More than 50 Italian brands showed their ceramic and porcelain artistry at Coverings 2026, the largest tile and stone exhibition in North America. It was held March 30-April 2 at Las Vegas Convention Center, with 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries, estimated attendance of 25,000 and roughly 400,000 square feet of exhibit space.
The Italians come off brashly confident about the superiority of their tile products, just as they are about their wine, sports cars and fashion icons. They express their opinions with the bravado of the Godfather.
“It’s our mindset,” says Massimo Bonettini, sales representative for Acquario Due. “We’ve got it all. Italians have the research, the innovation, the ideas. Everything is made by hand, by our artisans in Venice. Every single piece undergoes the artisanal process.”
Most important, he explains, is the firing procedure. The tile is baked in “muffle kilns,” and it takes 35-45 days to finish the product. It doesn’t come cheap. A 24-inch-by-48-inch slate goes for about $140.
Besides his tile, Bonettini raved about Ferraris and a host of Italian pop stars, eventually conceding, “You’ve got (Bruce) Springsteen.”
Brittney Harmond, account executive for Novita Communications, greeted guests at the Ceramics of Italy exhibit, which drew a constant crowd with its free offering of espresso and cappuccino.
She credits Italian tile manufacturers with innovations such as digital printing and porcelain that’s textured to look and feel like wood but is much more durable.
“Italians like to play with colors,” Harmond says. “They have more colorful and artistic patterns. Also, with the stone and wood looks, we’re seeing a lot of innovation with finishings. They try to make it look as realistic as possible.”
ADVANTAGE ORLANDO
The Coverings show, in its 36th year, rotates every other year between Orlando, Fla., and destinations such as Atlanta in 2024 and Las Vegas in 2022. It returns to Orlando April 6-9, 2027, and will remain there for the next three years.
The general consensus among exhibitors at Coverings 2026 favors Orlando. Business for the Fincibec Group tends to be a little better in Orlando than Las Vegas, Nicolo Mussini admits. The salesman sees a lot more customers who come to Orlando with their families.
“While the business is in the exhibition, the family spends time around town,” Mussini says. “Las Vegas is very expensive. Orlando is better for South Americans. Coming here, it’s less.”
Atlanta was good for its central location, but it’s not a “very exciting city” for customers, Mussini tells Exhibit City News.
One attendee complained about available parking in Atlanta, which is limited and costly, much like Las Vegas.
Orlando was selected again over Las Vegas by Valentina Marocchi, representing Marocchi showroom displays. “Orlando, for sure, because we have so many more customers,” she says. “Here, I don’t know why.”
Location doesn’t really matter to Acquario Due’s Bonettini. “We have exclusive products that could sell anywhere. It could be Orlando, China, Las Vegas. As long as it’s different and exclusive and gives you emotion.”
GLOBAL COMMUNITY
Italians didn’t own the show. Exhibitors came from 40 countries, setting the stage for showcasing some of the world’s most innovative tile and stone products. International pavilions included Tile of Spain and Tile Council of North America.
Jamie Rich, managing director of Coverings, sees Las Vegas as the “ideal backdrop” to host the show. “Las Vegas is a city defined by bold, forward-thinking design and unforgettable experiences,” she states.
In LVCC’s Central Hall, Elizabeth Butcher was pushing the future of limestone. The creative director of Fairfax, Va.-based Marble Systems mentions that the company recently opened a new limestone factory in Tunisa to produce fluted mosaics, three-dimensional stones and tumbled edge tile in traditional styles and larger formats.
Butcher echoes comments of other Coverings exhibitors regarding the Orlando show. “Orlando usually is a busier show. Typically, we see more customers. Las Vegas is an expensive show to attend for us and our customers. We’re shipping containers into the middle of the country, and then you go to Florida where there’s coastal all around it.”
The learning experience at Coverings extended beyond exhibit booths to stage presentations on the show floor. The Fabrication Stage hosted presentations by industry experts on what’s shaping the future of stone and tile fabrication.
The Trends and Solutions Stage featured short presentations from companies launching new services, providing business solutions, or showcasing new product trends.
Another popular spot was the Installation Innovation Stage, where live demonstrations taught attendees exactly how to install a wide variety of new products and learn techniques to make tile and stone installation more successful.
At the Artisan Showcase, tile makers and artisans demonstrated steps required to create one-of-a-kind, handmade tiles, from pre-mounting techniques for installation to hand-cutting, decorating, glazing and painting.
