It was a spectacle unlike anything ever seen before. About 25,000 Vespas paraded through the heart of Rome. This was the largest gathering ever organized, dedicated to a true global icon of style, elegance, and technology. Vespa enthusiasts and their scooters arrived in Rome from 67 countries to take part in the celebrations marking the Vespa’s 80th anniversary.
A grand celebration that, for the past two days—and continuing through tomorrow—has been drawing thousands of visitors to the Vespa Village, set up at the Foro Italico.
This morning’s parade was the most spectacular moment of the VESPA ROMA 2026 – 80 YEARS OF AN ICON event. Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, kicked off the parade, which was led by the presidents of the Vespa Clubs from the 67 nations represented.
From the Baths of Caracalla, the long parade headed to the Colosseum, made its way towards Piazza Venezia, circled the Altar of the Fatherland, to then reach the Imperial Fora.
Thousands of people cheered, applauded, and filmed the parade along the entire route, which featured Vespas of every model and era. The parade showcased all 160-plus models that have defined the Vespa brand over eight decades, including several 1946 Vespa Model 98s, which are extremely rare examples from the first series. Joining them were many vintage Vespas, from the “low-headlight” models of the 1950s to the quintessential VBBs of the 1960s.
The ET3s, GTRs, and numerous rally models were among the most applauded, along with the timeless Vespa PX. It was a triumph of models and versions, right up to the modern Primavera and GTS, which were increasingly well-represented, especially thanks to long-distance travelers who made their way to Rome after riding thousands of kilometers. Now the celebration continues at the Vespa Village at the Foro Italico. Throughout tomorrow, events open to everyone—including parties and music from Radio Deejay—welcome public, who can visit the large photo exhibition, the Piaggio Museum’s collection of historic (and extremely rare) Vespas, the display of the current line-up, and the Vespa Shop featuring collections dedicated to the 80th anniversary and exclusive collaborations. All information can be found on the event website: roma2026.vespa.com.