The international audiovisual marketplace known as MIA is shifting gears for 2026. Officially presented at the Italian Pavilion in Cannes, the market—MIA (Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo)—will stage its 12th edition in Rome from Oct. 19-23. Under director Gaia Tridente and backed by associations such as ANICA and APA, the event has been refocused to better connect content creation, financing and distribution across the entire audiovisual value chain. The programming revamp emphasizes practical outcomes: faster routes to production, clearer access to finance and stronger international partnerships.
Organisers describe the 2026 programme as an evolution from segmented verticals toward a more integrated, circular industry platform. That means bringing together producers, broadcasters, financiers, buyers and institutions in new formats and spaces across the city. The stated aim is straightforward: respond to the concrete needs of companies operating in a rapidly changing global market and provide tools that improve sustainability and growth. Key institutional supporters include the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ITA, the Lazio Region and Creative Europe MEDIA.
New market tools for production and co‑financing
MIA 2026 debuts several initiatives designed for practical dealmaking. Foremost among them is the Animation Series Gap Financing Market, a boutique strand dedicated to accelerating the move from partial financing to full production. Complementing this is a redesigned Co‑Production Market and an updated roster of Pitching Forums aimed at mobilising buyers, co‑producers and distributors around selected projects in multiple formats, from feature animation to scripted series.
Animation Series Gap Financing Market
The new animation strand targets projects that already have broadcaster backing and partial budgets. By focusing on works at a late-development stage, the Animation Series Gap Financing Market invites producers and commissioning broadcasters to meet potential international co‑producers, co‑financiers and co‑commissioners with a view to closing outstanding funding gaps. This format intentionally accelerates decision cycles and lowers entry barriers for partners seeking editorially validated content with clear international potential. The organisers call it a shift in paradigm compared with traditional pitching forums, prioritising near‑ready projects over speculative concepts.
Reworked pitching forums
The pitching architecture has been streamlined to provide more targeted exposure for projects in different categories. The market will host a Film Pitching Forum (narrative and feature animation), a Doc Pitching Forum (documentaries and docuseries) and a Drama Pitching Forum (scripted series of various lengths). Each forum is curated to cultivate meaningful conversations between creators and stakeholders capable of moving a project forward—whether that means securing distribution, a co‑production deal or the final tranche of financing.
Financing focus: the European Investment Hub
Financing is central to MIA 2026. The newly created European Investment Hub will be a dedicated two‑day platform where industry professionals can obtain concrete information about the funds and instruments that support audiovisual production. The hub will cover a wide spectrum of options including regional and pan‑European co‑production funds, equity funds for creative industries, guarantee and risk mitigation mechanisms, completion bonds, and public‑private co‑investment models. The aim is practical: demystify access routes and connect producers with institutional and private capital providers.
Sessions are designed to be interactive and outcome oriented. Organisers plan thematic roundtables and informal networking moments that allow direct dialogue among investors, funding bodies and creative companies. By presenting both the instruments and the application mechanics, the European Investment Hub seeks to help producers design financeable plans and foster sustainable business models rather than one‑off transactions.
Networking, showcases and institutional support
MIA is also reimagining the physical and social geography of the market. A central element is Casa MIA, a new experiential lounge located near the main market areas that functions as an audiovisual hub where accredited participants can work, meet and stage informal encounters. The market will extend across new venues in Rome to strengthen ties between the industry and the city, amplifying opportunities for serendipity and structured meetings alike.
Content showcases and buyers’ activities
The programme includes curated showcases intended to promote works in progress and near‑release titles. Highlights include the C EU SOON showcase for fiction and animation features, GREENlit for European scripted series, and targeted showcases for Italian animation and documentary output. A reinforced Buyers Club and initiatives such as Comin’UP will present distributor slates and offer private screenings, enhancing the market’s role as a launchpad for both theatrical and audiovisual distribution.
Key institutional voices have endorsed the initiative: Alessandro Usai (ANICA) and Chiara Sbarigia (APA) emphasise MIA’s role in creating an international meeting ground, while Lucia Borgonzoni underlines the market’s cultural and economic importance. Partnerships with Fondazione Cinema per Roma, Alice nella città and local institutions further embed MIA within Rome’s festival calendar and industry ecosystem. Together, these elements position MIA 2026 as a practical, relationship‑driven event designed to turn projects into productions and ideas into sustainable businesses.
