From 12 to 20 September 2026, the Salone del Camper - Caravan Accessori Percorsi e Mete returns to Parma, the leading event for outdoor tourism and the motorhome lifestyle, organised in collaboration with APC, the Associazione Produttori Caravan e Camper. Since 2010, the event has been the place to discover the latest motorhomes, caravans and accessories from leading Italian and European manufacturers, and to find inspiration in new destinations and itineraries for planning the next adventure on the road. A privileged window onto a sector undergoing rapid change, as clearly reflected in the 2025 figures, which confirm the best performance of the last ten years: over 107,000 visitors (+3%), more than 310 exhibitors from 22 countries, and 600 vehicles on display across 110,000 sq m of exhibition space. Figures that confirm the Salone del Camper as the absolute leader in the sector in Italy, and second in Europe by number of visitors.
The outdoor sector is worth €8.5 billion (direct + indirect)
The 17th edition of the Salone del Camper - Caravan Accessori Percorsi e Mete opens on the back of a thriving sector. Outdoor tourism is confirmed as one of the most dynamic segments of the Italian tourism economy: in 2025, average occupancy at facilities grew by 3.3% compared to the previous year, bringing open-air overnight stays to 74 million, one million more than in 2024.
Figures that reveal the real scale of the accommodation sector, with around 2,600 businesses. A segment that accounts for over 10% of arrivals and 16% of overnight stays across the whole of Italian tourism – figures that would rise further if data from farm campsites and service areas were included.
The Italian motorhome market is growing 18 times faster than the European average. Figures show that 7,936 new registrations were recorded in Italy in 2025, an increase of +10.56% on the previous year. A result that stands out even more strongly in the European comparison: against 161,341 registrations across the continent and growth of +0.6%, the Italian market is advancing at a rate almost 18 times higher than the European average, confirming the importance of our country's role at continental level.
Over 44,000 transactions in 2025: a market that never stops. This is a market undergoing deep and lasting transformation: since 2014, annual registrations have more than doubled, rising from 3,718 to 7,936 units (+113%). Added to this is a lively expansion in the used vehicle market (+6.05%), bringing the total to over 44,000 transactions in 2025 between new and second-hand vehicles, according to figures from APC, the Associazione Produttori Caravan e Camper.
This momentum is also being supported by targeted public investment: in September 2025, the Italian Ministry of Tourism allocated €25.7 million for the creation of 4,464 new stopover pitches across 170 Italian municipalities, with estimated annual management revenues of €267 million and a long-term economic impact of over €373 million.
«What we will see in Parma from 12 to 20 September is not simply an updated range, but the story of an industry that is transforming itself», states Antonio Cellie, CEO of Fiere di Parma. «More technology, more sustainability, more people choosing this way of spending their free time. The 2026 recreational vehicle is a home on the move, designed for those who have chosen slow travel as a form of wellbeing. This year, all of this becomes tangible – something to see and to choose. And the 2025 figures already give a sense of the scale: €8.5 billion, 74 million overnight stays a year. A trend that shows no sign of slowing down in 2026 either».
Travelling by motorhome: Italy and the figures
Italy stands out as a leading player in outdoor tourism at European level, with a position that extends well beyond the boundaries of the domestic market. The third largest producer of recreational vehicles in Europe after Germany and France, our country accounts for over 8,000 direct and indirect jobs in the manufacturing sector, with over 80% of production destined for export, mainly to Germany, France and the United Kingdom. A solid supply chain that combines manufacturing know-how with the ability to tap into structurally growing international demand.
“The motorhome's appeal also lies in the many opportunities it offers to enjoy free time all year round: local tourism, weekends, long weekends, sporting activities. And the high level of equipment found in modern motorhomes guarantees full, home-like comfort”, states Gianguido Cerullo, President of APC – Associazione Produttori Caravan e Camper.
Second European destination for international overnight stays. On the tourism flows front, in 2025 Italy ranked second in Europe (ahead of France and Greece, behind Spain), both for international overnight stays – 255 million in the first 11 months of 2025 – and for total overnight stays, at 456 million. According to ENIT figures presented at BIT 2026, tourism in 2025 accounted for 13.2% of employment and €237.4 billion of GDP.
A passion shared by 20 million travellers. Today, more than 6.5 million recreational vehicles are on the road across Europe, with the fleet growing by 25% over the last five years. Around 20 million tourists travel by motorhome and caravan every year, with an average daily spend of around €200.
It is within this rapidly expanding continental market that Italy is carving out an increasingly strategic role: first in 2025 for growth in new registrations, third for production capacity, and second as a tourist destination. A unique position, which the Salone del Camper in Parma – the leading event of its kind in Italy and the second in Europe – represents and tells every September.
The future is on the move: how the recreational vehicle is changing
The Salone del Camper 2026 is where all this sector vitality translates into concrete solutions, to be seen, touched and chosen. The 2026 recreational vehicle is a home on the move: design, technology and sustainability come together to redefine the travel experience.
The trends point in a clear direction: ever more comfort, more standard equipment, more technology, and a growing polarisation between those seeking the ultimate in luxury and those who prefer compact, agile and accessible vehicles.
Vehicles: compact or premium. The Italian market shows a certain tendency towards polarisation. On one hand, demand for compact vehicles is consolidating: camper vans, which account for almost 40% of the market in Italy according to figures released by APC, and new-generation compact models, increasingly focused on comfort, design and space optimisation. On the other hand, the premium segment is growing strongly: low-profile motorhomes, over-cab motorhomes and luxury motorhomes fitted with large garages, spa bathrooms and advanced home automation systems. Off-road offerings are also on the rise, with 4x4 camper vans and low-profile motorhomes – many of which can be driven with a category B licence – opening up the market to adventure lovers and off-road enthusiasts in every season.
Layouts and interior spaces: the logic of design. The 2026 layouts appear to move beyond the logic of compromise to embrace that of true design: every centimetre is carefully considered, every solution aims for flexibility, and every area adapts more naturally to the needs of the moment. Days are spent in a bright open-plan space, with an integrated kitchen and a flexible living area; nights are spent in cosy, quiet and well-insulated surroundings. The materials speak the language of contemporary quality: hard-wearing surfaces where robustness is needed, carefully chosen fabrics where comfort matters, and lighting calibrated to create different atmospheres at different times of day.
Outdoor spaces: beyond the boundaries of the cabin. The vehicle opens up. New models are designed to extend everyday living outdoors, with solutions that turn the perimeter of the vehicle into a fully liveable space. An awning becomes an extra sitting room; a well-organised storage compartment simplifies logistics; an equipped roof becomes a panoramic viewpoint. The philosophy of slow travel – stopping and feeling at home anywhere – finds its most concrete expression in these new outdoor spaces, a trend that runs across every vehicle type, from the compact camper van to the motorhome built for long journeys.
Accessories: personalisation and alternative mobility. Accessories are today one of the most dynamic areas of caravanning, driven by the growth of the vehicle fleet and demand for personalisation. Among the most sought-after products are bike racks and alternative mobility systems – electric bikes, scooters, kayaks – which turn the recreational vehicle into an operational base for exploring the surrounding area. Alongside these are advanced security solutions, water filtration systems and products for the customised fitting-out of interior and exterior spaces.
Technology, connectivity and performance are becoming central elements in the evolution of the recreational vehicle. Increasingly integrated digital systems make it possible to manage certain living area functions via app, such as lighting, climate control and monitoring of energy and water levels. At the same time, advanced infotainment, smartphone integration, enhanced connectivity and driver assistance cameras are bringing these vehicles ever closer to mid-to-high-range cars. In some models, there is also a new focus on remote working, with solutions that reimagine the vehicle as a working space as well as a travelling one.
At the Salone del Camper 2026, from 12 to 20 September at Fiere di Parma, all of this will be there to see, to touch and to choose.
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