR 8.9 million (almost 5%) on tickets to the Show.

On the other hand, the expected expenditure of Italian visitors is down: € 75.4 million, 12.1% compared to last year (accommodation 23.7 million, 31.4%; catering 24 million, 31.8%; shopping 22.4 million, 29.7%; tickets for the Show 5.3 million, 7%).

Hotels, more than 750 euro for a room

In Milan, during the days of the Salone del Mobile, the peak occupancy of 3, 4 and 5-star hotels (90% of rooms are rented) will be reached on the first two days of the fair (21 and 22 April), before gradually dropping to 85% on 23 April and 80% on 26 and 27 April. The average occupancy rate over the entire period is 81.7 per cent. As far as prices (double room) are concerned, 43% are up to EUR 399, 41% from EUR 400 to EUR 749 and 16% over EUR 750 (source: IODAH-Intelligence on Destination and Hospitality platform).

Air ticket costs

The average daily price of airline tickets to Milan in the period 10-30 April (survey on 9 April) is 281 euros, up 24.2% compared to 1 April this year.

"The Salone del Mobile and the widespread events of the Fuori Salone confirm, despite the great international difficulties, the attractiveness and liveliness of Milan," says Marco Barbieri, secretary general of Confcommercio Milano Lodi Monza Brianza. "Of particular importance this year, despite the foreseeable defections from geographic areas that are important for our economy, is the estimated presence and spending capacity expressed by foreign visitors. A heritage that our territory must know how to exploit more and more'.