Europe’s flagship clean-energy exhibition, KEY – The Energy Transition Expo, is set to return to the Rimini Expo Centre from March 4 to 6, reinforcing its position as a global platform for accelerating decarbonisation and cross-border cooperation across Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean.
Organised by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), the 2026 edition marks a significant step forward in internationalisation, with organisers confirming that more than 1,000 brands will exhibit — around 32% of them from abroad, representing 30 countries. Over 500 hosted buyers and official delegations from nearly 50 countries are also expected to attend, supported by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency.
The event’s expanding international footprint reflects growing global momentum behind the energy transition, as KEY positions itself not only as a European marketplace, but as a strategic hub linking emerging and mature energy markets.
Africa moves centre stage
A defining feature of this year’s edition is the launch of the Africa Investment HUB, debuting in Hall D3. The dedicated 126-square-metre area will host industry associations from Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and South Africa, creating a focused space for networking, project development, and investment dialogue.
The initiative aligns with Italy’s broader engagement with Africa under the Mattei Plan, aiming to deepen cooperation between African and European stakeholders in renewable energy, infrastructure, and sustainable development.
KEY will also partner with Piantando, a certified B Corp specialising in high-impact environmental projects. Through Piantando’s “Light Up” initiative, three solar street lamps will be installed in a village in Malawi during the exhibition period, underlining the event’s commitment to tangible social impact.
Expanding global partnerships
Beyond Africa, KEY 2026 is targeting participation from North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, Türkiye, and key European markets including Germany, Spain, the UK, Poland, Serbia, and the wider Balkan region.
A Japanese delegation will attend for the first time, following cooperation between hydrogen industry bodies and regional institutions as part of an Italy–Japan hydrogen partnership initiated during IEG’s mission to Expo Osaka.
To facilitate attendance, LuxWing Airlines will operate a direct Madrid–Rimini flight for Spanish visitors.
High-level international programme
The Technical Scientific Committee has curated around 18 English-language conferences designed for international audiences, spanning artificial intelligence, hydrogen, agrivoltaics, energy storage, offshore wind, electric mobility, circular economy, and energy access.
Highlights include:
- Next Generation AI for a Carbon-Free Built Environment — exploring how artificial intelligence can accelerate building decarbonisation.
- Strengthening Italy–Japan Collaboration on Hydrogen Technologies — bringing together policymakers and industrial leaders from both countries.
- Electric Car Charging Networks: Where Do We Stand in Italy and Europe — assessing infrastructure readiness across markets.
- Driving Africa’s Energy Transition — focusing on solar, wind, and battery storage as pathways to energy self-sufficiency.
- Multiple Financing Instruments to Accelerate Africa’s Energy Future — examining how blended finance can improve access and scale renewables across the continent.
Additional sessions will cover circular solar and battery recycling, offshore wind bankability, agrivoltaics design challenges, energy communities in the Western Balkans, Türkiye’s investment outlook, and Italy’s evolving solar business models.
A global energy hub in the making
With its growing international participation and expanded thematic scope, KEY – The Energy Transition Expo is increasingly positioning itself as a convening point for governments, investors, technology providers, and developers navigating the world’s shift toward cleaner energy systems.
As countries across Africa and Europe accelerate renewable deployment and rethink energy security, the Rimini gathering aims to foster concrete partnerships and practical solutions — moving the conversation beyond ambition toward implementation.
