The eighth edition of the Guitar Show closed with a clear and encouraging outcome: the debut at BolognaFiere marked a significant step forward for the entire event and for the Italian musical instruments industry, especially in the guitar and bass sector.
For the first time, the show was held in one of the leading exhibition venues in Europe, capable of hosting exhibitors, artists, professionals and enthusiasts in a setting that lived up to the ambitions developed over the past years.
The public response exceeded expectations, with 8,400 attendees recorded and a 20% increase over the 2024 edition. The exhibition area, spread across 21,000 square meters in halls 31, 32 and 33, hosted over 300 exhibitors, including 200 direct participants, with one particularly significant figure: 40% of the brands came from outside Italy, a clear sign of growing international interest in the event.
Alongside these numbers was strong participation from Italian and international artists, operators, and professionals, who helped make the 2025 edition a truly unified moment for the national market.
One of the Guitar Show’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to bring together different segments of the industry, often separate in other contexts: from small-scale luthiers to internationally renowned manufacturers, including distributors, modders, retailers, builders, and specialist operators.
Here, and only here, can you see and try out instruments and products that rarely appear in shops and are usually accessible only in trade show environments of this scale and focus.
The Guitar Show is a space where what is often just digital or distant becomes tangible—where you can meet, talk to and exchange ideas with those who design, build, and play.
A special thanks goes to Vintage Authority, with whom the Guitar Show has established a lasting and productive partnership.
This year, more than 30 of the most respected Italian and international collectors brought rare and often unique instruments to Bologna, creating one of the largest and most significant vintage guitar and bass exhibitions ever held in Italy.
An area of exceptional historical and cultural value, it offered enthusiasts, professionals and the public a unique combination of fascination, expertise and direct engagement.
Further enriching the experience was the “Raccosta Guitar Collection”, set up at the entrance to the halls: a one-of-a-kind exhibition curated by luthier Gabriele Lodi.
This philological journey presented a selection of instruments of outstanding historical and musical importance, combining the beauty of rare pieces with a precise, well-documented narrative capable of engaging even non-specialist visitors.
The event programme, distributed across five stages, including one outdoors, offered over 200 events including demos, concerts, masterclasses, talks and stand-based activities.
On Saturday night, the Guitar Saturday Night on the open-air stage in Piazzale Aldo Moro featured an exceptional lineup including Phil Palmer, Chris Buck, Jack Gardiner, Drigo and Cesare of Negrita, alongside resident guitarists Giuseppe Scarpato and Enrico Santacatterina.
A collective, authentic and engaging performance that encapsulated the spirit of the entire event.
The success of this edition was also supported by the collaboration with Eufonica and MEI, with whom a constructive and tangible dialogue was established.
This synergy helped to expand the cultural programme and generate new connections across different yet complementary areas of the music industry.
Our thanks also go to BolognaFiere, which proved to be not just a host but an active and attentive partner, responsive to the needs of a growing event, and to Lombardi Amplificazioni, for the technical support provided throughout the entire show.
Guitar Show 2025 marks the beginning of a new phase.
The next edition will take place on 15, 16 and 17 May 2026 and, for the first time, will extend to three full days, with Friday dedicated entirely to B2B networking among exhibitors, buyers, distributors and retailers.
This evolution reflects feedback from many industry professionals and underlines the desire to strengthen the Guitar Show’s role as a commercial and relational hub for the sector.
Collaboration, inclusion and continuity are the guiding values of this project. The goal is clear: to build a stable, representative and truly European benchmark event, where everyone—from the smallest independent luthier to the largest multinational—can find space, visibility and recognition.
We’re aware that not everything was perfect: a few challenges emerged, notably in parking management and noise levels in Hall 31. We’ve taken note, and we’re already working on concrete solutions ahead of the next edition.
Thank you to those who joined us for the first time, to those who have supported us along the way, and to all who helped make this edition possible.
The Guitar Show is a growing community—and 2026 will be another step forward.