26 must-attend events for 2026

A year full of culture:

7. Portici Festival

Now in its 4th edition, the Bologna Portici Festival will likely return in June, following the success of recent years. It is an opportunity to rethink and enhance a common heritage and symbol of the city: the UNESCO World Heritage Porticoes. Updates on the official website->

Watch the video of the last edition here:

8. Art Week: between the city and the fair

It is always among the most anticipated weeks of the year in the Bolognese cultural landscape. From February 5th to 8th, 2026, ART CITY Bologna returns for its fourteenth edition. This program of exhibitions and events is promoted by the Municipality of Bologna with the support of BolognaFiere on the occasion of Arte Fiera (February 6-8), under the artistic direction of Lorenzo Balbi, director of MAMbo - Museum of Modern Art of Bologna.

9. Fantastika

2026 will see the awakening of the dragon Fyrstan! Dozza returns as the capital of fantasy for Fantastika, the biennial exhibition of thematic illustration that features the Dragon of Dozza as its ultimate symbol. From September 19th to 20th, 2026. Updates on the dedicated page->

10. Il Cinema Ritrovato

The city's most important film festival turns 40. From June 20th to 28th, 2026, international guests from the world of cinema will present and accompany unique restored screenings, with the highlight being the evenings in Piazza Maggiore, in the grand open-air cinema set up in the square. Official website info->

11. PhMuseum Days

The photography festival will return in its new biennial format. Founded in 2021 and organized by PhMuseum—a well-known curatorial platform dedicated to contemporary fine-art photography—it has quickly become a benchmark in Italy for those wishing to discover new visual languages and emerging talents. Dates and locations are yet to be confirmed. Updates on the official website->

12. Wolfango 100

To celebrate her father on the centenary of his birth (1926), his daughter Alighiera has created a series of events titled “Wolfango 100 – 100 Wolfango”. One hundred years after his birth, this review aims to highlight the many aspects of the Master's poetics; while he wished to be known primarily as a painter, his immense culture led him to explore numerous other artistic fields: drawing, sculpture, engraving, illustration, and numismatics. View the program->

13. University of Bologna and Umberto Eco

Ten years after his passing, the Alma Mater Studiorum of Bologna remembers a giant of literature. From May 27th to 29th, a special conference dedicated to Umberto Eco will trace the legacy left by the professor across all fields of culture: from fiction and semiotics to media. By his express wish, no conferences could be organized in his honor within 10 years of his death. Those years have passed, and Unibo now celebrates one of its most illustrious masters. Updates on the official website->

Trade fairs, festivals, and events for all tastes:

18. WMF

From June 24th to 26th at BolognaFiere, the focus is on the future: it's WeMakeFuture, the festival that has found its home in Bologna, covering Artificial Intelligence, Digital Marketing, Technology, and Innovation! Official website info-> Watch the video for a preview of the 2026 edition:

19. Auto e Moto d’Epoca

From October 22nd to 25th, engines roar back to life in Bologna: enthusiasts and industry professionals will find unmissable opportunities at Auto e Moto d’Epoca, the vintage car and motorcycle fair that has been established in the city for several years now. Official website info->

20. Persiceto Carnival

It's almost time for the craziest carnival in the Bologna area: on February 8th and 15th, 2026, the historic Persiceto Carnival is back on stage in San Giovanni in Persiceto. This century-old event is famous for the "Spillo" (al Spéll), a ritual where allegorical floats undergo a theatrical transformation in the square, revealing new colors and hidden messages. Info on the dedicated page->

21. Bologna Wine Week

An entire week dedicated to wine from May 11th to 18th with Bologna Wine Week. Tastings, conferences, and many producers with their wines await you.  Updates on the official website->

22. Tartoflà

Between the end of October and throughout November, the white truffle is served! Among the various "Tartufeste" in the area, Tartfóla, the International White Truffle Festival, is certainly the most anticipated. Don't miss the chance to taste the finest white truffles. Updates on the official website->

23. Slow Wine Fair

From February 22nd to 24th, it's time to drink again at BolognaFiere: for the 2026 edition of the Slow Wine Fair, in addition to the wineries and tastings, significant attention will be given to Central and South America. Official website info->

24. Bologna Tech Week

Following the successful editions of recent years, Tech Week is expected to return in December 2026 (dates to be confirmed), with many widespread and diverse events in terms of theme and format, designed to take participants on a journey to discover the innovative future of which Bologna remains the epicenter. Updates on the official website->