The Vespa ‘Edizione Ottantesimo’ (80th Anniversary Edition), a special limited-edition model:
https://wide.piaggiogroup.com/en/articles/products/vespa-edizione-ottantesimo/index.html
September 2026 (G.T.) – Celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Vespa (1946–2026) continue around the world, with rallies and special events organised by Vespa clubs in collaboration with the public institutions.
IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK. 1946-2026: The Vespa is turning 80! To mark this important anniversary, on the initiative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Italian Cultural Institute in Copenhagen invites Vespa lovers to a special evening dedicated to one of Italy’s most famous symbols, in collaboration with the Vespa Klub Danmark (founded in 1954, part of the Vespa World Club). The event be held on 24 September 2026, starting at 5.00 pm, at the Italian Cultural Institute in Copenhagen.
Born in Pontedera in 1946, during the difficult post-war reconstruction period, the Vespa was designed by the Italian engineer and inventor Corradino D’Ascanio on behalf of Enrico Piaggio. Its innovative design, characterised by a body that protects the engine and a comfortable footboard, revolutionised the concept of two-wheeled transport. Officially launched in 1946, the Vespa quickly became a cultural phenomenon, entering the collective imagination of both Italians and people around the world.
www.vespa.com
Over the course of its eighty-year history, the Vespa has become much more than just a scooter: it is an icon of Italian style, creativity and design, spanning generations, cinema, music, fashion and art to become one of the most recognisable symbols of ‘Made in Italy’ around the world. Elegant, simple and unmistakable, the Vespa continues to embody the spirit of freedom, light-heartedness and joie de vivre to this day.
VESPA 98 (1946) – On 23 April 1946, Piaggio & C. S.p.A. files a patent in Florence for a “motorcycle comprising a rational assembly of parts and components, with a frame combined with mudguards and a fairing covering the entire mechanical assembly”. This is the very first Vespa, fitted with a 98cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder 2-stroke engine that delivers 3.2 HP at 4,500 RPM. Its maximum speed is 60 km/h. Pictured on the right are the Vespa Primavera 80th and Vespa GTS 80th (2026) special anniversary editions. Source: Vespa 80 press kit.
To mark this anniversary, the Italian Cultural Institute will open its doors to all enthusiasts. In the Institute’s garden, visitors will be able to admire various Vespa models, showcasing the evolution of the Italian scooter through the ages.
A documentary will also be screened during the event, entitled Forever Vespa – The Story of an Italian Legend, directed by Pippo Cappellano and Marina Cappabianca. The film traces the history of the Vespa and its connection with the transformation of post-war Italy: from mass motorisation to the first journeys, from work to leisure, right through to the emergence of a genuine cult object that is known and loved throughout the world.
To round off the evening, the Institute will offer participants a glass of Italian wine. An opportunity to celebrate 80 years of Italian history, design and passion together. We look forward to seeing you at the Italian Cultural Institute in Copenhagen to celebrate a true Made in Italy icon!
Free admission, subject to registration via this link:
https://app.event.it/iiccopenaghen/vespa80
https://www.facebook.com/DetItalienskeKulturinstitut
https://www.vespa-klub-danmark.dk/
Source: Italian Cultural Institute – Copenhagen/Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation:
https://iiccopenaghen.esteri.it/it/gli_eventi/calendario/la-vespa-compie-80-anni/
IN ROME, ITALY. Another major event is the commemorative conference entitled “Vespa 80: Eighty Years of Style, Innovation and Freedom”, scheduled to take place on Tuesday 29 September 2026, from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm, in the prestigious Sala degli Arazzi at Palazzo Piacentini, headquarters of MIMIT – the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy – at 33 Via Veneto, Rome. A street that has become world-famous, the heart of the ‘Dolce Vita’ of the 1950s and 1960s, where actors and celebrities were chased by the paparazzi on… Vespas! There are, of course, numerous cinematic references to Federico Fellini’s masterpiece – ‘La dolce vita’ – from 1960, and to the earlier ‘Roman Holiday’ by William Wyler (1953), which brought the Vespa worldwide fame that has never waned.
Vintage advertising campaign (late 1990s), Vespa Eyewear collection in collaboration with Allison, evoking Rome’s ‘Dolce Vita’ (Wide magazine archive).
Celebrating the Italian way of life which has stood the test of time, trends and change, whilst continuing to evoke all the beauty of Italy. The panel of speakers at the Rome conference is equally prestigious: with opening remarks by Matteo Gelmetti, Senator of the Republic (chairman and founder of the new Vespa Club Parlamento), Ignazio La Russa, President of the Senate of the Republic (tbc), and Matteo Colaninno, Chairman of the Piaggio Group. There are two sessions scheduled for the day: The Vespa and the Italian dream, with a speech by Roberto Leardi, Honorary President of the Vespa Club of Italy and Vespa brand historian, followed by a talk by Marco Tronchetti Provera, representing Italian industry on the world stage; Mobility and sustainability, with a speech by Geronimo La Russa, President of ACI Italia. Concluding remarks will be given by Adolfo Urso, Minister for Enterprise and Made in Italy.
For more info: vespainparlamento@vespclubditalia.it
Rome. ‘Today, on 26 June 2026, in the Senate of the Republic, we launched the first Vespa Club Parlamento, established in the year in which the Vespa celebrates its 80th anniversary. This initiative pays tribute to a timeless symbol of Italian craftsmanship, freedom, ingenuity and our industrial history. The Vespa is not just a scooter: it is an Italian icon, known and loved all over the world.’ Source: https://www.facebook.com/matteo.gelmetti/?locale=it_IT
RELIVE THE GREAT EVENT, ‘VESPA ROMA 2026 – 80 YEARS OF AN ICON’:
https://www.vespa.com/en_EN/landing-page/roma2026/
