The 15 unmissable events to attend in Italy in 2026

Simple appointments to mark in your calendar, or experiences capable of telling the story of territories, communities, and traditions? In 2026, in Italy, the line between event and narrative becomes subtle, and the cultural calendar turns into a unique and special way to travel and discover the Bel Paese. 

From the vibrant celebrations of the most famous cities to the intimate festivities in the smallest and most hidden historic centers, all the way to an extraordinary international stage like the Olympics. Each event is deeply rooted in its context, and in this interplay of time and space, local stories emerge that allow you to discover the true identity of the territories. 

Our journey gathers 15 events not to be missed in Italy in 2026, different in scale and atmosphere, yet united by their ability to offer an authentic and immersive experience that surprise you more and more each time.

Thoughtful hospitality, carefully crafted atmospheres, intense and memorable experiences: in Italy, in 2026, certain moments of the year will transform cities and towns into places even more fascinating to explore and enjoy.

You can wander through streets animated by installations and performances, or follow competitions and internationally renowned events, feel the energy of participants and locals, and immerse yourself in an atmosphere different from your everyday routine, as each event sets a unique rhythm that guides your experience.

From encounters to celebrations that reveal both Italy’s most intimate side and its international appeal, here are 15 unmissable events in 2026 if you want to turn your trip into an unexpected adventure, where every stop becomes a spectacle to admire until the very last moment.

Recap:

- Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

- Ragusa, the City of Love.

- Forlì, Baroque Exhibition.

- L’Aquila Capital of Culture 2026

- Florence: Rothko at Palazzo Strozzi

- Andy Warhol in Ferrara.

- Salone del Mobile, Milan.

- Arena Opera Festival, Verona.

- The Venice Biennale.

- We Make Future, Bologna.

- Umbria Jazz Festival, Perugia.

- World Ducati Week, Misano.

- Mediterranean Games, Taranto.

- Vogue World Milan.

- San Benedetto International Award, Norcia.

Among the events not to miss in Italy in 2026 are the mountains and cities hosting the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, an occasion that brings the Olympics back to Italy after twenty years and involves very different territories, from the Dolomites in the Alps to the urban heart of Milan.

This year you can experience a truly distributed Olympic journey, one that encourages you to move, watch and take part. Following the competitions means travelling between iconic destinations such as Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno and Bormio, feeling the energy of races on snow and ice, while also discovering a Milan transformed by events, ceremonies and initiatives linked to the Games.

The Olympics thus become the perfect excuse to build a journey unlike the usual one, alternating natural landscapes and metropolitan settings, in a once-in-a-lifetime moment in which Italy tells its story to the world through sport.

- Where: Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and Alpine Olympic venues.


- When: 6–22 February 2026.

In southeastern Sicily, Ragusa is a Baroque city with a double soul, a UNESCO World Heritage site divided between Ragusa Superiore and Ragusa Ibla. It’s a destination to be discovered on foot, wandering through scenic squares and historic neighborhoods, perfect if you’re looking for a journey that’s a little different from the usual.

On Valentine’s Day and throughout February 2026, this already special setting transforms into a true stage dedicated to love. In the streets and squares of Ragusa Superiore and Ragusa Ibla, as well as in the seaside village of Marina di Ragusa, you’ll find installations and romantic decorations that turn every corner of the city into a visual and sensory experience.

How to fully enjoy this unique atmosphere? By exploring slowly, losing yourself in the Baroque alleys and the glimpses of the Mediterranean, and experiencing the city when it’s authentic and less crowded. It’s an emotional escape designed for couples, curious travelers, and anyone seeking a more intimate Italy, where love for the city, the territory, and its people reveals itself step by step.

- Where: Ragusa Superiore, Ragusa Ibla, and Marina di Ragusa.

- When: February 2026.

This year, Forlì takes center stage in Italy’s cultural landscape with Baroque. The Grand Theatre of Ideas, the major exhibition hosted at the Museo Civico San Domenico. An ambitious curatorial project that explores the Baroque not only as an artistic style, but as a lens through which to read a fascinating era marked by deep cultural change.

Paintings, sculptures and exhibition designs guide you along a clear and engaging path that weaves together art and historical context. By continuing your visit through the city’s museums, the permanent collections allow you to broaden your perspective, placing the Baroque within a wider narrative closely connected to the local territory.

To stay in the city and fully enjoy the Baroque exhibition as well as Forlì’s other cultural events, Corte Livia is an ideal point of reference: a residence with discreet charm, where elegance meets contemporary comfort. Located in the historic center, it’s a perfect choice if you want to experience the city at a slower pace, in a quiet and carefully curated setting just steps away from the main cultural venues.

- Where: Forlì, Museo Civico San Domenico.


- When: from February 21 to June 28, 2026.

300 events to rewrite the future: in 2026 L’Aquila, the capital of the Abruzzo region in the heart of the Apennines, takes center stage in the Italian cultural scene as Capital of Culture, offering a program of festivals, exhibitions, and performances throughout the whole year, to enjoy as you move through its squares, historic buildings, and cultural spaces.

Among the highlights, in February the international festival ItArts – Back to L’Aquila brings music, visual arts, and new technologies to the city through installations and performances across the historic center. In summer, the MAXXI L’Aquila hosts Architecture and Urbanism in Abruzzo 1930–1960, an exhibition guiding you through photographs, drawings, and documents that trace the transformation of the regional landscape from the 1930s to the post-war period.

By visiting these events, you can explore the city in an original way, following an itinerary that alternates live performances with historical and artistic insights.

- Where: L’Aquila, Abruzzo.

- When: January – December 2026.

We stay in the realm of art with one of the most important exhibitions of the year: the one dedicated to Mark Rothko, the great master of American modern art, hosted at Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, from March 14 to August 23, 2026.

Curated by Christopher Rothko, the artist’s son, together with Elena Geuna, the exhibition celebrates the connection between the artist and the city, giving you the opportunity to explore his entire career through more than 70 works from international museums such as the MoMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Tate in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

In a route that also extends to other significant locations in Florence, including the San Marco Museum and the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, you can see how Rothko, with his extraordinary use of color and light, can literally make painting “come alive,” turning it into a deeply moving and unforgettable experience.

- Where: Florence, Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Museo di San Marco, and Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana.

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When: March 14 – August 23, 2026.

In 2026, the genius of Pop Art lands in Ferrara, set within the stunning Palazzo dei Diamanti. The city, located in Emilia-Romagna between the Po River and the surrounding countryside, is renowned for its perfectly preserved Renaissance center and elegant architecture, inviting you to stroll through quiet squares and picturesque porticoes.

The palace, with its façade adorned with diamond-pointed stones, is a marvel in itself and provides the perfect setting for the Andy Warhol exhibition. From the iconic portraits of celebrities like Marilyn Monroe to his experimental films and editorial publications, each room reveals a unique side of the American artist: a complete, ironic, provocative, and strikingly contemporary Warhol.

- Where: Ferrara, Palazzo dei Diamanti.


- When: March 14 – July 19, 2026.

From April 21 to 26, the Salone del Mobile transforms Milan into a city to be fully experienced, where design becomes a language connecting professionals, creatives, and curious visitors. At the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition halls, you can stroll among stands and installations, discover new collections, and see how living spaces can evolve, from furniture and lighting to increasingly creative and original solutions.

A new feature of the 2026 edition is Salone Raritas, a space dedicated to unique and collectible items: furniture, lamps, and home accessories produced in limited numbers. Here you can explore exclusive pieces that you won’t find anywhere else, perfect for those who love rare and original design.

As you explore the Salone, you can also feel the international vibe of a true metropolis, buzzing with events year-round, with energy reflected in the neighborhoods, streets, and venues that make Milan a city to fully experience, even beyond the fair.

- Where: Milan, Fiera Milano Rho exhibition complex.


- When: April 21–26, 2026.

Attending an opera at the Verona Arena means living an extraordinary cultural and sensory experience, within the iconic monument of one of Italy’s most evocative art cities. It's a true journey that brings together music, art, and history in one unforgettable moment.

In 2026, this remarkable Roman amphitheatre, which has hosted open-air opera performances for over a century, lights up once again with the 103rd edition of the Arena Opera Festival, one of the most celebrated and prestigious opera festivals in the world.

The new season features 50 unique performances, running from 12 June to 12 September, with several productions of great masterpieces such as Verdi’s La Traviata, which opens the Festival, Nabucco, and Puccini’s La Bohème, alongside classical music concerts and ballet performances, designed both for opera lovers and first-time audiences.

- Where: Arena di Verona.

- When: from June 12 to September 12.

The allure of the Venice Biennale is always something special, offering you the chance to explore the city through a themed cultural itinerary that, in 2026, unfolds across the Giardini di Castello, the Arsenale, and a constellation of venues scattered throughout the historic center.

The real charm of the Biennale lies in venturing off the main paths to discover historic palaces, former convents, and temporary exhibition spaces in the heart of Venice, turning each stop into a memorable journey through the city.

Framing this experience is this year’s artistic theme: In Minor Keys invites you to explore the most intimate, delicate, and hidden aspects of contemporary art, delving into the subtle nuances, silences, and emotional tensions that often go unnoticed but make each work surprising and powerful.

- Where: Venice, Giardini, Arsenale, and various venues in the historic center.


- When: May 9 – November 22, 2026.

At the start of summer, step into the beating heart of European and global technological thinking by experiencing We Make Future (WMF) in Bologna, a historic city that also knows how to look ahead by hosting the international fair dedicated to digital innovation, technology and artificial intelligence.

WMF is a chance to breathe in an international atmosphere, where startups, investors, professionals, institutions and enthusiasts come together to discuss emerging technologies and build new opportunities.

If you’re in the city during these days, you’ll discover a different side of Bologna: more curious, more open, and full of energy, where cultural heritage lives side by side with a constant focus on what’s next.

- Where: BolognaFiere, Bologna.


- When: 24–26 June 2026.

The enchanting city of Perugia, in Umbria, hosts one of Italy’s most famous music festivals: the Umbria Jazz Festival, taking place from July 3 to 12, 2026. Founded in 1973, this historic event transforms the city into a vast open-air stage, with concerts, performances, and events spread across squares, theaters, and public spaces.

During the ten days of the festival, you can explore a wide range of jazz styles, listen to both international and Italian artists—from renowned names to emerging talents—and take part in workshops and meetings, immersing yourself in a unique atmosphere that permeates the entire city.

The Umbria Jazz Festival is not just live music; it’s an opportunity to discover some of Perugia’s most charming spots, from Arena Santa Giuliana to Piazza IV Novembre and other historic venues. It’s the perfect chance to explore the city, savor local cuisine, and fully experience this remarkable region.

- Where: Perugia, various venues in the historic center.

- When: July 3 – 12, 2026.

More than just a gathering, the World Ducati Week is a global festival where thousands of motorcyclists and fans from all over the world come together to share their passion for motorcycles, take part in parades and test rides, meet fellow enthusiasts, and enjoy shows, entertainment, and festive moments.

The event takes place in early July at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” on the Romagna Riviera, making it one of the unmissable events in Italy in 2026. This thirteenth edition also celebrates Ducati’s centenary, with July 4 marking exactly 100 years since the brand’s founding.

The atmosphere is truly exciting, with fans and official clubs arriving from all over the world, making you feel part of a large community united by a shared love for motorcycles and the iconic Borgo Panigale brand.

- Where: Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, Misano Adriatico (RN).

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When: 3–5 July 2026.

An unmissable opportunity to experience the energy of top-level sporting competitions while discovering a region rich in history, sea, and culture. In the summer of 2026, Taranto is set to take center stage with an event where sport becomes a bridge between cultures and territories: the 20th Mediterranean Games, scheduled from 21 August to 3 September.


The Games bring together athletes from more than 26 countries across the Mediterranean basin, from Europe to Africa and Asia, competing in disciplines ranging from athletics and volleyball to swimming and fencing, with a program featuring over 200 competitions.

More than just a sporting event, the Mediterranean Games embody a spirit of dialogue and inclusion, turning Taranto into a crossroads of passions, challenges, and international encounters.

- Where: Taranto and surrounding areas, Apulia.


- When: 21 August – 3 September 2026.

Celebrating fashion as a cultural and creative language, placing Made in Italy, craftsmanship, and the ability to reinvent the traditional concept of the runway at the center: where else, if not Milan?

The Lombard capital is getting ready to host Vogue World: Milan, a special event that transforms the opening day of Milan Fashion Week into a true celebration of style, culture, and live performances. Now in its fifth edition, the initiative features a large-scale runway show that blends fashion and entertainment, using the city itself as a stage and pushing beyond the limits of the traditional catwalk.

- Where: Milan (city center and various locations across the city).


- When: September 22, 2026.

The beautiful historic center of stunning Norcia, an Umbrian town in the province of Perugia surrounded by spectacular natural landscapes, will host in 2026 the inaugural edition of the International San Benedetto Award.

The birthplace of Saint Benedict becomes the heart of an event honoring internationally recognized figures who, over the previous year, have distinguished themselves in civic, cultural, or social fields, guided by the values of the Benedictine Rule, “Ora et labora.”

Norcia, with its Basilica recently rebuilt after the 2016 earthquake, offers a unique and meaningful atmosphere, allowing you to explore a city that celebrates its cultural roots while keeping a remarkably contemporary outlook.

- Where: Norcia, Umbria.


- When: During 2026.