Florence is ready to celebrate summer with an impressive calendar of cultural events. From June 1 to September 30, the 2025 edition of Estate Fiorentina will offer more than 1,000 live performances, festivals, talks, and exhibitions throughout the city. With a budget of over €1.9 million—€1.7 million of which comes from EU funds—the initiative aims to enhance Florence’s cultural scene and promote social inclusion by bringing high-quality programming to every neighborhood.
While the festival features high-profile guests such as singer-songwriter Samuele Bersani, actor Marco Giallini, anti-mafia magistrate Nicola Gratteri, and journalist Andrea Scanzi, this year’s focus is on proximity and community. Fourteen public spaces have been selected for events, including new venues like Piazza Edison, Piazza Indipendenza, the San Lorenzo a Greve Garden, and the former campground at Piazzale Michelangelo.
Highlights from the 2025 Program
Among the festival’s 121 projects and 139 participating organizations are 14 thematic initiatives. One of the early events is Le piazze dei libri (June 10–13), dedicated to books and organized in collaboration with local bookstores, authors, and publishers. In mid-July, the Isolotto neighborhood will host La Gaberiana, curated by Centro Studi Musicomedians, with performances and reflections on the work of Giorgio Gaber.
Another standout is Corpo Celeste (July 21–29), a participatory dance and performance program led by the Virgilio Sieni company. It will feature artists such as Simona Bertozzi, Annamaria Ajmone, and anthropologist Franco La Cecla, engaging citizens of all ages and abilities.
From June 5 to September 20, the long-running series Non Mollare – Storie Differenti will bring together storytelling and performance across the city.
Major Summer Festivals
Nineteen major festivals will take place during the summer. Among them:
- Sagrati in Musica (June 7 – September 7), a free classical music series curated by Toscana Classica.
- Secret Florence (June 9 – July 5), offering interdisciplinary performances in unusual and lesser-known locations.
- Apriti Cinema (June 16 – July 13), an open-air cinema series in Piazza de’ Pitti in collaboration with Florence’s major film festivals.
- Florence Dance Performing Arts Festival (June 23 – July 24), now in its 36th year, hosted in the cloister of Santa Maria Novella, combining international dance, music, and a literary award.
- Festival au Désert Firenze (July 23–25), with a blend of African, Mediterranean, and European music traditions performed in the Cascine park.
September continues with:
- Firenze Jazz Festival (September 2–14), with more than 20 concerts across historic sites and open-air venues in the Oltrarno.
- Open Air Circus (September 11–21), a festival of contemporary circus arts featuring immersive performances from Italian and French troupes.
- Lattexplus Festival (September 20), a celebration of electronic music and sustainability at the Maggio Musicale’s open-air theater, with artists like Richie Hawtin, Miss Kittin, and Acid Arab.
- Genius Loci (September 25–27), a multi-disciplinary program at Santa Croce that invites the public to discover the historical and spiritual heritage of the site through music, talks, and performances.
With a blend of heritage and innovation, Estate Fiorentina 2025 confirms Florence as a vibrant cultural hub for both locals and visitors during the summer months.