CPHI Milan 2026: Connecting Supply Chains, Digital Innovations, and Sustainability

Ahead of CPHI Milan, Event Director Tara Dougal shares insights on the key themes, new dedicated zones, and networking opportunities shaping this year’s global biopharmaceutical gathering.

As the global bio/pharmaceutical sector gathers for CPHI Milan 2026, the industry faces a dynamic landscape defined by rapid digital expansion, evolving supply chain pressures, and an urgent focus on sustainable manufacturing. Spanning the entire value chain — from active ingredients and drug delivery platforms to packaging and cold-chain logistics — CPHI continues to serve as the benchmark event for evaluating where bio/pharma is heading. In this exclusive interview with The Pharma Navigator, Tara Dougal, Event Director — Pharma at Informa Markets, outlines the strategic priorities driving the agenda for this year’s show.

Defining the Core Themes

TPN: What would you say are the core themes shaping this year’s CPHI Milan event and how does the agenda reflect where the industry is heading?

Dougal: CPHI is very broad because we really cover the end-to-end supply chain, everything from ingredients all the way through to packaging and drug delivery. But there are a few key themes that are emerging this year.

I would say the first key theme is sustainability. We are launching our brand-new Sustainability Summit this year, which is taking place on Oct. 6 and 7. This is a paid conference targeting specific sustainability personnel — those who are really looking to improve sustainable outcomes for the pharma industry. We will be bringing this group together for very high-level content, an amazing lineup of speakers and the opportunity to deep dive into specific topics with peers and other attendees.

Digital transformation and innovation are also central. We launched an AI and Tech Zone in 2025, and we are building on the development of that zone this year with some great content to accompany it.

Looking more broadly at the agenda, we have six different content theatres spread across the event that are open to anybody attending the show. A key theme coming out of those is future proofing the business of pharma — whether that be building resiliency across supply chains or manufacturing next generation therapies and really getting ready for that next wave of development. Medicine security is another key topic, as well as the impact and response to a lot of the geopolitical uncertainty that we are facing at the moment.

New Features and Dedicated Zones

TPN: New initiatives are regularly introduced at CPHI events, could you highlight any new features, specialized zones, or content tracks that attendees should check out at this year’s event?

Dougal: Although CPHI is an established brand that has been running for over 30 years, every year we treat the event almost as a startup when we look at what we can bring that's new and what we can improve. One key focus for Milan is expanding the networking opportunities that we have at the show.

We consistently get the feedback that attendees are looking for new ways to connect with existing partners or new partners. So, we have introduced additional networking events, both on site and in the city of Milan, like our Welcome Reception on Oct. 5, taking place at Villa Necchi.

We are also trying to provide more of a platform for people to connect before the show. The event app is an essential tool for allowing people to build a personalized schedule on site, including the networking opportunities and content sessions they want to attend.

On the content front, we have six theaters across the show floor covering all the major topics in pharma. We are focusing on emerging trends like AI technologies and how that applies to manufacturing, all the way through to the latest drug delivery innovations, featuring over 300 speakers of an amazing calibre this year.

As I mentioned, we have our brand-new Sustainability Summit on Oct. 6 and 7 for those who are very engaged in the sustainability value chain of pharma. Furthermore, after introducing four new zones in 2025, we are building on that development in 2026. Make sure you visit the AI and Tech Zone, Contamination Control Zone, Labelling, and Cold Chain and Logistics.

Maximizing Networking Opportunities

TPN: Networking is a key aspect to CPHI events, what dedicated spaces or events should attendees put on their calendars to ensure they optimize opportunities to connect with peers?

Dougal: Networking is really one of the most important parts of attending the show, so we have tried to invest in and curate more opportunities for people to connect.

The CPHI Pharma Awards take place on the first day of CPHI and are a great way to not only celebrate industry excellence and see what's emerging from the market, but also network with key players in a very relaxed and fun environment.

We also have our brand-new Welcome Reception taking place on ‘day zero’ — Oct. 5 —in central Milan. Another highlight is the Wine Tour that we are hosting this year in collaboration with Orientation Marketing, which offers a really unique and fun way to explore different exhibitors while sampling some wines and local snacks from across the Lombardy region.

Effectively Navigating the Floor Plan

TPN: Given the vast number of exhibitors and the huge floor plan of CPHI Milan, what would your best tip be for navigating the event efficiently?

Dougal: Whether you are a CPHI veteran or attending for the very first time, planning ahead is crucial. Our event planner app is a great tool to help you to do that. You can browse the entire exhibitor list, reach out to exhibitors, view the full content schedule, and build yourself a personalized schedule over the three days.

It is a big show, and anybody who has attended before knows that navigation can be challenging — you definitely get your step count in! Prioritize which zones you want to host your meetings in and which content or networking events align with your business goals. Creating that schedule before you go on site allows you to make the most of your time at the event.

A World-Class Host City

TPN: Undoubtedly, Milan is a world-class host city with an incredible mix of industry, culture, and design; from an event organizer’s perspective, what makes bringing the pharma community to Milan so special?

Dougal: Milan and Lombardy in general have a huge life sciences background with a lot of very interesting companies, creating a great synergy as a host city for CPHI.

When people come to events today, they want a holistic experience. They are not just coming to the venue to spend all their time on the show floor; they really want to make the most of the city they are visiting. Milan offers a huge amount from that perspective — lovely restaurants, incredible local landmarks, fantastic accessibility, and good transport links. All these factors together make it a really lovely option for hosting CPHI.

City Highlights and Recommendations

TPN: For those looking to make the most of their free time or even extend their stay in Milan, what would your recommendations be for must-see sights/areas?

Dougal: We are actually offering discounted city passes to all attendees. You can find the information about the pass on our website. There are some great landmarks you can visit using that pass.

The Duomo di Milano is an absolutely incredible, beautiful building. The last time I was in Milan, I managed to get a ticket to see Da Vinci's The Last Supper, which was a really special experience, so, I would definitely recommend those two.

Beyond that, my favorite activity whenever I go to a new city is walking around, eating, and drinking at various restaurants, and I can confirm that Milan is a great option for doing that!

Registration and Planning Resources

TPN: Finally, if people haven’t yet registered, where should they go to complete their registration for the Milan show and plan their itineraries?

Dougal: The best resource is the CPHI Milan website. Visitors can book passes there, and we have lots of different pass types on offer depending on what your business goals are at the show.

We also have a lot of resources on the website to help you plan your time in Milan. We have flight discount codes if you are flying with KLM, the city pass I mentioned earlier, and we are working with our accommodation partner, bnetwork, who can offer preferential hotel rates across the city.

Something new for this year is that we are offering a free three-day e-SIM to all attendees to help everybody stay connected when they are away from home, again accessible via the website. I encourage everyone to go online, plan their visit, and download the event app to create their schedule.

Ultimately, I am just really looking forward to getting on site and seeing everybody there.

About the Interviewee

Tara Dougal is Event Director — Pharma at Informa Markets, where she leads the CPHI Europe event. Tara brings over 12 years of extensive event management experience spanning roles in New York, London, and Amsterdam. She previously held the position of Content Director before advancing to her current leadership role. At CPHI, Tara plays a crucial role in creating connections and inspiring partnerships across the global pharmaceutical community, championing innovation at the heart of pharma through both in-person and online events.

Image Credit: © TxemaPhoto - stock.adobe.com