5 things to do in June in Bologna
Updated on 12 May 2026 From Davide Sarti
In June, Bologna welcomes summer with open-air cinema screenings, outdoor evenings, and plenty of events featuring culture, music, and great food. From squares to parks, the city comes alive with activities for every taste, many of them free. This month also marks the Republic Day holiday: don’t miss the events featured in the article dedicated to June 2nd.
Discover 5 things to do in Bologna in June, from squares and arcades to parks and hills
Bologna Portici Festival
From 4 to 7 June 2026, Bologna Portici Festival returns, the event dedicated to the Porticoes of Bologna, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now in its fourth edition, the festival will bring the city to life with performances, music, talks and cultural events throughout Bologna, offering new opportunities to experience and rediscover one of the most distinctive features of Bologna’s heritage.
➝ For updates and the full programme, please visit the official website.
The summer of cinema under the stars
In June, Bologna once again celebrates great cinema in squares, historic theatres and open-air screenings. This year too, Piazza Maggiore will host the free evenings of Sotto le Stelle del Cinema, the traditional summer film festival curated by the Cineteca di Bologna, which every summer turns the city centre into a large open-air cinema under the sky.
➝ Find the programme on the official website
From 20 to 28 June 2026, Il Cinema Ritrovato returns, one of the city’s best-loved film events, dedicated to restored classics and international auteur cinema.
From 5 to 15 June, there will also be space for Biografilm Festival, the festival dedicated to life stories through documentaries and encounters with authors and leading figures from the contemporary scene.
➝ Discover the most anticipated film festivals
Outdoor aperitifs in parks and gardens
With the arrival of summer, Bologna offers many green spaces where visitors can relax outdoors among aperitifs, events and nature. From the kiosks in Parco della Montagnola to the venues in the Giardini Margherita, passing through the peaceful atmosphere of Villa Angeletti and Villa Cassarini, the city offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy its urban greenery during the warmer days. On the Bologna hills, Parco Cavaioni and the San Pellegrino area combine panoramic views, music and outdoor food experiences, while Parco di Villa Ghigi hosts cultural activities, workshops and events for adults and families.
➝ Discover more about kiosks and outdoor chalets in Bologna’s parks
During the summer, parks and gardens also become venues for live music, festivals and cultural events taking place throughout the city.
➝ Keep an eye on this page for the main summer music festivals in Bologna in summer 2026
A June packed with experiences!
Exhibitions to see in June
June is the ideal time to discover Bologna’s temporary exhibitions, ranging from photography, cinema and contemporary art to major 20th-century icons. At Palazzo Pepoli, Frida Kahlo. The Gaze as Identity explores the myth of the Mexican artist through original photographs and materials dedicated to the themes of identity and self-representation. At the Galleria Modernissimo, Viva Varda! Cinema is a Woman offers a multimedia journey dedicated to director Agnès Varda, while Palazzo Pallavicini hosts Ruth Orkin. The Illusion of Time, a retrospective dedicated to the celebrated American photographer. For street art lovers, Palazzo Fava presents Banksy Archive 01: The School of Bristol, a journey into the British underground scene that gave rise to Banksy’s imagery. Other must-see events include the Museum of Illusion, the photography exhibition The Women of Bologna and the retrospective Bernd & Hilla Becher. History of a Method at Fondazione MAST.
Hiking and cycling itineraries between the city and nature
June is also the perfect time to explore the Bologna area on foot or by bicycle, with routes through nature, hills and countryside itineraries. eXtraBO, the outdoor infopoint dedicated to sustainable tourism, regularly organises excursions, activities and outdoor experiences among hills, trails and villages across the metropolitan area.
The project Trekking by Train offers hiking routes reachable by train through trails, Apennine landscapes and small towns to explore at a slower pace.
For those who prefer cycling, Bologna offers numerous cycling routes through the historic centre, parks and the Bologna hills, with the possibility of renting bicycles and e-bikes. Several cycle routes also start from the city, such as the Ciclovia del Sole, ideal for exploring the area away from the busiest routes.
➝ Discover cycling experiences in and around Bologna
Lover of storytelling and of walks along trails that fade into the horizon. I've been writing for bolognawelcome.com since 2021.
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