Events not to miss in Italy in April 2026

April marks the true beginning of spring in Italy: the days grow longer, temperatures become milder, and people return to enjoying cities and public spaces outdoors. It’s not yet the heat of summer, but the season often brings bright, pleasant days that are perfect for strolling through historic streets and taking part in the many events scheduled throughout the country.

During this time, the calendar fills with festivals, exhibitions, artistic programs, music events and food experiences that bring life to cities and villages alike. From major international happenings to celebrations rooted in local traditions, events in Italy in April offer countless opportunities to discover the country during one of the most enjoyable periods of the year.

From major cities like Milan and Rome to art capitals such as Florence and Venice, and down to the vibrant atmosphere of Naples, April festivals in Italy transform the country into a vast cultural stage.

Here is a selection of the main events in Italy April 2026 worth adding to your travel plans.

April is one of the liveliest months to discover Italy through festivals, traditions and cultural events. With the arrival of spring, cities and regions come alive with exhibitions, historical reenactments, music events and large outdoor celebrations.

For example, among the main events in Italy April 2026, Milan hosts miart, one of the most important international fairs dedicated to modern and contemporary art, alongside the Wizz Air Milano Marathon, which runs through the city center with thousands of participants.

In Venice, on April 25, the city celebrates the Feast of Saint Mark and the Bòcolo, one of its most romantic traditions. In Florence, Easter is marked by the spectacular Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart), while in Rome the Easter celebrations at the Vatican and the Birthday of Rome on April 21 shape the city’s calendar.

Other Italian destinations also host particularly evocative events. In Merano, the Flower Festival celebrates spring with flowers and gardens, while on the beach of Cervia the sky fills with color during ARTEVENTO, the renowned International Kite Festival. In Campania, the Holy Week processions of Sorrento remain among the most powerful and moving traditions of the Italian Easter season.

miart – International Fair of Modern and Contemporary Art
April 17–19, 2026, Allianz MiCo – South Wing, Piazzale Carlo Magno 1

In 2026 miart celebrates its 30th edition, confirming its role as one of the most important events in Italy in April 2026 dedicated to contemporary art. The fair returns to the spaces of Allianz MiCo with the theme “New Directions”, a title that works both as a tribute and a statement of intent. The inspiration comes from the famous album by John Coltrane and from the centenary of the birth of two jazz legends, Coltrane and Miles Davis.

The 2026 edition aims for a profound renewal, from curatorial content to the relationship with galleries and the overall visitor experience. Collectors, art professionals and enthusiasts will be able to discover works spanning more than a century of art history, from the early twentieth century to the latest generations of contemporary artists, in a continuous dialogue between research, market dynamics and experimentation.

Wizz Air Milano Marathon
April 12, 2026, Milan city center

Among the major sports events in Italy April 2026, the Milano Marathon is undoubtedly one of the most widely attended. The Wizz Air Milano Marathon returns on April 12 with an even more inclusive and spectacular edition, capable of involving more than 40,000 participants, including marathon runners, relay teams, families and sports enthusiasts.

At the heart of the event is the official 42.195-kilometer marathon, considered the fastest in Italy. The route runs through the city center and passes some of Milan’s most iconic landmarks. Throughout the day, streets and squares turn into a lively celebration thanks to cheering stations, DJ sets and the enthusiasm of spectators supporting the athletes along the entire course.

Candlelight: Coldplay vs Imagine Dragons
April 30, 2026, Auditorium San Fedele, Via Ulrico Hoepli 3

Among the music events not to miss in Milan, the concert Candlelight: Coldplay vs Imagine Dragons offers an evening that blends pop music with classical arrangements in an intimate and elegant atmosphere.

Inside the Auditorium San Fedele, illuminated by hundreds of candles, a string ensemble reinterprets some of the most famous songs by the two bands. During the approximately 60-minute performance, the audience enjoys a musical journey that includes hits such as “Clocks,” “The Scientist,” “Viva la Vida,” and “Believer.” Thanks to the venue’s acoustics and the unique candlelit setting, these songs are transformed into immersive and refined versions.

Feast of Saint Mark and the Bòcolo
April 25, 2026, Venice, Piazza San Marco

Among the most beloved celebrations in the lagoon city, the Feast of Saint Mark honors the patron saint of Venice and one of the most romantic traditions of Venetian culture: the bòcolo, the red rosebud traditionally given to a loved one.

According to custom, men and boys offer a red rose to their partner, wife, or someone dear as a gesture of affection and devotion. The tradition is linked to the legend of Tancredi, a troubadour who fell in love with Maria Partecipazio, the daughter of the Doge. Mortally wounded in battle, Tancredi picked a rose stained with his blood and had it delivered to his beloved before dying, creating a symbol that still accompanies this day.

The heart of the celebrations is Piazza San Marco, where the atmosphere becomes almost fairytale-like. April 25 also coincides with Italy’s Liberation Day, turning the occasion into a double celebration that blends national remembrance with Venetian tradition.

“The Four Seasons” by Vivaldi – Concert
 April 6, 2026, Chiesa della Pietà, Riva degli Schiavoni 4150

Adding a musical highlight to Venice’s spring calendar, the concert dedicated to Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” offers the opportunity to listen to one of the masterpieces of Baroque music in the very place where the composer lived and worked.

The Chiesa della Pietà, often called the Church of Vivaldi, stands just a short walk from Piazza San Marco and is one of the places most closely linked to the city’s musical history. It was here that the Venetian composer taught and created some of his most celebrated works.

During the concert, the famous compositions are performed by the Vivaldi Baroque Ensemble, a renowned Italian group, in a setting of remarkable architectural beauty. The melodies of the seasons flow through the church’s nave, creating an intense musical experience that captures the essence of Venice’s musical heritage.

Exhibition “Antonio Scaccabarozzi. Diafanés”
until April 6, 2026, Museo Fortuny, San Marco 3958

At the Museo Fortuny, the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia presents the exhibition “Antonio Scaccabarozzi. Diafanés”, dedicated to one of the most original artistic explorations of the second half of the twentieth century in Italy.

The exhibition places the work of Antonio Scaccabarozzi (1936–2008) in dialogue with the artistic and cultural legacy of Mariano Fortuny, a central figure in Venetian art history. The comparison goes beyond simple formal similarities, focusing instead on deeper affinities related to the idea of the artwork as a space to be experienced and crossed.

The exhibition invites visitors to explore a rigorous and experimental artistic research, where light, material and transparency become tools to investigate new forms of perception.

Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart)
April 5, 2026, Piazza del Duomo

On Easter Sunday morning, Florence renews one of its most spectacular traditions: the Scoppio del Carro, a historical celebration whose origins date back more than nine centuries.

The undisputed protagonist of the day is the “Brindellone,” a monumental cart about ten meters high, richly decorated and loaded with fireworks. Pulled by festively adorned oxen, the cart moves through the historic center accompanied by the historic parade of the Florentine Republic, with costumed participants marching through Via Il Prato, Borgo Ognissanti and Via Roma before reaching Piazza del Duomo.

The most anticipated moment takes place during the Easter Mass, when the cardinal lights the Colombina, a small dove-shaped rocket that runs along a wire from the altar of the cathedral to the cart. This ignition triggers an impressive fireworks display. According to tradition, if the Colombina successfully completes the journey back and forth, it is considered a sign of prosperity and good harvests for Florence and Tuscany in the coming year.

“Once Upon a Time. Sculptures from the Medici Collections”
 until April 12, 2026, Uffizi Gallery

Among the most interesting exhibitions of the Florentine spring, the Uffizi Gallery hosts “Once Upon a Time. Sculptures from the Medici Collections,” an exhibition dedicated to the remarkable tradition of wax sculpture between the 16th and 17th centuries.

Set up in the museum’s new ground-floor exhibition spaces, the show brings together around ninety works from Florentine collections and loans from other museums. The exhibition places wax sculptures in dialogue with paintings, sculptures, cameos and works in hardstone, offering a deeper look at a fascinating and often little-known artistic practice.

Among the most striking pieces are “The Screaming Soul in Hell,” attributed to Giulio de’ Grazia, and the famous plaster death mask of Lorenzo the Magnificent, created by the sculptor Orsino Benintendi. One room is dedicated to Gaetano Giulio Zumbo, considered the greatest wax sculptor active in Florence at the end of the seventeenth century.

Mozart & Rossini at the Anglican Church of St. Mark
April 4, 2026, Anglican Church of St. Mark, Via Maggio 18

Opera music meets one of the most charming spaces in the Oltrarno district during the concert Mozart & Rossini, held at the Anglican Church of St. Mark. The elegant and intimate building becomes the setting for an evening dedicated to some of the most beloved pages of Italian and European opera.

During the concert, two soloists perform famous duets from operas such as “The Marriage of Figaro,” “The Magic Flute,” “Don Giovanni,” “The Barber of Seville,” and “La Cenerentola.” The program leads the audience on a musical journey through the genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Gioachino Rossini.

The evening also includes refined songs by Francesco Paolo Tosti, creating a musical program that moves across different eras and styles.

Birthday of Rome (Natale di Roma)
April 21, 2026, City center

The Birthday of Rome celebrates the legendary founding of the Eternal City by Romulus, which according to tradition took place on April 21, 753 BC. The date coincides with the ancient Parilia, pastoral festivities dedicated to the goddess Pales, and already from the 1st century BC the Roman chronology began to be calculated Ab Urbe condita, meaning “from the founding of the city.”

The official celebration of Rome’s dies natalis was introduced by Emperor Claudius and later revived in the nineteenth century during the period of the Italian Risorgimento. Today the anniversary still holds strong symbolic value for Romans and is marked by historical reenactments, cultural events and celebrations across the city.

There is also a fascinating spectacle that repeats every year. On April 21 at noon, sunlight passes through the oculus of the Pantheon, perfectly illuminating the entrance portal. This architectural and astronomical phenomenon symbolically connects the city’s legendary foundation with its millennia-long history.

Easter in Rome
April 5, 2026, Vatican City and Colosseum

Easter is one of the most solemn and widely attended moments in the religious life of the capital, drawing thousands of pilgrims and visitors from around the world every year.

One of the most moving events is the Via Crucis at the Colosseum, a tradition dating back to 1750. On the evening of Good Friday, the Pope leads the procession that unfolds around the ancient amphitheater, creating an atmosphere of deep spirituality.

The culmination of the celebrations comes on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, when the Solemn Mass is celebrated by the Pope in St. Peter’s Square, followed by the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing, addressed to the city and to the world.

Amir Zainorin – Gravity of the Wall
until April 12, 2026, Museum of the Walls, Porta San Sebastiano

Among the most original exhibitions of Rome’s spring season is “Gravity of the Wall,” a solo show by Malaysian artist Amir Zainorin, hosted at the Museum of the Walls at Porta San Sebastiano.

The exhibition unfolds as a dialogue between contemporary artworks and the historic structure of the Roman walls. The installations reflect on themes such as strength and vulnerability, memory and adaptation, stillness and movement, linking the fragility of contemporary gestures with the symbolic weight of ancient architecture.

Curated by Camilla Boemio, the exhibition includes several site-specific interventions designed for different areas of the museum. These include Color Theory, installed along the walkway protected by merlons, The Weight of Lightness placed in one of the towers, and Boot-ed, a series of worn boots that evoke the passage of time. Sound and participation also play an essential role in the visitor’s experience.

ABBAdream – ABBA Tribute Show
April 16, 2026, Teatro Acacia, Via Raffaele Tarantino 10

The Teatro Acacia hosts an evening dedicated to great international pop music with ABBAdream – Live 2026, one of the most acclaimed tribute shows devoted to the legendary Swedish band ABBA.

ABBAdream brings back the sparkling atmosphere of the 1970s with an energetic and engaging concert. Faithful costumes, choreography and live performances guide the audience through a musical journey featuring some of the band’s most iconic hits. 

During the show, timeless songs such as “Mamma Mia,” “Dancing Queen,” and “Waterloo” fill the theater, creating a nostalgic and festive experience.

“Non è modello solo, ma quadro terminato”
 until April 13, 2026, Certosa di San Martino, Largo San Martino 5

In the evocative spaces of the Certosa di San Martino, the National Museums of Vomero present the exhibition “Non è modello solo, ma quadro terminato”, an exhibition dedicated to the most intimate and creative phase of artistic work.

The exhibition invites visitors to step inside the artists’ creative process, where sketches, studies and preparatory drawings reveal the moment when an idea begins to take shape. 

Curated by acting director Luigi Gallo, the show brings together works from the permanent collections and archives of several major Vomero museums, including Castel Sant’Elmo, the Museo Duca di Martina at Villa Floridiana and the Certosa di San Martino itself.

The exhibition highlights the richness of artistic techniques developed between the 17th and 20th centuries, emphasizing the creative value of works often considered intermediate stages, but in reality essential for understanding the artistic process.

The Easter Garden
 until April 6, 2026, Mostra d’Oltremare, Viale Kennedy 64

With the arrival of spring, The Easter Garden returns to Naples, transforming the grounds of the Mostra d’Oltremare into a large themed Easter park. Now in its second edition, the event is considered one of the first initiatives of its kind in southern Italy.

Among flowers, giant decorative eggs and colorful installations, the immersive path leads visitors into a playful environment designed especially for families and children. The themed garden hosts games, creative workshops, performances and entertainment activities spread throughout the park’s green areas.

One of the most anticipated moments is the Easter egg hunt, during which children explore the park searching for hidden eggs before decorating them in dedicated creative areas. The garden is set up near the scenic Laghetto di Fasilides, creating a fairy-tale setting that celebrates spring and the Easter season with activities designed for the whole family.

Merano Flower Festival
April 23–26, 2026, Merano, Bolzano – Trentino-Alto Adige

In the heart of South Tyrol, the Merano Flower Festival returns as one of the most enchanting events of the spring season. Part of the wider Primavera Meranese celebrations, the festival transforms Piazza Terme and the public park of the Merano Thermal Baths into a large open-air garden.

For four days, the city becomes a meeting point for nursery growers, botanists and gardening enthusiasts. The festival features a rich market exhibition dedicated to ornamental plants and garden culture, with exhibitors arriving from across Europe. Walking among the stands, visitors can discover rare flowers, unusual plants and botanical varieties that are difficult to find on the market, while also taking part in meetings with experts, workshops and talks focused on gardening and plant care.

ARTEVENTO – International Kite Festival
April 23 – May 3, 2026, Pinarella di Cervia, Ravenna – Emilia-Romagna

Among the most spectacular April festivals in Italy, ARTEVENTO stands out as the International Kite Festival that every year transforms the beach of Pinarella di Cervia into a vast stage suspended between sea and sky. The 2026 edition marks the 46th anniversary of one of the longest-running events in the world dedicated to the art of kites.

For more than two weeks, the sky above the Adriatic coast fills with artistic, ethnic, historical and giant kites, created by more than 200 artists from over 50 countries across five continents. The festival attracts around 2,000 international participants and offers a program rich in shows and activities.

Alongside breathtaking kite flying performances and competitions, visitors can enjoy night shows, live music, workshops for adults and children and events dedicated to wind culture, the central theme of this edition summarized in the motto “Brother Wind.” The event also includes a food area celebrating the flavors of the Romagna culinary tradition.

White and Black Processions
April 2–3, 2026, Sorrento, Campania

Among the most powerful traditions of Holy Week in southern Italy are the White and Black Processions of Sorrento, religious rituals that attract many visitors every year thanks to their solemn and evocative atmosphere.

During the night between Holy Thursday (April 2, 2026) and Good Friday (April 3, 2026), around 3 a.m., the White Procession begins. It commemorates the sorrow of the Virgin Mary searching for her son. Hundreds of members of local brotherhoods walk through the streets wearing white robes, black belts and hoods, accompanied by chants and moments of silence that make the atmosphere deeply moving.

On the evening of the same day, around 9 p.m., the Black Procession takes place, dedicated to the dead Christ. Participants dressed in long black cloaks with covered faces walk through the historic center accompanied by funeral marches, litanies and hymns, creating one of the most emotional rituals of the Italian Easter tradition.