17 April 2026

Benelli Triumphs at the 2026 Assoarmieri Awards

Four awards across key categories

For the 2026 edition as well, Benelli took part in the EOS Show, a leading exhibition for the hunting, sport shooting and outdoor sectors. This year’s edition held particular significance, as it was hosted for the first time in the city of Parma, marking an important logistical and organizational change for the event.

The show recorded over 40,000 attendees, confirming its role as a key meeting point for industry professionals, enthusiasts and stakeholders, as well as a privileged platform for showcasing the latest technological innovations in both smoothbore and rifled firearms.

Within the context of the event, the fifth edition of the Assoarmieri Awards took place, an initiative promoted by Assoarmieri in collaboration with Armi & Tiro. The award, based on a large-scale survey involving thousands of users—including sport shooters, hunters, collectors and enthusiasts—represents an important indicator of market appreciation and recognition.

The voting results marked a highly significant achievement for Benelli, which secured four awards in their respective categories, further strengthening its position on the international stage.

In the category Best Hunting Shotgun, the award was given to the Raffaello Be Diamond A.I. BE.S.T.. This 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun represents an advanced synthesis of the company’s latest engineering solutions, particularly distinguished by the integration of the proprietary Benelli Advanced Impact technology, designed to optimize ballistic performance and shot pattern distribution. The BE.S.T. (Benelli Surface Treatment) also ensures high resistance to corrosion and wear, significantly enhancing durability even in extreme conditions.

In the manually operated firearms segment, the award for Best Pump-Action Shotgun was assigned to the Nova 3 Tactical Multicam. This model stands out for its high structural strength, operational reliability and a configuration designed to ensure advanced ergonomics and rapid handling. The Nova platform, evolved into version 3, introduces improvements in terms of handling and modularity, making it particularly suitable for dynamic operational contexts.

In the category of rifled hunting firearms, the award for Best Hunting Rifle was presented to the Lupo Alpha. This model represents an evolution of the Lupo platform and is characterized by high levels of precision, configurable ergonomics and a construction system designed for maximum stability during shooting. It is the lightest rifle in the world, weighing just 2.6 kg and featuring a metal chassis.

Finally, in the category Best Shooting Rifle, the Lupo HPR BE.S.T. stood out thanks to its high-level ballistic performance, with a declared accuracy of up to 0.75 M.O.A. over five shots at 100 yards. This result is achieved through an integrated precision system combining a high-rigidity steel action, an aluminium receiver with chassis structure, and an optimized barrel-action interface designed to ensure maximum structural stability. This configuration reduces vibrations and improves shot repeatability even under varying environmental conditions.

The success achieved at the 2026 Assoarmieri Awards confirms Benelli’s ability to develop technologically advanced solutions strongly oriented toward the needs of a specialized user base. The integration of engineering research, material innovation and ergonomic focus results in products characterized by high quality standards and operational reliability.

On the occasion of the EOS Show, the company also presented its full range of 2026 innovations, further expanding its product portfolio with models designed to cover a wide range of hunting and sporting applications. These include:

• RAFFAELLO BE DIAMOND A.I. BE.S.T. STEEL Ga. 12
• SUPER BLACK EAGLE 3 A.I. BE.S.T. Ga. 12
• SUPER BLACK EAGLE 3 A.I. MAX 7 Ga. 12
• SUPER BLACK EAGLE 3 A.I. CERAKOTE MIDNIGHT BRONZE CAMO OPTIFADE MARSH Ga. 12
• SUPER BLACK EAGLE 3 A.I. CERAKOTE COBALT CAMO OPTIFADE TIMBER Ga. 12
• SUPER BLACK EAGLE 3 A.I. CERAKOTE PATRIOT BROWN CAMO MOSSY OAK Ga. 12
• M2 PRO CERAKOTE BRONZE MAX 7 Ga. 12
• M2 PRO CERAKOTE TUNGSTEN OPTIFADE TIMBER Ga. 12
• DUCA DI MONTEFELTRO SILVER Ga. 12 / Ga. 20
• 828 S A.I. LIMITED EDITION Ga. 12
• 828 U SUPERSPORT A.I. Ga. 12 / Ga. 20
• 828 U SPORT A.I. SILVER NASELLO REGOLABILE Ga.12
• 828 U SPORT A.I. BLACK Ga. 12
• LUPO ALPHA LIMITED EDITION Cal. 308 WIN
• SUPERNOVA 3 TACTICAL BLACK Ga. 12
• SUPERNOVA 3 MULTICAM Ga. 12

The combination of awards received and innovations presented highlights Benelli’s central role in the development of the modern firearms sector, with a product offering capable of combining advanced technology, ballistic precision and continuous design evolution aligned with market needs.