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 EVENT LOG: ALBENGA BRICK 2026 

Albenga Brick 2026: Two Days Built Brick by Brick

On January 3rd and 4th, 2026, Albenga turned into a small capital of creativity thanks to Albenga Brick, the event dedicated to LEGO bricks that attracted enthusiasts of all ages. Two days filled with colors, spectacular builds, and shared passion, once again proving that LEGO bricks are not just toys, but a true creative language.

An event for AFOLs, families, and new builders

As soon as visitors stepped inside the event, one thing was immediately clear: Albenga Brick is not a “niche” exhibition. Alongside AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO), always ready to explain building techniques and share the stories behind their creations, there were families, children, and curious visitors, all united by a sense of wonder in front of the displayed MOCs (My Own Creations).

The success of Albenga Brick, now a well-established event in the landscape of LEGO brick exhibitions, is largely due to the strong organizational skills of Marco Munì, head of the event company “Costruire Insieme – Albenga Brick.” Thanks to a clear vision, careful attention to detail, and the ability to connect exhibitors, enthusiasts, and local institutions, Munì has managed to turn Albenga Brick into a highly anticipated and well-recognized event, growing year after year while preserving its inclusive and creative spirit.

Now let’s move on to an overview of what was on display in the two halls available at Palazzo Scotto Niccolari. The event brought together around ten exhibitors from different areas: a strong presence from Piedmont (four, including myself), one exhibitor from the Bergamo area, and the rest from Liguria. This geographical variety helped make the exhibition rich and diverse, both in terms of themes and building styles.

I decided to begin the description by following the order of what visitors could immediately see as soon as they crossed the threshold of the first hall. Welcoming the public were the works of Giorgio Tona, presented with two microscale creations — one of which was a truly charming Titanic — alongside two of his more recent MOCs.

Among these stood out the well-known “I’ve never done it, but I’ve always dreamed of it,” an iconic scene from the cult Italian comedy Fantozzi. This creation also achieved remarkable success online: submitted to LEGO IDEAS several years ago, it reached the required 10,000 votes in less than a month, earning the chance to be evaluated for potential official production.

Alongside it was “The Magic Flute,” inspired by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famous opera. Through the builder’s personal interpretation, the MOC tells the initiatory journey of Prince Tamino as he attempts to rescue Princess Pamina, held captive by the wise Sarastro. With the help of the bird catcher Papageno and magical instruments such as a flute and a music box, the protagonists face trials of fire and water, within a narrative rich in Masonic symbolism and the struggle between light and darkness, embodied respectively by Sarastro and the Queen of the Night. The brick-built version translates this complex story into a visually striking and evocative interpretation.

Designed by Marco Fanelli and realized in collaboration with the Liguria Brick association, alongside the works of the charming architect stood a reproduction of San Lorenzo Church in Genoa. The piece was highly appreciated by the public, who were able to recognize it at first glance, a testament to its faithful and striking architectural interpretation.

After the first section presented by the Ligurian exhibitors, visitors reached my table, where they could admire the famous “The Dragon’s Revenge.” This is a 4-meter-long diorama, built in multiple sections, totaling 850 hours of construction, without any initial planning. Everything you see is the result of on-the-spot experimentation, trying to find the most artistic and functional solutions possible with the pieces available in my inventory.

I won’t go into a long description, as anyone who knows me is already familiar with how often I’ve exhibited this work, but it’s worth noting that for Albenga, this was the first time I displayed it in its entirety.

Next to my display was Elena Conforti, presenting two small winter-themed dioramas. The first, titled “Torchlight Walk in the Woods,” recreates an intimate and evocative atmosphere, while the second, “Ligurian Landscape,” offers an unusual microscale interpretation of a small snow-covered Ligurian village, perched on the mountainside, blending local tradition with stylistic experimentation.

Next to her, the winter theme continued thanks to the two works by Marco Pozzzi, both fitting within the Winter Village genre but interpreted as urban views of a snow-covered town rather than traditional countryside scenes. Both creations offered numerous photographic opportunities, encouraging visitors to look for the best angle and to “frame” the most striking shot by using arcades, covered passages, or small urban recesses recreated within the builds.

On the table opposite, there were over four meters of creations entirely dedicated to the saga of the legendary archaeologist Indiana Jones. The mastermind behind this impressive collection is the Bergamo-based builder Daniele Savoldelli, who even displayed a maxifigure of our favorite archaeologist, complete with whip and iconic hat.

This last piece was commissioned by the legendary Alberto Micheli, who was present at last year’s edition with his famous Star Wars maxifigures. But back to Daniele: immediately catching the eye was the renovated facade of Petra, increasingly large and spectacular. Apparently, it will soon be possible to admire the interior sections as well, directly inspired by the film scenes.

Of course, there were many other iconic scenes from the saga, including the famous banquet where the infamous monkey brain is served — a must-see for any Indiana Jones fan.

In the adjacent room, the works of two builders were on display, offering new perspectives and atmospheres compared to the main hall. The first is Alex Bonelli, also known as LegoMocLoc, an expert builder and brick storyteller of Tolkien’s saga, dedicated to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

For the occasion, he brought some new pieces, including the Black Gate, majestic as expected, complete with armies overflowing and attempting to encircle the army of men, while Sir Aragorn pronounces the famous words: “There will come a day when men will fail… but it is not this day.”

Other works exhibited by the builder from Cuneo include:

• The Arrival of the Corsairs of Umbar, with the army of wraiths overwhelming the enemy;

• The Witch-king of Angmar, where he says to Éowyn: “Fool! No man can kill me,” while she removes her helmet and shouts: “But I am no man!”, delivering a decisive strike;

• The Battle of Pelennor, featuring an oliphant besieged by the Rohirrim knights, in a scene full of tension and spectacle.

The second builder is Ruggero Francia, who presented three truly remarkable works. The first, The Divine Palace, is a kind of palace with Arab-inspired architecture and, partly, Indian influences, very elegant and characterized by flowing, sinuous shapes.

The second, Fort Apache, is a Far West fort, loosely inspired by Fort Legoredo, but built entirely from scratch using pieces sourced from all over, creating an authentic and playful atmosphere.

The third, The War of the Worlds, depicts a gigantic flying saucer invading Earth, while humanity’s army tries to stop it with utterly ineffective means, such as tanks and other weapons, resulting in an epic and dramatic scene.

In the last room, we find the Turin duo passionate about firefighters: Simone Isaia, who was also present at last year’s edition, and his friend Ario Gaviore. This time they brought a massive diorama, entirely focused on the world of firefighters.

The two specialize in mechanisms and automations, so in this diorama visitors can have fun spotting all the moving details. For example, on the rooftop of the fire station there is an open-air gym, where the minifigures train while waiting for emergency calls. The garage doors open automatically, and immediately after a fire truck rolls out, ready to respond to a blaze.

Other vehicles are remote-controlled, allowing visitors to drive them along the course created. Sirens and special effects animate the entire diorama: there’s even a tower that appears to catch fire and produce smoke, but moments later the fire truck sprays water and extinguishes it.

In short, a true feast of movement and visual delight, captivating both children and adults alike.

In the same room, there were also tables for children, where they could engage in free play, as well as an area dedicated to the market, where visitors could browse sets, pieces, and creations for sale.

In conclusion, a huge compliment to the organization of Albenga Brick, in the person of Marco Munì, who, as always, made me feel right at home. I am sure the same was felt by the other exhibitors as well, immersed in an atmosphere of friendliness and shared passion. For this, we thank them wholeheartedly and can only look forward with excitement to the next edition in 2027, ready to return among colors, bricks, and endless creativity.