ENADA Rimini 2026: SAPAR President Sergio D’Angelo on the history of Italy’s gaming fair
The 38th edition of ENADA Primavera will take place at the Rimini Expo Centre from 17 to 19 March 2026. Organised by Italian Exhibition Group and promoted by SAPAR (the National Association of Public Amusement Machine Services), the event brings together companies and professionals from across the gaming and entertainment industry.
ENADA has over fifty years of influence in the sector. Sergio D’Angelo, President of SAPAR, says this legacy continues to define the event.
A trade fair born with the modern gaming industry
ENADA was founded in 1972 through a partnership between SAPAR and the Rimini Fair, now Italian Exhibition Group. The goal was to establish an event for entertainment and gaming equipment. The exhibition has expanded as the industry has evolved.
“ENADA was founded in 1972 through the collaboration between SAPAR and the Rimini Fair, today Italian Exhibition Group. It is a story spanning more than fifty years and represents a fundamental milestone in the development of our sector,” explains D’Angelo. “The original aim was to create a platform for discussion within a rapidly evolving industry, not simply a commercial trade show.
“From the outset, the idea was not merely to organise a sector-specific exhibition, but to create a meeting place for the entire world of entertainment and gaming. A space where entrepreneurs could exchange ideas, discover innovations and build strong professional relationships.”
Over the years, ENADA has become a reference point for the gaming supply chain, bringing together technology manufacturers, land-based and online gaming operators, payment system providers, and companies specialising in security and software solutions.
ENADA as a hub for networking and innovation
ENADA is a venue where companies showcase products, cultivate professional relationships, and track market trends.
“Today this exhibition continues to hold a value that goes far beyond that of a trade event,” notes D’Angelo. “For established companies, it is an essential point of reference: each year professionals come here to stay updated, strengthen relationships with clients and partners, and closely observe technological developments and market trends.”
Alongside established industry operators, ENADA continues to attract new entrepreneurs and startups interested in gaming and entertainment. “At the same time, ENADA also serves as a gateway for those approaching the sector for the first time, offering a highly qualified environment made up of professionalism, expertise and companies representing the best of the industry.”
Quality before quantity
The event’s longevity comes from its focus on quality over size, emphasising credibility, calibre, and valuable content for the sector.
“One of the elements that has always distinguished ENADA is quality,” says the SAPAR president. “It has never been an exhibition built on numbers for their own sake, but on the credibility of the operators involved, the calibre of participating companies and the ability to provide valuable content for the sector.”
This guiding focus on quality has remained central since ENADA’s inception and continues to define the event. Quality before quantity has been the guiding principle of the event since its origins.
SAPAR’s commitment to the future of the event
SAPAR regards ENADA as a cornerstone for the professional entertainment sector.
The event brings together hundreds of companies and has helped build relationships across the industry. “As President of SAPAR, I feel a strong responsibility to carry this tradition forward and to ensure that ENADA continues to renew itself year after year,” explains D’Angelo.
The association aims to maintain the exhibition’s central role in the gaming industry.
“We know very well what it represents for the sector: a moment of meeting, discussion and growth for hundreds of businesses and for the entire entertainment supply chain. Our commitment is to ensure that this event remains central to the industry, preserving its spirit while strengthening its value over time.”
Maintaining identity in an increasingly global market
The gaming industry has become global in recent years. Operators and companies increasingly participate in international events, and the sector is characterised by strong professional mobility. This evolution heightens the importance of events with strong local identity.
“Today, entrepreneurs are used to travelling extensively and attending international conferences and industry gatherings. We live in an increasingly global context, and this is certainly enriching,” D’Angelo observes.
According to the SAPAR president, exhibitions like ENADA still play an important role. In a global context, events like ENADA reinforce awareness of the specific characteristics of national markets. The entertainment sector has features that differ from market to market.
“Entertainment and gaming do not follow the same logic everywhere. Every market has its own characteristics, sensitivities and consumption patterns.”
Understanding the consumer is still key
D’Angelo says understanding the consumer will shape the future of the sector.
“The ability to truly understand consumer demand – their habits and expectations – remains, in my view, the element that makes the difference.” Direct dialogue and knowledge-sharing at events such as ENADA remain key for adapting to consumer expectations, a critical takeaway for industry success.
“That is also why moments of encounter like ENADA remain so important for our sector.”
From 17 to 19 March 2026, Rimini will once again become the meeting point for the gaming and professional entertainment industry, bringing together companies and professionals from the sector.
This article was first published in Italian on 16 March 2026.
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