Milan is gearing up for another major round of the global design business. From 13 to 18 April 2027, Salone del Mobile.Milano will stage its 65th edition at Fiera Milano Rho. At a press conference held on 6 October 2026 at Fondazione Sozzani, organisers unveiled the first details of the programme. The main announcements: Euroluce returns, Salone Contract makes its debut and Salone Raritas enters its second year. A new two-year partnership with professional services firm PwC adds a further business dimension to the event, with the aim of developing a better understanding of international contract markets.
The direction is clear. Salone wants to do more than showcase new furniture and design collections. It aims to strengthen its position as an international business platform, connecting manufacturers more closely with architects, developers, investors and professional clients. There is also an economic reality behind that ambition. Demand has become more selective, exports are under pressure and furniture manufacturers are looking for new opportunities for growth. Milan's increasing focus on international project business is therefore no coincidence.
Salone Contract: PwC brings market intelligence
The biggest addition to the 2027 programme is Salone Contract. The initiative itself, however, is not entirely new. Organisers had already announced the project in early 2026. During the previous Salone, the concept was further developed with a masterplan by Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten of architecture firm OMA. In April 2027, it is set to make its debut as a dedicated platform for the international contract and project business.
The collaboration with PwC will contribute research, economic analysis and market intelligence intended to help manufacturers navigate the increasingly complex contract sector. The work will examine investment activity, real estate segments, geographical markets and changing requirements among professional clients. The aim is to provide companies with a clearer picture of where opportunities are emerging and what they need to compete.
Initial calculations by PwC indicate the scale of the opportunity. The firm estimates the potential global value of contract Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E) supplies across the principal real estate segments examined at between €80 billion and €100 billion. The Americas represent the largest regional market, with an estimated value of €34.8 billion to €42.6 billion. The Asia-Pacific region follows at €27.9 billion to €34.2 billion, while Europe, the Middle East and Africa account for €16.7 billion to €20.4 billion. By property type, residential developments make up the largest segment, followed by offices, retail and hospitality.
Those are substantial figures, but they need to be interpreted carefully. They describe an estimated global market potential, not additional revenue that Salone exhibitors can automatically expect to generate. The real question is whether the new platform can help manufacturers establish meaningful relationships, identify projects and win contracts. Smaller and specialised businesses in particular could benefit if the format gives them access to international clients that would otherwise be difficult to reach.
Rem Koolhaas moves beyond the traditional trade fair stand
Salone Contract is also intended to function differently from a conventional exhibition hall. Rather than a simple sequence of product stands, the OMA masterplan provides areas for presentations, project discussions, professional networking and direct business meetings. The concept focuses on four major contract segments: workplaces, hospitality and residential projects, public spaces, and yacht and marine interiors. Participating companies will be able to demonstrate not only their products, but also their capacity to deliver solutions for complex interior and building projects.
After all, an attractive chair or a beautifully designed sofa is only part of the equation in contract business. Large hotels, offices, residential developments and retail environments require customised solutions, reliable supply chains, precise delivery schedules and coordination between numerous stakeholders. Manufacturers increasingly have to prove that they can do more than produce furniture. They must also be capable of working reliably within demanding project structures.
The collaboration with PwC was further explored at an event held at the PwC Tower in Milan on 9 October. Entitled "Salone Contract: The New Connection between Design and Business", the meeting brought together representatives from real estate, hospitality and academia. It marked the first official event in a programme of discussions and research leading up to the new platform's debut. As part of the PwC research programme, meetings with businesses are also planned in Milan, Padua and Rome.
Euroluce returns in 2027
Alongside the new contract platform, one of Milan's established exhibition formats will make its return. Euroluce, the biennial lighting exhibition, will once again bring together decorative and architectural lighting in 2027. The agenda includes new technologies, lighting control, sustainability, artificial intelligence and the relationship between light, architecture and wellbeing.
The Euroluce International Lighting Forum will also return for a second edition, directed by Annalisa Rosso. The forum aims to connect lighting designers and architects with scientific research, technology and cultural disciplines. Among the first confirmed participants are international lighting design practices Speirs Major Light Architecture and Fisher Marantz Stone. The event will again take place in "The Forest of Space", the arena designed by Sou Fujimoto for the 2025 edition, which will be reused.
Euroluce attracted 306 exhibitors in 2025, with 45 percent coming from outside Italy. For 2027, organisers intend to further strengthen the relationship between the lighting industry, design and research. Lighting is increasingly being presented not merely as a product category, but as an essential component of architecture and spatial design.
Salone Raritas expands its international reach
Salone Raritas will also return for a second edition. Launched in 2026, the format focuses on limited editions, one-off pieces, antiques and high-end craftsmanship. The organisers intend to expand its scale and international presence in 2027. The inaugural edition featured 28 galleries from twelve countries and 59 designers.
Curated once again by Annalisa Rosso, with exhibition design by Formafantasma, the programme has already announced its first featured name: Paris-based architect and designer India Mahdavi. The ambition is to strengthen the connection between collectible design and professional interior projects. In premium hotels and residential developments, distinctive objects and high-quality craftsmanship can play an important role in creating a recognisable identity.
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Milan is gearing up for another major round of the global design business. From 13 to 18 April 2027, Salone del Mobile.Milano will stage its 65th edition at Fiera Milano Rho. At a press conference held on 6 October 2026 at Fondazione Sozzani, organisers unveiled the first details of the programme. The main announcements: Euroluce returns, Salone Contract makes its debut and Salone Raritas enters its second year. A new two-year partnership with professional services firm PwC adds a further business dimension to the event, with the aim of developing a better understanding of international contract markets.
The direction is clear. Salone wants to do more than showcase new furniture and design collections. It aims to strengthen its position as an international business platform, connecting manufacturers more closely with architects, developers, investors and professional clients. There is also an economic reality behind that ambition. Demand has become more selective, exports are under pressure and furniture manufacturers are looking for new opportunities for growth. Milan's increasing focus on international project business is therefore no coincidence.
Salone Contract: PwC brings market intelligence
The biggest addition to the 2027 programme is Salone Contract. The initiative itself, however, is not entirely new. Organisers had already announced the project in early 2026. During the previous Salone, the concept was further developed with a masterplan by Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten of architecture firm OMA. In April 2027, it is set to make its debut as a dedicated platform for the international contract and project business.
The collaboration with PwC will contribute research, economic analysis and market intelligence intended to help manufacturers navigate the increasingly complex contract sector. The work will examine investment activity, real estate segments, geographical markets and changing requirements among professional clients. The aim is to provide companies with a clearer picture of where opportunities are emerging and what they need to compete.
Initial calculations by PwC indicate the scale of the opportunity. The firm estimates the potential global value of contract Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E) supplies across the principal real estate segments examined at between €80 billion and €100 billion. The Americas represent the largest regional market, with an estimated value of €34.8 billion to €42.6 billion. The Asia-Pacific region follows at €27.9 billion to €34.2 billion, while Europe, the Middle East and Africa account for €16.7 billion to €20.4 billion. By property type, residential developments make up the largest segment, followed by offices, retail and hospitality.
Those are substantial figures, but they need to be interpreted carefully. They describe an estimated global market potential, not additional revenue that Salone exhibitors can automatically expect to generate. The real question is whether the new platform can help manufacturers establish meaningful relationships, identify projects and win contracts. Smaller and specialised businesses in particular could benefit if the format gives them access to international clients that would otherwise be difficult to reach.
Rem Koolhaas moves beyond the traditional trade fair stand
Salone Contract is also intended to function differently from a conventional exhibition hall. Rather than a simple sequence of product stands, the OMA masterplan provides areas for presentations, project discussions, professional networking and direct business meetings. The concept focuses on four major contract segments: workplaces, hospitality and residential projects, public spaces, and yacht and marine interiors. Participating companies will be able to demonstrate not only their products, but also their capacity to deliver solutions for complex interior and building projects.
After all, an attractive chair or a beautifully designed sofa is only part of the equation in contract business. Large hotels, offices, residential developments and retail environments require customised solutions, reliable supply chains, precise delivery schedules and coordination between numerous stakeholders. Manufacturers increasingly have to prove that they can do more than produce furniture. They must also be capable of working reliably within demanding project structures.
The collaboration with PwC was further explored at an event held at the PwC Tower in Milan on 9 October. Entitled "Salone Contract: The New Connection between Design and Business", the meeting brought together representatives from real estate, hospitality and academia. It marked the first official event in a programme of discussions and research leading up to the new platform's debut. As part of the PwC research programme, meetings with businesses are also planned in Milan, Padua and Rome.
Euroluce returns in 2027
Alongside the new contract platform, one of Milan's established exhibition formats will make its return. Euroluce, the biennial lighting exhibition, will once again bring together decorative and architectural lighting in 2027. The agenda includes new technologies, lighting control, sustainability, artificial intelligence and the relationship between light, architecture and wellbeing.
The Euroluce International Lighting Forum will also return for a second edition, directed by Annalisa Rosso. The forum aims to connect lighting designers and architects with scientific research, technology and cultural disciplines. Among the first confirmed participants are international lighting design practices Speirs Major Light Architecture and Fisher Marantz Stone. The event will again take place in "The Forest of Space", the arena designed by Sou Fujimoto for the 2025 edition, which will be reused.
Euroluce attracted 306 exhibitors in 2025, with 45 percent coming from outside Italy. For 2027, organisers intend to further strengthen the relationship between the lighting industry, design and research. Lighting is increasingly being presented not merely as a product category, but as an essential component of architecture and spatial design.
Salone Raritas expands its international reach
Salone Raritas will also return for a second edition. Launched in 2026, the format focuses on limited editions, one-off pieces, antiques and high-end craftsmanship. The organisers intend to expand its scale and international presence in 2027. The inaugural edition featured 28 galleries from twelve countries and 59 designers.
Curated once again by Annalisa Rosso, with exhibition design by Formafantasma, the programme has already announced its first featured name: Paris-based architect and designer India Mahdavi. The ambition is to strengthen the connection between collectible design and professional interior projects. In premium hotels and residential developments, distinctive objects and high-quality craftsmanship can play an important role in creating a recognisable identity.