Final day at the Rimini Fair for the 2026 Meeting for Friendship among Peoples. Wednesday, 26 August marks the close of the 47th edition, dedicated to the theme “The love that moves the sun and the other stars,” with a particularly packed day of appointments. Among the leading figures will be European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Minister Nello Musumeci, the President of the Marche Region Francesco Acquaroli and, in the closing event, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
Things kick off at 11 a.m. at the Cdo C1 Arena with “Integral humanism and the civil economy,” a discussion on the relationship between development, business, the individual and the common good. Guests will include Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, Leonardo Becchetti, Andrea Dellabianca, Paolo Garonna and numerous representatives from the economic and business world.
One of the highlights of the day is set for noon in the Sala Neri Generali Cattolica. Roberta Metsola will take the stage for “Europe. Safeguarding our roots, accelerating the future.” The discussion will focus on the future of the Union, from the need to speed up decision-making processes to the single market, from the EU budget to enlargement, all without losing sight of the continent’s cultural roots. Antonio Tajani is expected to deliver opening remarks, while Meeting President Bernhard Scholz will introduce the session.
At 1 p.m., in the same hall, Tajani will once again take centre stage for “Rebuilding hope in the land of cedars,” dedicated to Lebanon’s difficult situation and the prospects for reconstruction after the war. Joining the Foreign Minister will be Monsignor César Essayan, Apostolic Vicar of Beirut, and Lebanon’s Ambassador to Italy, Carla Jazzar.
Also at 1 p.m., several events will run in parallel. The Sala Gruppo FS C4 will host a discussion on technical training, young people and employment titled “Guiding talent in technical education,” while the Cdo C1 Arena will focus on rebuilding after earthquakes and disasters. Francesco Acquaroli, Guido Castelli, Nello Musumeci and Antonella Baldino will discuss the shift from emergency response to the rebirth of affected communities.
There will also be room for culture and science. At 1 p.m. in the Tracce A3 Arena, writer Andrea Fazioli will speak about “Agatha Christie and the mystery of truth.” Meanwhile, at the Euresis A7 Arena, astrophysicist Massimo Robberto will guide the audience through the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, from the search for new planets to the study of dark matter and dark energy.
At 3 p.m. in the Intesa Sanpaolo D3 Auditorium, attention will turn to young people and emotions with “Learning to love.” Writer and cartoonist Matteo Bussola and child neuropsychiatrist and psychotherapist Mariolina Ceriotti Migliarese will discuss how new generations relate to love, bonds and freedom.
But 3 p.m. also marks one of the most highly anticipated political events of the entire day. In the Sala Gruppo FS C4, “Democracy doesn’t take a holiday. The Republic’s first 80 years” will bring together figures from nearly the entire political spectrum: Stefano Bonaccini, Maria Elena Boschi, Stefania Craxi, Giovanni Donzelli, Maurizio Lupi, Stefano Patuanelli, Matteo Richetti and Massimiliano Romeo. The discussion will be moderated by Corriere della Sera editor Luciano Fontana. The conversation will start from the Republic’s eightieth anniversary to examine the state of democracy and the role of Parliament.
Also at 3 p.m., in the Conai A2 Hall, there will be a philosophical discussion titled “Original and creative: revisiting thought on the human person,” featuring Massimo Borghesi and Massimo Serretti.
At 5 p.m. the programme continues with “Mothers and fathers for children’s sake” in the Conai A2 Hall, dedicated to family relationships and the educational role that spans generations. At the same time, in the Sala Gruppo FS C4, Franco Nembrini and Gabriele Vrech will meet with students and young actors for “Not just Dante. A journey through the travelling exhibitions and ‘Hell in the heart,'” featuring personal testimonies and live performances.
The grand closing event, however, is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Intesa Sanpaolo D3 Auditorium. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will be the protagonist of “Gazing upon the sky of Jerusalem.” A group of young people will speak directly with the Patriarch about the situation in the Holy Land, the war in Gaza and the witness of Christians in one of the places most marked by tension in recent years. The event will be introduced and moderated by journalist Alessandra Buzzetti and will close with remarks from Bernhard Scholz.
The 47th edition will finally bid farewell to its audience with music. At 9:30 p.m. at the Piscine Ovest Illumia stage, the closing party will feature a concert by the Sbadaband, conceived as a grand collective evening blending contemporary hits with classics of Italian music.
It will therefore be an intense close, after six days of talks, exhibitions, performances and testimonies, and following the historic visit of Pope Leo XIV. The Fair will remain open on Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to midnight, with free entry via the valid event ticket.
The full programme and any last-minute updates are available on the official Rimini Meeting programme.
