Bologna, Italy, September 28, 2026. Orchestrating Intelligence – Where Humans & AI play in Symphony is the theme of the fourth edition of AI Festival, the International Festival on Artificial Intelligence conceived by Search On Media Group and powered by WMF – We Make Future. The event will take place on February 11–12, 2027, in Milan, at Superstudio Maxi.
No longer just tools, models, or automation, AI is becoming a complex ecosystem in which people, intelligent agents, data, infrastructure, and advanced technologies interact in increasingly integrated ways. This is the perspective that will guide the 2027 edition, focused on understanding and structuring a new coordinated convergence between technologies, human skills, and business processes. In this scenario, the challenge is no longer only about what Artificial Intelligence can do, but about the ability to give direction, governance, and value to the different forms of intelligence transforming business, institutions, research, work, and society.
“Orchestrating intelligence means taking responsibility for guiding increasingly complex systems, where people, technologies, data, and artificial agents must work together to create real value,” says Cosmano Lombardo, Founder and CEO of Search On Media Group and creator of WMF and AI Festival. “With AI Festival 2027, we are bringing a crucial question to the center of the international conversation: how can we govern the evolution of AI while keeping human beings at the center of direction, decision-making, and impact? The theme of this edition stems from the need to offer companies, institutions, research centers, professionals, and startups a place to read these transformations, understand their implications, and build responsible, competitive, and shared development paths.”
Following a third edition that recorded more than 10,000 attendees, over 200 speakers, more than 120 sponsors, exhibitors, and partners, and more than 800 B2B meetings, AI Festival returns with a new edition designed to strengthen the international dialogue on AI business, advanced training, governance, research, innovation, and the social impact of Artificial Intelligence. The 2027 edition will once again take place with the support of the City of Milan and with the participation of long-standing institutional partners of international relevance such as CINECA and IIT – Italian Institute of Technology, together with the ecosystem of expertise, companies, startups, investors, institutions, and professionals that WMF – We Make Future has built over the years.
Business, skills, and governance in the AI ecosystem
The theme Orchestrating Intelligence – Where Humans & AI play in Symphony will be developed across the event’s main pillars: international AI business, advanced training, research, startups, open innovation, governance, and the social, ethical, and legal impacts of AI.
For companies and institutions, the Festival will be an opportunity to discuss industrial models, decision-making processes, supply chains, technology infrastructure, competitiveness, and new forms of collaboration between people and intelligent systems. For professionals, managers, developers, innovation managers, and decision-makers, the two-day event will provide tools and operational perspectives to understand the evolution of AI and apply it in concrete, responsible, and competitive ways.
Significant space will also be dedicated to startups, innovative SMEs, scaleups, investment funds, venture capital, and corporate innovation, with initiatives designed to generate visibility, connections, and business opportunities throughout the AI-based company development cycle. Within this framework, AI For Future, the competition dedicated to AI startups, will once again play a key role, spotlighting high-potential projects and connecting them with capital, deal flow, industrial expertise, and international amplification opportunities. Among the international visibility and networking opportunities offered through the call are participation in WMF – We Make Future 2027 at BolognaFiere on June 10–12, participation in the AI For Future event in San Francisco on November 5, 2026, and participation in Saudi Makes Future, scheduled in Riyadh from December 14 to 16, 2026.
AI Festival within the WMF for AI journey
AI Festival is part of WMF for AI, the series of initiatives promoted by WMF – We Make Future to spread culture, skills, awareness, and opportunities around Artificial Intelligence. From dialogue with institutions and research centers to activities involving companies, startups, and investors, AI Festival represents the vertical AI platform within the WMF ecosystem: a meeting point for scientific expertise, market players, industry, advanced training, and international relations.
The appointment is in Milan, on February 11–12, 2027, at Superstudio Maxi. Tickets are available at a special rate until October 1, 2026.
Useful links
WMF – We Make Future, the largest International Trade Fair and Festival on Artificial Intelligence, Technology, and Digital Innovation On June 10, 11, and 12, 2027, WMF – We Make Future returns to BolognaFiere as the certified international trade fair fully dedicated to the world of innovation. A global event, WMF brings together every year the best of artificial intelligence, technology, and digital and social innovation, along with leading international players, startups, scaleups, investors, institutions, universities, and non-profit organizations.
With more than 75,000 attendees from 90 countries in 2026, over 800 exhibitors, more than 1,000 speakers and guests from around the world, over 3,000 B2B meetings, 3,000 startups and investors, and partners representing an investment portfolio of $1.5 trillion, more than $304 billion in AUM, over $72.8 billion in funded deals, and more than 17,000 investment rounds managed, WMF is the leading international trade fair for the innovation ecosystem.
Search On Media Group – Humans Leading Innovation Since 2004, Search On Media Group has worked to spread digital culture by managing communities, supporting knowledge-sharing initiatives, and providing strategic and operational consulting through its Search On Consulting division, specializing in Digital Marketing and Digital Transformation for major companies. Search On Media Group’s experience and expertise have also led to the creation of the Event Agency Business Unit, which organizes WMF as well as proprietary and client events, and ibrida.io, a platform designed to manage online, hybrid, and in-person events in a customizable and flexible way.
For information and media materials
Search On Media Group SRL
Via Ugo Bassi 7, 40121 Bologna, Italy
WMF Press Office: press@wemakefuture.it
Tel: +39 051 0951294
www.wemakefuture.it