IVS Celebrates its Tenth Anniversary

The Summit marks a decade since its inception, embracing the challenge of innovation and looking ahead to the future of energy and industry

What began as a promising event for a highly specialised sector has become a key reference point for the entire value chain. 

This is the trajectory that IVS - Industrial Valve Summit, the leading international trade fair and conference on valve and flow control technologies, always held in Bergamo, Italy, has taken since 2015. Ten years on from the first edition, the organisers - Confindustria Bergamo and Promoberg - reflect on a journey of achievement and extend their thanks to all those who have helped shape the event into what it is today. 

A retrospective glance meets a forward-looking vision: the countdown to IVS 2026, scheduled to take place at the Bergamo Exhibition Centre from 19 to 21 May 2026, has already kicked off. The sixth edition will continue to delve into the challenges facing the global energy supply chain, confirming the Summit's vocation as a driver of development and a hub of technological excellence.

The history   

In May 2015, the Bergamo Exhibition Centre welcomed the industrial valve sector for the first time. Over one hundred companies participating as exhibitors recognised the event’s strategic potential, which was conceived as a platform to elevate the entire supply chain by uniting shared goals and unique technical expertise. The international trade fair quickly became a valuable asset for regional promotion, generating a wide range of related activities that continue to benefit the local area. 

From 5.700 visitors in 2015 to almost 8.000 in 2017 and 10,800 in 2019, the Summit has recorded a consistent rise – not only in attendance but also in the calibre of participants. 

In 2020, just as preparations for the fourth edition were getting into full swing, the Covid-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt. The exhibition centre was transformed into a temporary hospital and lent to the local community, contributing actively to the reinforcement of the regional healthcare system. 

The 2021 edition was postponed to 2022, the year in which IVS marked a new milestone: 12,000 visitors from over 60 countries and almost 300 exhibitors (+17% compared to 2019) reflected the growing prominence of the Summit, even in an environment still affected by travel restrictions. 

The fifth edition in 2024 counted 15,000 participants from 69 countries (+25%) and 325 exhibiting companies (+13%) from 14 nations, with a sharp increase in international participation – twice as much as in 2022. 

The constant growth of IVS highlights the nature of an event that is more than an exhibition, becoming a catalyst for knowledge, innovation and collaboration in a strategic sector on a global scale. In the run-up to IVS 2026, the organisers have further increased the quality of content and dialogue, thanks to a constantly evolving scientific programme positioned at the cutting edge of technological innovation.  

Bergamo and its region are ready to welcome professionals, experts and visitors from all over the world, thanks to a unique blend of urban and natural charm, attractive leisure opportunities, and the warm hospitality of a people-centred city.

Find out more: https://industrialvalvesummit.com/

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