As we wave 2024 goodbye and ease into the New Year, in Florence we find solace, optimism and creativity amid global growing pains.
2025 in Florence: ongoing
Florence Mayor Sara Funaro’s ten-point plan to combat overtourism took effect on January 1, banning lockboxes for easy key collection, loudspeakers and golf carts to transport tour groups, as well as requiring short-term holiday rentals to display their ID number outside the property and other measures.
The real estate market is set to keep getting more expensive in Florence, making it the second costliest Italian city to live in after Milan. According to Immobile.it who analysed the data for the 12 major Italian cities, the average cost per square metre will rise to over 4,500 euro, an increase of more than 200 euro compared to 2024.
2025 is the year of the Jubilee. While it will be concentrated in Rome, expect a number of pilgrims to flock to Florence and surroundings, especially to visit religious sites in Tuscany like Santa Fina, Badia a Passignano, L’Eremo Le Celle in Cortona, La Verna and San Francesco in Fiesole. Read more here.
The ZTL Scudo Verde (“Green Shield”) will enter into effect on April 1, stopping older, more polluting cars from entering the 38 square kilometers around central Florence.
Upgrading is underway at the Accademia’s Musical Instruments Museum with completion of the new layout expected by the first half of the year.
Testing continues on the new T2 Peretola Aeroporto-San Marco tramline. The Unità tram stop no longer exists as passengers arriving from the airport at the Alamanni, Valfonda and Fortezza stops.
Much-needed upgrading works along the Florence-Rome railway line are expected to cause delays between January 7 and March 4.
The 87th season of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has already been announced, which will take place from April 13 to July 1. Several leading names and operas are on the playbill, like Richard Strauss, Daniele Gatti, The London Symphony Orchestra, Grigory Sokolov, Verdi’s Aida and many more.
January
Style takes over the city every January, and this time it’s the turn of the 107th edition of Pitti Uomo, returning to Fortezza da Basso from January 14 to 17. Countless brands make their way to Florence to showcase their winter collections, including guest designer MM6 Maison Margiela. The fashion fest continues with Pitti Bimbo switching the focus to childrenswear from January 22 to 23 and textile trade fair Pitti Filati brings rag pros to the Tuscan capital between January 28 and 30.
February
The 18th edition of Italian food showcase Taste is returning to Fortezza da Basso from February 8 to 10 with a stellar theme: taste constellations. With 600-plus producers from the country’s contemporary food scene presenting their specialties, this event is sure to please all the foodies. If you can’t make it to the fair, embrace the occasion by reserving a Fuori di Taste themed dinner at a local restaurant.
Grab your costumes as the carnival parade takes to the streets of Florence on February 9 and 15, while a grand masked charity ball will be held in the Salone dei Cinquecento on February 8.
Wine fair Chianti Classico Collection opens to the public at Stazione Leopolda on February 18, while Chianti Lovers & Rosso Morellino returns to Fortezza da Basso on February 19.
Organized by Pitti Immagine, the large-scale international event Danzainfiera brings the dance world to the Fortezza da Basso from February 21 to 23.
Archaeologists galore come to the Palazzo dei Congressi from February 21 to 23 for the 10th TourismA – Salone Archeologia e Turismo Culturale. Thousands of professionals working in the field of cultural tourism flock to Florence for three days of sharing research.
From February 28 to March 2, Stazione Leopolda hosts TESTO, Florence’s premier publishing fair. The event will see the former train station turned exhibition space fill up with myriad stands from Italy’s leading publishing houses, with a number of talks and events also taking place.
March
International hospitality brand Auberge Resorts Collection is set to open its first luxury hotel in Italy on March 2. Nestled in the Florentine hills with Duomo views, Collegio alla Querce claims to be “a delight for design lovers and gourmands, featuring 83 rooms, an original chapel and theater, two restaurants, and a signature bar that was once the principal’s office of this much-loved former educational institution”. Also opening this spring is W Florence in super central piazza dell’Unità Italiana. Consisting of 119 rooms, the iconic W Lounge and a roof garden, W Hotels will bring its trademark take on contemporary luxury to Florence’s hotel scene.
There will be concerts a plenty with Sfera Ebbasta playing on the 6th and Jovanotti on 22nd, 23rd, 25th, 26th, 28th and 29th, both at the Mandela Forum, while Subsonica takes Teatro Cartiere Carrara on the 18th.
Following its debut coinciding with the Tour de France departure from Florence last year, the date has been set for the second edition of Becycle, an event dedicated to cycling and bike tourism, organized by Pitti Immagine at Stazione Leopolda from March 15 to 17. Expect three days of presentations by industry experts and champions.
Palazzo Strozzi hosts Italy’s first ever exhibition dedicated to British artist Tracey Emin starting March 16 through July 20. Curated by Arturo Galansino, a selection of historical and recent works will convey the controversial and lacerating aesthetic of an artist who has most characterized the image of women and the relationship between body and existence in contemporary art over the last 30 years.
April
The Florentine marks 20 years of publishing, having released its first edition on April 21, 2005.
Beloved institution Harry’s Bar reopens in a different location along via il Prato. After closing its historic doors in lungarno Vespucci, the new premises are set to feature the exact same wooden furnishings and quintessential classics such as baked fettuccine with Parmesan cheese and ham, washed down by one of the best Bellinis and Negronis in town.
The Half Marathon fills the city streets on April 6.
Florence Cocktail Week returns to Florence from April 7 to 13, bringing the best of mixology to the city’s finest bars. Trends like low and no alcohol drinks will also be taking centre stage.
The latest Mostra Internazionale dell’Artigianato arts and crafts fair returns to the Fortezza da Basso from April 25 to May 1.
May
May 27 is always a somber day in Florence when the city commemorates the five people—Angela Fiume; her husband, Fabrizio Nencioni; their daughters, Nadia Nencioni (9) and Caterina Nencioni (just 50 days old); and 22-year-old student Dario Capolicchio—who lost their lives in the via dei Georgofili bombing by the Mafia to the rear of the Uffizi on May 27, 1993.
June
Vasco Rossi will play Visarno Arena for two dates on June 5 and 6. The ageing Italian Rockstar draws a massive crowd from all over the boot, and, especially since he is playing two dates, expect his considerable fan base to flood the city.
Firenze Rocks has announced some big names to headline the three-day music fest at the Visarno Arena. Guns n’ Roses headline on June 12, alongside the Grammy-nominated California band Rival Sons, while Korn takes to the stage on June 13 supported by Public Enemy, Enter Shikari and Soft Play. The festival comes to a close on June 15 with Green Day, Weezer, Shame and Bad Nerves.
The fashionistas will be back in Florence for the summer take on Pitti Uomo from June 17 to 20.
Estate Fiesolana, one of the oldest music festivals in Italy, will be back on June 21 for World Music Day. The festival always takes place in the outdoor Roman amphitheatre in Fiesole, bringing national and international musicians to the stage. Part of the festival is dedicated to the Premio Fiesole ai Maestri del Cinema, which has been given to such names as Stanley Kubrick, Wim Wenders and Spike Lee. Stay tuned for the lineup.
July
Restorations to the façade of Palazzo Medici Riccardi are expected to finish in July, after an investment upward of two million euro by the city council.
Italian singer-songwriter Diodato has been named as one of the stars at summer showcase Musart Festival held in the Medici Pratolino parkland just outside Florence. The winner of the 70th Sanremo Music Festival will perform on July 18.
September
From September 26 to January 25, 2026, Palazzo Strozzi and Museo di San Marco present Angelico, an extraordinary exhibition dedicated to Fra Angelico, a key figure of the Quattrocento.
October
The 15th edition of the Florence Biennale has been announced from October 18 to 26 at Fortezza da Basso, with the central theme being the relationship between light and darkness.
November
Major digital tourism trade fair BTO – Be Travel Onlife returns to Stazione Leopolda from November 11 to 12. Last year’s event attracted more than 10,000 participants for 90-plus events.
International runners return to Florence on November 30 for the 41st Estra Firenze Marathon.
