The invention relates to a process for the production of ethylbenzene which comprises: a reaction step in which benzene is reacted with ethanol, or a mixture of ethanol and ethylene, at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, preferably in gaseous phase or in mixed gas-liquid phase, in the presence of a catalytic system containing a zeolite belonging to the BEA family, and a separation step of the product obtained. According to a preferred aspect, ethanol deriving from biomasses is used, in particular ethanol obtained from the fermentation of sugars deriving from biomasses.