The 27th edition of the International Water and Irrigation Exhibition, SMAGUA, is now underway. This biennial event, held at the Zaragoza Trade Fair Center, serves as a meeting point and business hub for professionals in the water sector. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, SMAGUA features over 657 exhibiting brands from 30 countries, running from Tuesday until Thursday, March 6. It coincides with the fourth edition of SPAPER, the International Exhibition of Machinery and Equipment for Pulp, Paper, and Cardboard, and the third edition of EXPOFIMER, the International Renewable Energy Maintenance Exhibition.

The official opening took place on March 4th at 12:00 PM with an institutional tour attended by the President of the Government of Aragon, Jorge Azcón; the Third Vice President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Sara Aagaesen; the President of the Zaragoza Trade Fair, Jorge Villarroya; the Regional Minister of Tourism and the Environment, Manuel Blasco; the Deputy Government Delegate in Zaragoza, Noelia Herrero; the Director General of Water at the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Dolores Pascual; and the Councilor for Urban Planning, Infrastructure, Energy, and Housing of the Zaragoza City Council, Víctor Serrano, among other authorities.

According to the President of the Zaragoza Trade Fair, Jorge Villarroya, SMAGUA, SPAPER, and EXPOFIMER are three “extremely important” events, which have also expanded their exhibition space and number of exhibitors by up to 50% for this edition. Furthermore, he expressed his gratitude for the institutional support and described the 50th anniversary of the water trade show as a success that Aragon and Zaragoza can be proud of. “It is a source of pride for Feria de Zaragoza to be able to celebrate this milestone. All the cutting-edge technology in the sector is presented here and combined, creating synergies,” Villarroya remarked.

He specified that at SMAGUA, visitors can see “everything related to the complete water cycle” and celebrated Zaragoza's return as a national epicenter. The President of the Government of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, echoed this sentiment, declaring that this trade show is always “good news for Aragon.” “You only reach 50 years if things have been done right. It's a success. The latest trends are showcased at this fair, and attendance is massive. Thousands of people will be attending. Water is especially important in Aragon; every drop of water matters,” the Aragonese president emphasized.

Furthermore, the Third Vice President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge described this fair as a "meeting point and benchmark" for discussing water and other key sectors for the business community, such as the energy sector. "There are principles that are extremely important on days like today, such as innovation, sustainability, and technical and scientific knowledge. It is a unique context and an international benchmark," Sara Aagaesen remarked. The Minister also highlighted innovation in support of agricultural activities and tourism and advocated for "continued work" in this area.

The event in figures

This edition of SMAGUA is taking place in pavilions 3, 4, 5, and 9. Among the 657 participating companies are 30 from Aragon. It is also celebrating its 50th anniversary as the perfect forum for reflecting on the evolution of the sector. It began

as the leading trade fair for irrigation and agricultural modernization and, over time, has expanded to encompass the integrated management of the water cycle, sanitation, and environmental protection, becoming a key platform for professionals and companies worldwide.

Summary of the first day

As a complement to the intense commercial activity, SMAGUA 2025 offers an extensive program of technical seminars and parallel activities organized in collaboration with leading associations and entities in the sector, which began this morning.

The first day featured the session entitled "Regulatory Challenges of the Sector in the Integrated Water Cycle," organized by IAA, ZINNAE, and AGA-AEAS, in the Auditorium of the Zaragoza Trade Fair. This session addressed the most relevant regulations and standards affecting the water sector, providing a comprehensive overview of current and future challenges.

Simultaneously, Room 3 hosted the "Modernization and Management of Irrigation Systems" conference, coordinated by AERYD, which analyzed the latest innovations in water efficiency and the impact of digitalization on agricultural irrigation. In Room 4, ATEGURUS led the session "Sewage Sludge Management and its Energy Recovery," focused on new technologies for waste treatment in the water sector.

The first day concluded with the presentation of awards The awards for the SMAGUA 2025 Competition for Technological Improvements and Innovations were presented. The event took place at 5:00 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Congress Center, and was attended by the Director of the Aragonese Water Institute, Luis Estaún, the president of Feria de Zaragoza, Jorge Villarroya, and the President of the SMAGUA 2025 Jury, Miguel Ángel García Vera, who will present 4 improvements and 10 technological innovations.