“The 39th edition of Modenantiquaria, from February 7 to 15, 2026, at Modena Fiere, will confirm its position as the most prestigious and authoritative annual Italian exhibition dedicated to Fine Antiques, bringing together highly regarded galleries with collectors, enthusiasts, and art dealers. At the same time, the link with Modena, its history, and its cultural, tourism, and food and wine excellences will be strengthened, thus offering visitors and exhibitors a well-rounded experience that only the Modena area can offer.”
This is according to Tommaso Leone, Provincial President of Confcommercio, which has been organizing the event since the 2026 edition, the next one. “This operation,” Leone emphasizes, “is the result of teamwork with the decisive support of the Municipal Administration, the Chamber of Commerce, and our Confederation, led by Carlo Sangalli.”
Modenantiquaria, whose iconic image is the bust of Francesco I d’Este by Gianlorenzo Bernini, one of the most famous Baroque sculptures in the world, housed in the Galleria Estense in Modena, will boast the patronage of the Associazione Antiquari d’Italia (AAI), the Associazione Antiquari Modenesi, FIMA, and, for the 2026 edition, Confcommercio Imprese per l’Italia, the National Tourism Board (ENIT), the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Municipality of Modena, and the Chamber of Commerce.
The exhibition will feature numerous qualified antique dealers belonging to the Modena Antiques Association, including: Cantore Galleria Antiquaria, Galleria Antiquaria Camellini S.r.l., Reve Art S.r.l., Antichità La Bagatelle, Antichità Bertacchi Orfeo, Matheus Gallery, Phidias Antiques, Giusti Antichità, Galleria 900, and Ossimoro Galleria d’Arte.
Modenantiquaria will be at the center of a series of initiatives currently being finalized with other local stakeholders and businesses: local accommodations will offer visitors particularly favorable rates, and those staying at least one night between February 7th and 15th will receive free admission to Modenantiquaria; traditional restaurants will offer a menu featuring an artistic dish related to the event; Modenatur will organize cultural and culinary tours, and visits to the Palazzo Ducale in Modena at favorable prices, specifically designed for exhibitors and visitors to the exhibition; Piacere Modena will highlight the agri-food supply chain in the menus offered within the exhibition halls; Modenamoremio members and their customers will receive a discounted admission price; with TRC, our media partner, and specifically with Andrea Barbi, we will produce 12 episodes dedicated to Modenantiquaria and its protagonists.
Special attention will also be paid to training and engaging new generations: Modenantiquaria 2026 will open its doors to local high schools, offering free guided tours for students, designed as opportunities for cultural exploration and orientation to artistic heritage.
“Modenantiquaria is a legacy of Modena. This is why we have worked to ensure it continues to be held in this city, organized and managed by an important Modena association like Confcommercio,” explained Mayor Massimo Mezzetti and Councilor for Economic Promotion and Attractiveness Paolo Zanca. “And after its debut, starting next year, starting in 2027, the event’s fortieth anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to designing, together with all stakeholders, an event strongly connected to the city, its history, its culture, and its vast artistic museum heritage.”
This year, too, thanks to the AAI, with which we have a historic relationship, a valuable exhibition within the exhibition will be held, entitled The Portrait between Sacred and Profane, featuring paintings, sculptures, drawings, and art objects from leading international galleries.
This year, too, numerous antique dealers are members of the AAI: Maurizio Brandi Antiquario, Galleria d’Orlane, Subert, Raffaello Pernici – Best Ceramics, Milani Antichità, Antichità all’Oratorio, Galleria d’Arte del Caminetto, Fondantico di Tiziana Sassoli, Alice Fine Art, Antichità Giglio, Renzo Moroni, Studiolo, Attilio Cecchetto Antiquario, Galleria Roberto Ducci, Piva & C., Tornabuoni Arte, Giovanni Asioli Martini Antiquariato, Verdini Antiquariato, 800–900 Artstudio S.r.l., Carlo Orsi, Maurizio Nobile Fine Art, Enrico Gallerie d’Arte, Longari Arte Milano, Galleria Mirco Cattai, Iotti Antichità di Stefano Iotti, and Cortona Fine Art.
“Modenantiquaria is and must remain a strategic asset for Modena,” says Giuseppe Molinari, President of the Chamber of Commerce, “and that is why The Chamber of Commerce has also decided to do its part, supporting the financial and organizational efforts made by Confcommercio, which I would like to thank.
One of Modenantiquaria’s strengths will continue to be the high quality of the works exhibited by antique dealers. Paintings and sculptures will be assessed by a Vetting Committee composed of internationally renowned art historians, including Andrea Bacchi, Aldo Galli, Alessandro Morandotti, Yuri Primarosa, Lucia Peruzzi, Enrico Colle, and Gianni Papi, to name a few. They will be joined by a FIMA commission for decorative arts. This is a further guarantee of authenticity and quality for collectors and buyers.
“Modena, with its history, discreet elegance, and passion for culture, is the ideal place for an event like this. Modenantiquaria is more than just a fair: it is a constant dialogue between collectors and experts, a bridge between past and present.” Pietro Cantore, Vice President of the Italian Antique Dealers’ Association, President of the Modena Antique Dealers’ Association, and Art Director of the event, stated:
“The exhibition,” Leone concludes, “will be further enriched by two awards, thanks to two local sponsors, assigned to works selected by art historians and a FIMA commission: the “Milano Palace Hotel Award” for decorative arts and the “Malpighi Award” for paintings.”
Finally, thanks go to our partners and sponsors, listed below: Acetaia Malpighi, Big Broker Insurance Group, Bologna Fiere, Milano Palace Hotel, Piacere Modena, Ristorante Damedeo, Visitmodena, Modenatur, Modenamoremio.