This year’s CPHI conference in Europe will introduce a new sustainability summit, as well as exhibitor zones focusing on AI, contamination control and logistics.
CPHI has announced it is expanding its popular conference when it returns on 6-8 October 2026. CPHI Milan will take place at Fiera Milano and will feature a wider selection of zones for innovative exhibitors, as well as a discussion-focused summit dedicated to sustainable pharmaceutical practices.
The annual conference invites delegates from across the pharmaceutical community to share insights into emerging issues in global drug development and manufacturing. It also provides opportunities for networking and business development, with more than 2,900 exhibiting companies. CPHI Frankfurt 2025 welcomed delegates from more than 166 countries.
Three days of expert speakers
CPHI Milan attracts a wide range of organisations from across the pharmaceutical industry. This diversity is reflected in the agenda, which features more than 250 expert speakers discussing themes from manufacturing to supply chain excellence, AI, next-gen bio and packaging innovation.
The impact of geopolitical and regulatory shifts plays a prominent role in several talks. Zentiva CEO and Medicines for Europe President, Steffen Saltofte, will address the new role of medicines as a strategic national asset, and share how regulatory fragmentation is now driving decisions around capital allocation and manufacturing locations. Catalina Vargas, Senior Vice President, Global Business Unit, Bristol Myers Squibb, will present ‘Building the Future of Manufacturing: The Leadership Behind Digital Transformation’, while Roy Wouters of JP Morgan will advise companies on how to stress-test their future investment strategies.
Edgardo Hernandez, Eli Lilly and Company’s Executive Vice President and President, Manufacturing Operations, will discuss how manufacturers can modernise production to accommodate the next generation of complex medicines, while Marco Farinelli, AstraZeneca, will be on the panel ‘From Policy to Practice: Europe’s Integrated Approach to Medicine Security’.
Extra exhibition zones on AI, cold storage, labelling and contamination control
As well as a varied and extensive speaker list, CPHI Milan will feature extra zones for exhibitors, devoted to topics that have emerged as key priorities in recent years.
Tara Dougal, Event Director at Informa Markets, said: ‘This year’s expanded conference programme will bring together the people leading key industry conversations, providing practical insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping pharma’s future, while the new CPHI Sustainability Summit will create further opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing and meaningful discussion across the pharmaceutical value chain.’
New zones being introduced for 2026 include:
- AI and tech – delegates can meet exhibitors offering practical digital solutions that drive commercial intelligence, regulatory compliance, data integrity, smarter manufacturing and predictive maintenance.
- Contamination control – this zone features providers of technologies such as modular cleanrooms, environmental monitoring systems and other solutions.
- Cold chain and logistics – suppliers in this zone will offer temperature-sensitive products including specialist packaging, transportation, warehousing, digital monitoring and risk-management technologies.
- Labelling – connect with suppliers of labelling, printing and coding technologies who can assist with areas such as serialisation, track-and-trace, anti-counterfeiting and more sustainable practices.
Sustainability Summit offers tangible, commercially-focused takeaways
As sustainability continues to drive action across the industry, CPHI is introducing a dedicated Sustainability Summit for 2026.
The first-time summit will feature roundtables, working groups, hackathons and discussions, designed to give delegates guidance on how to integrate sustainability into their operations.
The two-day event will include conversations on how to implement sustainability at scale, how to absorb green costs along the value chain, and how sustainability is being embedded into process design.
The CPHI Pharma Awards return for 2026
At the end of day 1, delegates will also gather for the annual CPHI Pharma Awards: an opportunity to recognise exceptional achievements across the industry.
The event will celebrate companies and individuals that are helping to introduce innovation and better ways of working in the pharmaceutical sector. It will also be a chance for award nominees, exhibitors and other delegates to meet and discuss key takeaways and potential solutions.
The categories for 2026 include awards for manufacturing excellence, sustainability, device innovation and start-up achievement, as well as individual awards such as Future Leader and CEO of the Year.
CPHI Milan takes place at Fiera Milano, Italy, from 6–8 October 2026. The CPHI Sustainability Summit runs from 6–7 October 2026. To register or find more information, click here.
