25 must-attend events for 2025

What will be the unmissable events in Bologna in 2025?

The city agenda is packed with unforgettable events, celebrations and concerts, some even dedicated to culture and food. Let's take a look at the many events of 2025: here are 25 to mark in your diary that are worth a trip, a weekend or a few days visiting Bologna and its surroundings.

Art and Culture

1. Art Week

The most eagerly awaited citywide art week begins on 6 February with the programmes of Arte Fiera (7 to 9) and the related initiatives and events in the city of Art City (6 to 16), this year focusing on The City Gates.

2. Bologna Portici Festival

The third edition of the Bologna Portici Festival is to be held in June: following on from the successful outcome of the last few years, in particular with the artfully illuminated portico of San Luca, all that is awaited is confirmation of the date. An opportunity to rethink and enhance a common asset and symbol of the city, the UNESCO World Heritage Porticoes.

3.      Foto Industria

Foto Industria, the biennial photography event organised by the MAST Foundation, is also due to be back in 2025: usually held every autumn (the dates are still to be confirmed), this event is now an unmissable appointment for many Bolognese and tourists to enjoy free exhibitions in various cultural venues in the city.

4. Biennale del Muro Dipinto

The village of Dozza, famous for its painted house walls, is looking for new works to exhibit in the alleys of its medieval soul. The 30th edition is due to take place in 2025, where great artists will be competing in September to renew the tradition of the painted village. Confirmation of dates is awaited. 

Sport

5. Formula 1

Also on the agenda is another high-profile sporting event, the Formula 1 GP at Imola on 16-18 May.  Will this be the last year before dropping out of the F1 calendar? Hopefully not, yet when in doubt, we'd better not miss this appointment.

6. Marathon

2 March 2025 is the day of the Bologna Marathon, an event that has become a must for the many runners who are used to training along the streets of Bologna. In addition to the 42km, other stretches are planned, such as the 30km porticoes, the 21km half-marathon, and the 5km cityrun.

7. Davis Finals

The Davis Cup finals in 2025 will be played in Bologna: after hosting the qualifiers in recent years, the Unipol Arena is to host the last act of the competition where Italy is the reigning bi-champion. Another great opportunity to see Sinner, Berrettini and companions live at the most magical moment in Italian tennis. See you in November.

8. Women's Eurobasket

Another great sporting event is the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 round, which will be played at the PalaDozza in Bologna from 18 to 21 June 2025. Italy will always be the protagonist with the evening game, with the Azzurre's opponents to be announced on 8 March, after the group draw to be held in Athens.

9.        Giro dell’Emilia

In recent years, the cycling race to San Luca has gained in prestige, especially after the supremacy in the 2024 edition of the new world cycling phenomenon, Tadej Pogačar. Once again this year, a real battle will be waged on the ramps of San Luca on 6 October 2025.

Music and cinema

10.      Il Cinema Ritrovato

The dates for the most eagerly awaited film festival have already been announced: this year's Il Cinema Ritrovato will be waiting for the many cinema-goers from 21 to 29 June 2025, in the city's theatres and, of course, in Piazza Maggiore at one of the most beautiful open-air cinemas in the world.

11.       Gender Bender 

A well-established autumn event (awaiting official dates), Gender Bender has been narrating cultural and artistic imaginaries related to the body and gender for 20 years, with an international scope and artists from all over the world.

12.        Porretta Soul Festival

If you're already planning your summer holidays, how about keeping the days from 24 to 27 July free for a soul trip to the Apennines? Porretta is to become the European capital of Soul as every year, with 2 stages, 1 square, 1 town, 1 territory to discover.

13. Lucio Dalla's birthday

Years fly by, but every 4 March is Lucio Dalla's birthday. This year, CIAO Rassegna LUCIO DALLA is back, awarding innovative, transversal and creative artists just like Lucio was.

14.      Great concerts and premieres

2025 will be full of great concerts and first performances by artists on prestigious stages such as the Unipol Arena, the Dall'Ara Stadium or the Imola Autodrome. Some names? Katy Perry, Vasco Rossi, Cesare Cremonini, Max Pezzali... and all the others. Discover them all in our article dedicated to 2025 concerts in Bologna.

Food & Wine

15.   Tartófla 

There are plenty of festivals in the area, but Tartufeste is certainly one of the most long-awaited. Tartfóla, the international white truffle festival, will blow out its 42 candles between 25 October and 16 November 2025. The king of autumn is waiting for you in a variety of recipes between tradition and innovation. 

16. Slow Wine Fair

The wine-themed event from 23 to 25 February at Bologna Fiere is now a firmly established appointment with hundreds of Italian and international wineries. Good, pure and fair wine will be waiting for you along with...

17. Sana Food

In parallel with Slow Wine Fair, here comes Sana Food, a new fair dedicated exclusively to the dietary world. The evolution in consumption and sector trends can all be found at this new event from 23 to 25 February.

Lifestyle, festivals and others

18.   WMF - We Make Future

The International Fair and Festival on Innovation: AI, Tech & Digital will be held again in Bologna from 4 to 6 June at Bologna Fiere. The great innovation event will excite enthusiasts and professionals by discussing technology, digital and artificial intelligence solutions to build a better future!

19.   WWE Wrestling

Great wrestling is coming back to Italy with the WWE League. At the Unipol Arena an unmissable occasion on 25 March with WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN and the most beloved international stars of the ring.

Il grande wrestling torna in Italia con la lega WWE. All’Unipol Arena appuntamento imperdibile il 25 marzo con WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN e le star internazionali del ring più amate.

20. Cycling Tourism Fair

Planning your next cycling trip? Don't miss the Cycling Tourism Fair in Bologna from 4 to 6 April. You will find operators, destinations, and territories ready to win you over to choose your next adventure. Plus talks, stories, and presentations by the best-known faces of Italian and international two-wheelers.

21. Vintage cars and motorcycles

In the wake of last year's success, the new Bologna Motor Show is scheduled to take place from 23 to 26 October 2025. Enthusiasts and industry professionals have already marked these dates in their calendars to find unmissable opportunities, strike a bargain or simply get to breathe in again the fragrance of engines in the capital of the Motor Valley.

22. Diverdeinverde

Still waiting to be placed on the May calendar, the much-loved event for the Bolognese that opens up their gardens and private green spaces to the public is already garnering the cover image among their community. So we just have to wait for the date and hope for good weather.

23. Ocarina Festival

Budrio will once again be resounding to the rhythm of the ocarina: the terracotta wind instrument from the Bolognese lowlands is back in the spotlight at the Ocarina Festival, from 10 to 13 April.

24. Carnival in San Gioganni in Persiceto 

The Carnival of the Pin, a UNESCO candidate, has been held in San Giovanni in Persiceto for a century and a half: the 151st edition will take place on 23 February and 2 March for an open-air extravaganza with floats and attractions to celebrate the craziest time of the year. 

25.   City Pilgrimage

For the Jubilee year, the Archdiocese of Bologna has devised a tour of Bologna's main churches: guided tours and audio guides will be accompanying believers and visitors to rediscover the artistic heritage of the city's religious buildings and the works they preserve.