AI Festival 2026: Milan Gears Up for Global AI Event
Milan, 20 January – The third edition of the AI Festival, one of Europe’s leading events dedicated to applied artificial intelligence, is set to take place in Milan on January 21 and 22, 2026. The event, organized by WMF – We Make Future and conceived by Search On Media Group, will gather over 150 international speakers and more than 115 speeches at Bocconi University, focusing on advanced training in artificial intelligence.
“Empowering the Agentic Era” at the Core of the Festival
This year’s edition is dedicated to the theme “Empowering the Agentic Era,” exploring the evolution of AI towards increasingly autonomous systems capable of interacting with the physical world, making decisions, and generating real value. The festival aims to connect the Italian AI ecosystem with global markets, fostering new business connections and technical training.
Cosmano Lombardo, Founder and CEO of Search On Media Group and creator of AI Festival, emphasized the strategic importance of the event: “AI Festival, now in its third edition, is configured as a strategic moment to understand the transformation introduced by the Agentic Era. In this phase, artificial intelligence becomes a system capable of collaborating and making decisions within human and organizational processes. Governing this change requires advanced skills, a systemic vision, and constant dialogue between industry, society, and the market: the event was created to connect these actors and create concrete value.”
International Experts and Leading Companies
The festival will host experts from around the world, leading companies, Big Tech, and international research centers involved in the development and adoption of AI. Among the confirmed participants are representatives from ESA – European Space Agency, Microsoft, Lenovo, and the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT).
Dell Technologies and Intel are the Main Sponsors for this edition, with support from Cineca, ENIA – Ente Nazionale per l’Intelligenza Artificiale, and YesMilano, the official brand of Milano&Partners, which promotes major events to strengthen the city’s international positioning.
Innovation, Ethics, and Science on the Plenary Stage
The core of the two-day festival will be the Plenary session, where international experts will lead discussions on the Agentic Era, covering corporate innovation, ethics, science, and emerging technologies. A prominent figure will be Daniele Pucci, CEO of Generative Bionics and a key figure in robotics and embodied AI, who led the team that developed GENE.01 – the humanoid that opened CES 2026.
Pucci’s presence will highlight the dialogue between advanced research, industry, and real-world applications, showcasing how agentic AI and robotics are redefining the relationship between artificial intelligence and the real world.
Distinguished Guests and Roundtables
The festival will feature a diverse lineup of Italian and international AI leaders, including Chiara Cocchiara (ESA), Marco Fanizzi (Dell Technologies Italia), Alessandra Poggiani (Cineca), Arianna Traviglia (Italian Institute of Technology), Daniele Manca (Corriere Della Sera), Gianmario Verona (Bocconi University), Davide Dattoli (Talent Garden), Pier Luigi Pisa (La Repubblica and Italian Tech), Sasha Luccioni (AI and Climate researcher), Nestor Maslej (Stanford University), Rika Nikazawa (NTT DATA Inc.), and Guido Scorza (Italian Data Protection Authority).
A roundtable discussion on “AI and Italy’s Dimensional Challenge” will bring together Marco Gay (Zest Investments), Giovanni Zazzerini (INSME), Gianluca Galgano (EY), Vincenzo Di Nicola (CDP Venture Capital), and Massimo Calzoni (INVITALIA). The Plenary will be hosted by Fjona Cakalli, Tech Reporter, and Jakidale, Youtuber & Content Creator.
Program and Specialized Tracks
The festival introduces a new format with specialized educational pathways tailored to different professional profiles, offering targeted and immediately applicable content. These include ‘AI Horizons’ for strategic vision, ‘AI Deep Dive’ for technical insights, practical ‘Workshops,’ and the ‘Impact Forum’ and ‘Innovation Arena’ for open discussions and ecosystem dialogues.
The participation of international speakers, Big Tech, and industry leaders ensures practical relevance and authority, providing attendees with real-world use cases, advanced tools, and ample business opportunities.
Source: https://tg24.sky.it/tecnologia/2026/01/20/ai-festival-2026-milano-date-programma
