AI Festival returns to Milan in 2027 with a bigger business and training focus

AI Festival will return to Milan on Feb. 11-12, 2027, at Superstudio Maxi, with a larger venue, expanded business programming and advanced training for AI professionals. The event is designed to connect companies, startups, investors and institutions as AI adoption, commercial development and workforce skills accelerate.

Why it matters: - AI Festival is expanding to meet rising demand across the global AI market, with a stronger emphasis on business deals, professional training and international networking. - The move to Superstudio Maxi gives the event 10,000 square meters of indoor and outdoor space to support more exhibitions, meetings, workshops and deal-making. - The festival’s focus on AI skills, responsible adoption and practical applications reflects how AI is moving from experimentation to operational use in companies and public institutions.

What happened: - AI Festival will take place on Feb. 11-12, 2027, in Milan, Italy. - The event was created by Search On Media Group and is powered by WMF – We Make Future. - The 2027 edition will be held at Superstudio Maxi. - The festival will again be organized with the Municipality of Milan and partners including CINECA and ESA – European Space Agency. - The previous edition drew more than 10,000 attendees, more than 200 speakers, 120-plus sponsors, exhibitors and partners, and more than 800 B2B meetings.

The details: - AI Festival is built around the global AI ecosystem, including Big Tech, corporations, startups, investors, research centers and industry professionals. - The program will cover AI applications, skills, business models and growth opportunities. - The exhibition floor will feature booths, robotics and tech prototypes. - B2B meetings and curated networking sessions will connect AI developers, enterprises, startups, investment funds, corporate leaders, tech partners and decision-makers. - Companies and startups will be able to host proprietary business and networking events inside the official festival program. - The educational track will target senior professionals, managers, developers, innovation managers, entrepreneurs and decision-makers. - Sessions will include keynotes, case studies, panel discussions, advanced workshops and deep-dive formats. - The training agenda will focus on AI’s impact on business processes, manufacturing, services, workforce dynamics, governance, research and decision-making. - The festival is also designed to give attendees advanced skills and international perspectives for practical and responsible AI adoption. - Startups, scaleups, investment funds, venture capitalists and corporate innovation teams remain a core audience. - Participants will be able to present products on dedicated stages, join partner-hosted events and take part in panels and roundtables in the Innovation Track. - The 4th edition of AI For Future will spotlight AI-based startups and connect them with capital, deal flow, expertise and international reach. - Startups will present solutions to potential corporate partners and investors.

Between the lines: - The venue change signals that AI Festival is positioning itself less as a conference and more as a marketplace for AI business, talent and institutional connections. - The added focus on advanced training suggests organizers see a gap between AI hype and the skills needed to deploy AI responsibly at scale. - Milan is using the event to reinforce its role as a European hub for digital transformation and AI policy discussions.

What's next: - Organizers will continue building the 2027 program around business development, education and startup-investor matching. - AI Festival will operate within WMF for AI, a broader initiative aimed at AI literacy, awareness, skills and market opportunities. - The event is expected to serve as WMF’s dedicated AI vertical and a global meeting point for research, industry, education and international relations.

The bottom line: - AI Festival 2027 is scaling up in Milan with a larger venue and a sharper commercial edge, while keeping training, open innovation and ecosystem building at the center.