A panoramic view of the Ponte Vecchio over the Arno River in Florence, Italy
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Be.ready! The best events of 2025 in Florence

Grab your diaries for the biggest events of 2025: Firenze Rocks, Florence Cocktail Week, Florence Biennale, and much more. Take note!

Welcome 2025! Be.Ready for the year ahead with an exciting list of things to do in Florence, from traditional festivals and new exhibitions to major sporting events.

Get your pens and paper at the ready and jot down the dates to take a trip to Florence! And remember, Destination Florence has a different Florence-related theme each month, inspired by the values and principles of #EnjoyRespectFirenze.
 
January: Be.Ready!

Ready to start? The Florentine events programme, as always, begins with its world-famous fashion fair, Pitti Immagine, at the Fortezza da Basso from January 14-30. For over seventy years, the event has taken over the city with fashion, design, food and wine fairs, and social events. Its headline event is Pitti Uomo (January 14-17). Also in January, you can take the opportunity to visit incredible exhibitions before they close, Helen Frankenthaler: Painting Without Rules, Michelangelo and Power at Palazzo Vecchio, and Beyond the City. Utopias and Realities from Le Corbusier to Gerhard Richter at Villa Bardini. Don’t miss your last chance to skate on the ice at the Florence on Ice Village in Parco delle Cascine, open until January 19.


February: Be.Love

The Grand Carnival Parade in Florence's historic center is scheduled for February 9, 2025, with an encore on February 15. Above all, however, in February we dedicate ourselves to love in all its forms. Our love for flavors is celebrated with Taste, a three-day event dedicated to a high-quality food lifestyle taking place from February 8-10 at Fortezza da Basso. Our love for literature is marked with Testo – Come si diventa un libro, the annual event for readers and publishing enthusiasts that will be held at Stazione Leopolda from February 28 to March 2. And we proclaim our love for dance with Danzainfiera (February 21-23), the international fair that hosts many guests, masterclasses and shows at Fortezza da Basso.
 
March: Be.Free

Did you know that the Florentine New Year is celebrated on March 25? It dates back to the Middle Ages, when the 25th marked the beginning of the civil calendar. It’s remembered with a historical procession that starts from Palagio di Parte Guelfa and winds through the city streets up to the Santissima Annunziata Basilica. Other dates to note: Other dates to mark: on March 16, Palazzo Strozzi unveils an exhibition dedicated to Tracey Emin, the acclaimed contemporary British artist celebrated for works that blend her personal biography with a profound and experimental formal exploration. From March 20 to 29, the Korea Film Festival returns.


April: Be.Floral

A month of colors and blossoms! April begins with the Florence Half Marathon on April 6, for all running-enthusiasts and those interested in sports tourism. From April 7 to 13, the much-anticipated Florence Cocktail Week returns, delighting mixology aficionados. The month concludes in grand style on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, with the traditional Scoppio del Carro and the 89th edition of MIDA - the International Crafts Exhibition of Florence at Fortezza da Basso, the opening of the Iris Garden at Piazzale Michelangelo, and the Flower Exhibition in Giardino dell’Orticoltura.
 
May: Be.Rock

May means music! The prestigious Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Festival (the oldest in Italy!) inaugurates its season of operas, concerts and choirs, and the Deejay Ten race (date to be confirmed) fills the streets with energy and music. There’s not only that: the renowned annual summit for high-level reflection on the European agenda, The State of the Union, returns on May 23 and 24, with the participation of renowned scientific thinkers, academics, policymakers and journalists from various disciplines.

June: Be.Yourself

When we think June, we think Florence Rocks! Guns N' Roses, Korn and Green Day have already been confirmed for June 12 to 15, 2025! But hang on a minute, everyone! The true symbol of June, for us Florentines, is June 24; the day in which we celebrate San Giovanni, the patron saint of the city, honoured with fochi (fireworks) and the final of the Calcio Storico tournament in Piazza Santa Croce.
 
July: Be.Green

July is a sun-filled month to discover different forms of art and entertainment! Enjoy the enchanting MusArt Festival under the stars at the Medici Park of Pratolino during Florence's Summer Festival, from July 16 to 25, 2025. Mark your calendars for the long-awaited return of Gatti Mézzi on July 25, after a seven-year hiatus! 
All Star Game Florence (dates to be confirmed) at Piazzale Michelangelo is a sporting event dedicated to basketball and beach volleyball. And, for cosplay lovers, the iconic medieval-fantasy event, Vinci Unicorn Festival, will be held from July 11-13.


August: Be.Cool

August in Florence is warm and tranquil. Unlike the Tyrrhenian coasts, the city empties, leaving room for fresh and relaxing activities such as the discovery of lakes, rivers and swimming pools. On August 10, we celebrate San Lorenzo, co-patron saint of the city, with the occasion called the day of the shooting stars. The San Lorenzo neighborhood is transformed into a popular festival where pasta with ragu and watermelon are free for everyone as a DJ gets everyone dancing under the basilica.
 
 
September: Be.Long

Off we go again! Just like when we were at school, September is the month in which everyone comes back together to restart. The city welcomes new students with a late summer events programme packed with traditional events and festivals such as the Rificolona Festival, a parade of colorful and creative traditional paper lanterns on September 7.

Another unmissable parade marks the arrival of the Carro Matto, a cart carrying 1,000 flasks of new wine, on the fourth Saturday of the month. We also welcome a new exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi, "Angelico", dedicated to Fra Giovanni da Fiesole, known as Beato Angelico, a quintessential artist of 15th-century Florentine art, opening to the public on September 26.


October: Be.Local

In October, we celebrate sustainability and new olive oil with fettunta (slices of bread with olive oil). It’s also a time for new ideas: the season kicks off with 50 Days of Cinema, bringing nine world-class international film festivals to Florence. Following this, the XV Florence Biennale, themed "Light and Darkness", will take place from October 18 to 26, 2025, celebrating the primordial and eternal interplay between light and shadow.
 
November: Be.Smart

Let yourself be inspired while undertaking a large-scale run! On November 24, 2024, the Florence Marathon makes its return. It’s one of the main national road running events, second only to the marathon in Rome, and it’s among the top 20 most noted marathons in the world in terms of stunning route. As a reward, treat yourself to a stroll through the traditional Nordic Christmas Market in Piazza Santa Croce (starting around November 20) and enjoy a hearty wurst with some warm vin brûlé.


December: Be.Kind

On December 8, Florence officially kicks off the holiday season with the lighting of its grand Christmas trees, starting with the iconic tree in front of the Duomo. "Florence Lights Up," the city's spectacular light festival, illuminates key landmarks like Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Vecchio. Meanwhile, the Ferris wheel and ice-skating rink at the Parco delle Cascine bring extra magic to the Florence on Ice Village. And for December 31? Join the crowds in Florence's squares for its vibrant, citywide New Year’s Eve celebrations!