Vespa had the streets of the Eternal City buzzing with the unmistakable hum of Vespas in celebration of its 80th Anniversary. Founded in 1946, Vespas have transcended their being a two-wheeled form of mobility to become a global cultural phenomenon.

Vespa Roma 2026 – 80 Years of an Icon will span four days, starting at Foro Italico — one of Rome's most iconic and majestic landmarks. Vespa enthusiasts from around the world have been converging on the capital over the past few days, gathering at the Foro Italico — home of the Vespa Village. No less than the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, was present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Vespa Village hosted two landmark institutional events: the presentation of a commemorative coin by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, and a Poste Italiane first-day cancellation ceremony — marking the anniversary with a special commemorative stamp.

In the spectacular setting of the Stadio dei Marmi, Day One also saw the opening of the photo exhibition ‘80 Years of an Icon – The Exhibition’, curated by Giacomo Bretzel. The exhibition takes visitors on a visual journey through the many roles Vespa has played across eight decades: a means of transport and instrument of freedom, a travelling companion and style icon, a protagonist of unforgettable adventures, and a symbol of a way of life that continues to captivate people of all ages and cultures. From the streets of Europe’s great cities to major intercontinental rallies, from movie sets to magazine covers — Vespa has cemented itself as one of the most recognisable and influential objects of contemporary visual culture. The next three days promise even more excitement as the celebrations continue.

A key highlight of the opening day was the unveiling of the Vespa Edizione Ottantesimo — an exclusive collector's model. As a tribute to the year Vespa was created, each unit produced will be individually numbered, with production strictly limited to just 1,946 units in total. The model is based on the Vespa GTS 310 — the most powerful and technologically advanced platform in the current Vespa lineup.

The design of the Edizione Ottantesimo pays homage to what has always set Vespa apart: its iconic all-steel load-bearing body. The unique livery is inspired by raw steel. It also comes with a distinctive shade of green — evoking Vespa's earliest single-colour models — on the saddle and wheel rims. The rear seat is fitted with a removable hard cover in a body-matching finish, a nod to the classic fairings of competition Vespas. The saddle is approved for two riders and features a wide, comfortable seat with horizontal heat-sealed seams and tone-on-tone stitching. The wheel rim design itself reinterprets the closed, pressed sheet-metal structure of the legendary Vespa 98 from 1946, with a diamond-cut channel finish.

A special three-dimensional graphic of the number 80 appears prominently on the sides, in matching green. Its contours incorporate the hexagonal logo — the visual thread tying the entire 80th anniversary together — and evoke the shape of a bolt, a nod to Vespa's enduring artisanal craftsmanship.

Completing the setup: a numbered commemorative plaque positioned in the under-seat compartment, and a specially designed matching helmet — matte grey bodywork finish on top, with green accents and the number 80 on the back.

The Edizione Ottantesimo is powered by the 310-hpe single-cylinder engine delivering 25 hp — the most powerful engine ever fitted to a Vespa. Standard technology features include full LED lighting, a five-inch colour TFT display with VESPA MIA connectivity system, keyless ignition system, courtesy lights in the rear shield and under-seat compartment, electronic traction control (ASR), and an anti-lock braking system (ABS).

The Vespa Edizione Ottantesimo can be personalised further with the full range of original Vespa accessories — including a body-matching 36-litre top box with a padded backrest, front and rear luggage racks, side bars, fairings, windscreens, and an electronic anti-theft system.

Each Vespa Edizione Ottantesimo comes with an exclusive coffee table book published by Assouline — a luxury house celebrated globally for its beautifully produced volumes on culture, style, and elegance.

The book traces the legend of Vespa through its most iconic images alongside rare archival material from the Piaggio collection, charting its evolution and its enduring influence on global cultures and lifestyles.

The Vespa Edizione Ottantesimo is available to order online now at edizioneottantesimo.vespa.com.