The second edition of the event dedicated to education and creativity within the fashion system.
Following the great success of the previous edition, which saw the participation of over 25,000 students and the presence of internationally renowned guests such as Domenico Dolce and Giancarlo Giammetti, FORMA returns. The event is scheduled for 8 and 9 May 2026 at the Centro Congressi La Nuvola, which will host the second edition dedicated to education in the fashion sector.
FORMA confirms itself as a shared project bringing together the leading academic institutions of the Capital and the Lazio Region, with the aim of promoting young talent and enhancing the creative arts. Born from the collaboration between the Department for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion of Roma Capitale, the Department for Economic Development, Commerce, Craftsmanship, Industry and Internationalisation of the Lazio Region, and some of the most prestigious fashion and design academies in the area, the event establishes itself as a key reference point on the national scene, acting as a platform for exchange, dialogue and experimentation among students, lecturers and industry professionals.
The theme of the 2026 edition, “Contemporary identity: clothing, communities and belonging”, offers a reflection on the role of fashion as a language of identity and a tool for belonging, with a focus on subcultures understood as spaces for aggregation, sharing and self-construction.
Over the two days, the Centro Congressi La Nuvola will transform into a dynamic and multidisciplinary laboratory, where students from Rome’s leading fashion schools will engage, design and present their work, creating an immersive experience that blends education, creativity and innovation.
Through a structured programme of activities, FORMA aims to enhance emerging talent and strengthen the dialogue between fashion and contemporary arts, contributing to the cultural and productive development of the sector.
Registrations for the talks are already open. The full programme will be announced in the coming days; however, some guests have already been presented at the press conference, including Maria Grazia Chiuri, Creative Director of Fendi, Sofia Balestra, Francesca Ragazzi, Head of Editorial Content at Vogue Italia, Ellen Hodakova Larsson, Swedish designer and founder of the brand Hodakova, and Olivier Theyskens, a designer who has led maisons such as Rochas, Nina Ricci and Theory.
Among the main new features of this edition is the expansion of spaces with the use of the lower level beneath the Auditorium, which will host the Speaker Corner: an area dedicated to talks, presentations and performances. On 8 May, Niccolò Filippucci, fresh from his victory at Sanremo Giovani, will be present, while on 9 May Lea Gavino, artist and actress, will take part.
Media partners of the event will be Rai Radio 2 and Rai News 24, with RaiNews.it acting as content partner.
FORMA is promoted by the Department for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion of Roma Capitale and the Department for Economic Development of the Lazio Region, with the aim of strengthening Rome’s role as a centre of excellence in fashion and design education, fostering synergies between institutions, territories and new generations of creatives.
The event is part of the Roma Smart Tourism project, funded by the Ministry of Tourism within the framework of the fund dedicated to municipalities with cultural, historical, artistic and landscape value that host sites recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage.
The official presentation took place on Wednesday 22 April 2026 at 11:30 am at the Sala delle Bandiere in Campidoglio, during a press conference attended by the Councillor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion of Roma Capitale Alessandro Onorato and the Vice President and Councillor for Economic Development of the Lazio Region Roberta Angelilli, together with the academies involved in the project:
RUFA – Rome University of Fine Arts
Accademia Costume & Moda
Accademia del Lusso
Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma
Accademia di Belle Arti di Frosinone
Accademia Internazionale d’Alta Moda e d’Arte del Costume Koefia
Accademia Italiana
IED – Istituto Europeo di Design
MAM – Maiani Accademia Moda
NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti
Browse the photos from the press conference – FORMA 2026
