2026-03-11 | 5:00 am - 6:30 pm
Palais des Festivals, Leaders' Perspective Stage – Palais 5
ITALIAN CONFERENCE – Italy 2026: Cities as Platforms for Investment and Innovation
The Italian real estate market enters 2026 with signs of consolidation in the recovery and a return of institutional interest. In 2025, investments in commercial real estate reached €13.5 billion (+36% compared to 2024), surpassing the previous record set in 2019. This growth is supported by better access to credit, macroeconomic stabilization, and the return of core and international capital.
The macroeconomic outlook for the 2025–2026 period outlines a scenario of stabilization, characterised by moderate growth and gradually declining inflation.
Among the sector drivers, hospitality registered €2.26 billion in investments (+7%), logistics €2.13 billion (+30%), and retail €4 billion (+49%), with positive sentiment among operators and forecasts for new investments in 2026.
The conference will present a country system rich in opportunities, with economic-financial solutions to be redefined to consider the public value and impacts of private-led operations. This will include an analysis of the evolution of cities and territories as platforms, where investments, infrastructure, services, and real estate contribute to generating long-term value within an integrated ecosystem.
The conference will start at 17.00 with opening remarks by ITA and a first session dedicated to an overview of the Italian market, followed by three round tables.
Public Value, Strategic Governance
With Assoimmobiliare, EY Parthenon and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, bringing together institutional leadership and market expertise to explore policy steering, investment frameworks and governance models shaping competitive and investable urban markets;
Moderator: Paola Pierotti, journalist, PPAN
with the participation of
-
Davide Albertini Petroni
President
Assoimmobiliare
-
Marco Daviddi
Managing Partner
EY Parthenon Italy and EY Global Real Estate Leader
-
Massimiliano Pulice
Head of Urban Regeneration
CDP (Cassa Depositi e Prestiti)
Upgrading Italy
With the Founder of Urban Purpose and Co-Chair of the ULI Europe Urban Regeneration Council, the Senior Managing Director of Hines Italy and the Development Director of Near SGR; bringing together development leadership and investment expertise to address regeneration strategies;
Moderator: Paola Pierotti, journalist, PPAN
with the participation of
-
Alberto Bounous
Vice president development
KAFD (King Abdullah Financial District)
-
Carlo Castelli
Founder Urban Purpose
Co-chair of the ULI Europe Urban Regeneration Council and the LSE Global Real Estate Group’s Executive Committee
-
Raoul Ravara
Senior Managing Director
Hines Italy
-
Simone Santi
Development director
Near sgr
Competitive Cities
With the Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Generali Real Estate and Chairman of CityLife, the Head of Infrastructure Investments of European Investment Fund and the Mayor of Genoa, exploring metropolitan leadership, patient capital and governance frameworks shaping resilient and sustainable urban ecosystems;
Moderator: Paola Pierotti, journalist, PPAN
with the participation of
-
Aldo Mazzocco
Chief executive officer & general manager Generali Real Estate
Chairman Citylife
-
Gabriele Todesca
Head of Infrastructure Investments
European Investment Fund
-
Silvia Salis
Mayor of Genoa
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Italian Networking Cocktail by ITA - Italian Trade Agency
Verrière Californie (Palais 5)