10 Events and exhibitions not to be missed in Milan in November 2025

November is one of the most surprising months to discover Milan in its cultural and creative guise. With the arrival of full autumn, the city fills with events ranging from contemporary art to design, from music to literature. In this article, we’ll guide you through 10 unmissable events and exhibitions in Milan in November, selected from major highlights and local hidden gems. Whether you're passionate about art, music, theatre, or sports, you're sure to find something for you. Get ready to experience Milan during a month full of emotions, inspiration, and new discoveries.

Discover 10 unmissable events and exhibitions in Milan this November — the perfect opportunity to explore the city from new perspectives, between major cultural happenings and local initiatives. From Milan Music Week to BookCity, including contemporary art exhibitions in independent galleries and performances in historic venues, November is a month full of inspiration. Whether you live in Milan or are planning a visit, you’ll find experiences to suit every interest. Let yourself be inspired by this selection and discover what makes Milanese autumn so special — a season of culture, creativity, and discovery.

Milano Music Week is a must-attend event for anyone who loves music in all its forms. Concerts, DJ sets, talks, workshops, and showcases bring the city to life, transforming it into a widespread, open-air stage.

The 2025 edition promises a rich and diverse program, featuring both established artists and emerging talents, covering a wide range of musical genres and innovative formats. It's a unique opportunity to experience Milan through sound, creativity, and connection.

Events will take place in iconic venues such as Palazzina Appiani — the festival’s central hub — the Triennale di Milano, and many other symbolic locations across the city, from November 17 to 23, 2025.

The exhibition Kandinsky and Italy offers a unique perspective on the relationship between the renowned Russian artist and Italy, exploring how Italian aesthetics influenced his abstract vision.

Through a selection of 130 works, along with previously unseen documents and materials, the exhibition traces the connections between Kandinsky and the Italian cultural scene of the early 20th century. It’s a valuable opportunity to rediscover the master of abstract art from a fresh point of view — blending art, history, and cross-cultural influences.

The exhibition is held at MA*GA in Gallarate, just outside Milan, from November 30, 2025, to April 12, 2026, and is easily accessible for visitors coming from the city.

BookCity Milano is the citywide celebration of books and reading that each year brings Milan to life with hundreds of free events for readers of all ages. Meetings with authors, book presentations, workshops, readings, and conversations transform the city into a vast literary salon, where culture comes alive in every corner.

The 2025 edition will explore new languages and contemporary themes, engaging schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and both public and private spaces. Events will take place all across the city from November 10 to 16, 2025, with the Sforza Castle serving as the symbolic heart of the initiative.

The exhibition Maestri & Cult. Il cinema nell’immaginario visivo (Masters & Cult: Cinema in the Visual Imagination) explores the deep connection between visual art and the seventh art, highlighting how cinema has influenced the language of photographers, illustrators, and contemporary artists.

Through iconic images, visual references, and cultural references, the exhibition tells the story of the big screen’s impact on the collective imagination from the 1950s to our times. Featured figures include Lynch, Kubrick, Hitchcock, Coppola, Fellini, Tarantino, and many others. It’s a fascinating journey for anyone who loves the dialogue between image and storytelling.

The exhibition is hosted at Cinema Anteo in Milan and will be open until November 20, 2025, in a setting that perfectly blends art and cinema.

The first Sunday of November in Milan is a special occasion for art lovers. Many city museums open their doors for free as part of the Ministry of Culture’s initiative, “Domenica al Museo” (Sunday at the Museum), allowing visitors to explore prestigious collections such as those of the Museo del Novecento in Piazza del Duomo, the Galleria d’Arte Moderna at Villa Reale, and the Natural History Museum on Corso Venezia.

In addition to these, two other must-visit museums in Milan are worth mentioning, even though they don’t participate in this initiative: the Museo Impossibile, located in the Navigli area, which offers an interactive experience combining optical illusions and technology, and the Museum of Senses on Via Mazzini, which takes visitors on a multisensory journey in the heart of the city.

This month’s “Sunday at the Museum” will be on November 2. Reservations are recommended. The other experiences are available throughout November 2025.

The Milano21 Half Marathon is one of the most eagerly awaited races of the Milanese autumn, ideal for experienced runners as well as enthusiasts who want to challenge themselves on a fast and scenic course. The event offers several distances, including the classic half marathon (21 km) and a 10 km race, making it accessible to everyone.

Running through the streets of the city center, surrounded by monuments and the vibrant energy of Milan, is a unique experience for outdoor sports lovers. The 2025 edition will take place on Sunday, November 23, starting from Viale Eginardo in Milan.

In November 2025, Milan comes alive with a rich musical calendar. At Teatro alla Scala, Mozart’s Così fan tutte will be performed from November 5 to 26, while Swan Lake takes the stage at Teatro Carcano on November 11.

Live music lovers can see Elisa on November 10, Simply Red on November 8, and Mumford & Sons on November 21 at the Unipol Forum. At Fabrique, La Niña performs on November 12, while Alcatraz hosts Halestorm on November 11 and Sud Sound System on November 22. On November 24 and 28, respectively, Negrita and Ludovico Einaudi will amaze audiences at Teatro Dal Verme, and from November 14 to 16, Roberto Bolle & Friends will enchant at Teatro degli Arcimboldi.

The exhibition Federica Galli. La Signora degli Alberi (Federica Galli. The Lady of Trees) pays tribute to one of the most important Italian engravers of the 20th century. The exhibition features a selection of etchings that reveal the artist’s deep connection with nature and the Lombardy region.

The show includes the installation of fifteen large canvases depicting monumental trees taken from Federica Galli’s etchings, creating a “virtual forest” in dialogue with the surrounding park.

Completing the exhibition, some original etchings will be displayed in the location's show apartment. It’s an opportunity to rediscover a poetic and reflective perspective on the environment. The exhibition is hosted at Cascina Merlata SpazioVivo in Milan, located at Via Pier Paolo Pasolini 3, and will be open throughout November and until December 14, 2025.

Cartoomics / Milan Games Week is the unmissable event for fans of comics, video games, cosplay, and pop culture in general.

This fair brings together the best of the geek world with exclusive previews, meetings with authors, gaming tournaments, and live shows, creating an engaging atmosphere for all ages. It’s the perfect place to discover new releases, collect gadgets, and take part in themed workshops.

The 2025 edition will be held at the modern exhibition space of Fiera Milano in Rho, which hosts plenty of fairs and international events all year round, from November 28 to 30, attracting thousands of visitors from all over Italy and beyond.

The rooftop walks of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II offer a unique experience to discover Milan from an unusual and captivating perspective.

Walking among the historic terraces of one of the city’s most iconic buildings, visitors can admire panoramic views of the Duomo, Teatro alla Scala, and the Milan skyline, immersing themselves in late 19th-century art and architecture. This guided tour, especially enchanting in the autumn climate of November, is an unmissable opportunity to experience a hidden corner of the city.

The walks, organized by Highline Milano, are available by reservation throughout the month (until November 30) at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, in the heart of Milan.