This weekend is when the world will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Vespa scooter in Rome, so naturally ScooterNova magazine will be there to join in the fun too!
“The Eternal City sponsors and hosts the largest Vespa event ever…”
That is the headline for what is being described as a “four-day festival for everyone at the Foro Italico from June 25 to 28: music, exhibitions, games, guests and non-stop entertainment.”
Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome said: “The Vespa’s 80th anniversary will be a wonderful public festival for Rome. We are celebrating an Italian icon that is known and loved all over the world, a scooter that has kept its appeal intact from one generation to the next. The Vespa represents an important part of our history, our culture and Italy’s ability to innovate without losing its identity. Rome has helped to turn it into a legend through the movies and culture, and is proud to host this remarkable celebration: we are delighted to welcome thousands of Vespisti from around the world to our city to share this important anniversary together, in an atmosphere of passion and friendship.”
The heart of Vespa Roma 2026 will be the Foro Italico and the Stadio dei Marmi stadium, which will be transformed into a Vespa Village for the occasion. This will be the meeting place for Vespa riders from around the world, with a parade of the rarest and most historic models, together with the current range, as well as the lifestyle collections and countless merchandising opportunities in the special store. “But above all with tens of thousands of stories from Vespa lovers arriving from all over the world.”
Sponsored by the Municipality of Rome, the four-day festival will be open to everyone, with a packed line-up of events, content, surprises and activities. The Main Stage in the Village will host special guests and a non-stop cycle of entertainment, all guaranteed by Radio Deejay and its stable of talents.
Thursday 25 June
The ribbon-cutting ceremony and the official opening of the Vespa Village at 1pm will mark the start of the festivities. This will be followed by the presentation of the Commemorative Coin – issued by the Italian Ministry of Economy & Finance and minted by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – and the Poste Italiane first-day cancellation ceremony. The day will also see the opening of ’80 Years of Vespa’, a photo exhibition curated by Giacomo Bretzel, which will celebrate the brand’s stylistic evolution and its cultural and social impact through photographs and a number of unique pieces. Entertainment organised by Radio Deejay with live music, the Ditonellapiaga showcase exhibition from 9:00 pm, followed by DJ Molella to the close, will be the evening highlights of the first day.
Friday 26 June
From 10am, the Vespa Village will be in full swing with activities organised by Vespa and its partners. The Vespa Clubs will lead the European Vespa Rally Championship and the Gymkhana World Championship. The Radio Deejay stage will host a stream of guests and entertainment throughout the day, with live performances from 7:00 pm, closing with a DJ set by Wad until 11.30pm.
Friday night is also when members of the Vespa Club of Britian are planning to meet up, 6pm at the Tree Bar, which is not too far from the Vespa Village. Elsewhere in town, the Scooterclub Italiani Riuniti (SIR – group of Italian scooter clubs) are also hosting some events.
Saturday 27 June
The Grand Parade will take place in the morning, when thousands of Vespa scooters from every era will ride through the streets of Rome, to all the iconic locations in the city. A pageant of colour across Rome, the Parade will be an unprecedented extravaganza in the history of the Vespa. A Treasure Hunt at the Village and the Vespa World Club awards ceremony for the Sport and Tourism championships will be the highlights of Saturday afternoon with more entertainment planned for the evening.
Sunday 28 June
In keeping with tradition, the Elegance Contest will be one of the most spectacular events in the entire four days, with a parade of the rarest and most highly prized Vespa models. The official Village closing ceremony at 3.00 pm will bring the celebrations to an end. As always, entertainment from Radio Deejay will cover the entire day through to the awards and the departure of thousands of Vespa enthusiasts setting off for home.
ScooterNova magazine will be in Rome for a few days and if we get a chance between all the celebrations we will post a few photos and updates of what is going on. If you’re out there we look forward to seeing you – and don’t forget your sun cream!