Bologna Portici Festival

The event celebrating the Porticoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, returns from 4 to 7 June 2026: four days of music, talks, walks, performances, guided tours and events to discover hidden gems within the city’s urban heritage that make Bologna unique.

All event programme available on the official website

A special edition dedicated to a double anniversary: the 20th anniversary of Bologna as a UNESCO Creative City of Music and the fifth anniversary of the arcades’ designation as a World Heritage Site. The festival brings Piazza Maggiore and other iconic locations in the city to life through a collective narrative that weaves together great international music and popular culture, celebrating the urban identity and future transformations of the capital of Emilia.

The heart of the programme beats on the stage in Piazza Maggiore, where major events take turns, such as the meeting with Luciano Ligabue, celebrating the 30th anniversary of his book Fuori e dentro il borgo, and the prestigious Respighi Festival concert, featuring pianist Gloria Campaner alongside the Conservatory Orchestra conducted by Aldo Sisillo. The event then extends to Piazza della Pace, transformed into a lively traditional village where the Filuzziano dance and the new challenge of dialect songs by Bulåggna Sound keep local historical memory alive.

The link between literature and the local area is renewed in the mornings at Bar Billi with Chiacchiere da BAR SPORT, a tribute to the genius of Stefano Benni in the very places that inspired his stories, whilst the artistic heritage is explored through exhibitions at the Medieval Museum and lecture-concerts dedicated to Gregorian chant. Enriched by a packed programme of guided tours to discover tangible and intangible treasures, the festival transforms the porticoes into an open-air stage, inviting locals and tourists alike to rediscover Bologna through its unique architecture and vibrant creativity.

All events are free, with free admission or by booking.