Umbria & nearby Tuscany Events

CALENDAR of FESTIVAL & EVENTS FOR 2026

(taking place between 20 to 90 minutes driving distance)

April:

International Journalism Festival
April 15 – 18
Perugia

The International Journalism Festival is a cultural event that takes place every year in April involving the City with workshops, meetings and interviews about journalism, communication and medias.
From the first edition, in 2009, big international personalities of journalism meet students and experts to talk about their working experiences.
The event is entirely free and takes place in the major location of Perugia: Morlacchi Theatre, Pavone Theatre and Sala dei Notari.

Admission: free

Only Wine Festival
April 25,26 & 27
Città di Castello

It is the National Exhibition of Young Wine Producers and Small Cellars that takes place in the historic centre of Città di Castello.

—————————————
May:

Calendimaggio Festival
May 6 – 9
Assisi

Processions and special services take place across Umbria over Easter, but are particularly extravagant and memorable in Assisi. The town also holds major celebrations for Calendimaggio, usually on the first Thursday to Saturday after May 1, a medieval spring festival with Franciscan associations. The Calendimaggio festival is dedicated to St-Francis, Assisi’s patron saint. Flower arrangements adorn the streets and the local townspeople dress in colourful period costumes. The festivities include love song competitions, as well as traditional games and events.

Admission: free

Coloriamo i Cieli (Let’s Colour the Sky)
End of April, beginning of May
Castiglion del Lago (Trasimeno lake)

An annual festival for kite-flying enthusiasts. Kites are flown by participants at the old airport strip in Castiglione del Lago to the accompaniment of food, wine and music.

Admission: free

Corsa dei Ceri
 (Race of the Candles)
May 15
Gubbio

For centuries, Gubbio’s Corsa dei Ceri has been celebrated on 15 May, St-Ubaldo’s eve. The festival began after an important victory in a war against enemy cities, when the comune decided to host a festival to celebrate and express gratitude to Ubaldo, the bishop of Gubbio. Participants compete as opposing teams representing either St-Ubaldo, St-Anthony or St-Giorgio, and each team carries the “candle” with the statue of their saint attached, through the streets to the Basilica of St-Ubaldo. The candles are large seven-metre high wooden octagonal pillars. Though it is a race of sorts, the candle with St-Ubaldo always enters the church first – the winner is determined by the participants and bystanders to be the team showing the most skill in getting their candle to the church.

Admission: free

Perugia Flower Show
Spring Edition: May 23, 24
Villa C0lle del Cardinale, Perugia

Perugia Flower Show, the prestigious exhibition of rare and unusual plants, returns for its Spring edition. On May 23-24, 2026, expert nurserymen and artisans will once again fill the magnificent grounds of Villa del Colle del Cardinale with colors and scents.

Admission: tickets € 10/12
Free for disabled people and kids up to 12 years old

Palio della Balestra
May 31
Gubbio

The Palio della Balestra is a traditional crossbow contest which dates back to the twelfth century AD. The contest takes place late the last Sunday of May in the Piazza Grande in Gubbio, with the winning crossbowman the one who accurately hits the most targets. The winner receives the “pregevole” silk banner. The festival ends with a fireworks display.

Admission: free

Glass Festival
May 29, 30 and 31
Piegaro

Three days of festival with music, food, glass artisans working their craft and booths of glass art and jewelry.

Admission: free

The Days of Roses
Spello
May 31, June 1 and 2

“I Giorni delle Rose” (The Days of Roses) is a three-day floral exhibition dedicated to roses. The event is hosted in a beautiful setting: Villa Fidelia (Spello), a spectacular villa surrounded by the lush greenery of its stunning and amazing park, which during the course of the event is completely flooded by the magic of these flowers. In such scenario, full of charm and history, the organizers wanted to pay a tribute to the rose, not only as the queen of flowers, but also as a star in art, culture, fashion and crafts. Many happenings scheduled for this three-day-event dedicated to the rose: conferences, competitions, exhibitions and meetings (all of the highest level).

Admission: free

———————————————-
June:

Infiorate di Spello (Flower Carpet Festival)
June 6,7
Spello

The streets of Spello are decorated with religious decorations and stunning floral designs for this annual religious festival.

Admission: free

Corpus Domini
June 7
Orvieto

Processions in medieval costume and other festivities take place in Orvieto to celebrate the events that led to the building of the town’s cathedral. Celebrations also take place in other Umbrian towns, notably Spello.

Admission: free

Giostra dell’Archidado (Crossbow Competition)
June 7
Cortona

Every year, a procession of 300 or more people wearing wonderful mediaeval costumes as well as many riders on their horses parade through Cortona’s historic centre. The competition known as the Giostra dell’Archidado commemorates the wedding of Francesco Casali, Lord of Cortona, and the noblewoman Antonia Salimbeni of Sienna, which took place in 1397. The crossbowmen from Cortona’s five quarters, “quintieri”, compete for a golden arrow. The contest is held in Piazza Signorelli.

Admission: free

Perugia 1416
June  12-14
Perugia

Live  the history of Perugia between 300 and 400 during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Perugia 1416 is a very special event to discover the story of this beautiful town. The historic procession, culminating in Perugia in 1416, celebrates the triumphal entrance of “Braccio Fortebracci da Montone” in Perugia. Some competitions: a special race of different “Rioni” of the town. And also a javelin throw, the historical court and drape rice.

Admission: free

Giostra della Quintana
June 13 -14 
Foligno

The Tournament of the Quintana is an annual jousting tournament held in Foligno between the four regions of Foligno. Knights joust for metal rings hanging from a wooden statue, called the quintana. With each challenge, the ring gets smaller and smaller. A historical parade of participants in Baroque-style dress winds through the city centre the night before the contest. The Challenge Tournament is held in June, with the Return Game in September.

Admission: free

Trasimeno Music Festival
June 24 – 30
Trasimeno lake

Musicians from around the world descend on Lake Trasimeno for the annual music festival.

Admission: many free events, otherwise prices vary

Spoleto Festival
June 26 – July 12
Spoleto

This internationally renowned festival of art, theatre, film, ballet, opera and other music takes place in several venues around this lovely hill-town. Tickets for prime events go quickly and accommodation must be booked early.

Admission: many free events, otherwise prices vary.

Mercato delle Gaite (The Medieval Market)
June 26-30
Bevagna

The aim of the event is to reconstruct, with the utmost historical accuracy and meticulous attention to detail, the daily life of the village inhabitants between 1250 and 1350. For four days, Bevagna dives into this remote past: ancient medieval craft workshops reopen their doors and resume their activities; the streets come alive with locals in period costume, living the daily lives of their ancestors—eating, working, and playing just as they did.

A vibrant spirit of competition drives the event, coming to life through four main challenges: the Crafts Contest, the Gastronomy Contest, the Market Contest, and the Archery Competition. On the final day, the winner is announced and awarded the prestigious ‘Palio della Vittoria’ (Banner of Victory).

———————————————-
July:

Palio delle Contrade (Horse Race)
July 2
Siena

The Palio between Siena’s traditional neighborhoods vies with Venice’s Carnevale as Italy’s premier festival. It’s a breakneck bareback horse race around the dirt-packed main square prefaced by 3 days of parades, trial runs, and heavy partying. The night before the race is a regular bacchanal to which visitors are often welcome.

Admission: The best 150€-to-200€ grandstand seats sell out years in advance. Standing in the center of the piazza is free.

Umbria Jazz
July 3 – 12
Perugia

One of Europe’s largest jazz festivals, held annually since 1973, takes place in venues around the region, but especially Perugia, and attracts a host of local and national performers and many leading international musicians.

Admission: many free events, otherwise prices vary

Settimana Musicale Senese (Senese Music Week)
One week in July or in August
Siena

The Settimana Musicale Senese (Senese music week), put on by the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, is one of the summer’s top classical music events, now in its 72nd year.

Admission: Tickets are very reasonably priced at and with reductions for seniors and students under 26.

Trasimeno Blues Festival
Last week of July
Trasimeno lake

Arguably the most important blues festival in Italy, the nearly two-week long festival brings some of the top blues musicians in the world to Umbria. Exhibitions and other events also take place in conjunction with the festival.

Admission: many free events, otherwise prices vary

Palio delle Barche
Last week of July
Passignano sul Trasimeno 

A week of medieval reenactments, performances, traditional taverns, games, and races, culminating in a thrilling challenge between the town’s districts. The Palio delle Barche evokes the final act of hostilities between the noble Perugian families of the Baglioni and the Oddi—a bloody battle in 1495 centered in Passignano. During this conflict, a small army of the Oddi family was forced to flee the castle with boats on their shoulders, pursued by the militias of the Baglioni and Della Corgna.

Admission: most events are  free, otherwise prices vary

————————————————
August:

Palio dei Terzieri
August 11 – 24
Città della Pieve

Ancient disputes between the three sectors of Città della Pieve are played out in archery competitions for this annual festival. Renaissance-style theatre and music performances, as well as plenty of food and drink, draw the crowds to Città della Pieve

Admission: free

Palio delle Contrade (Horse Race)
August 16
Siena

An encore of Siena’s famous horse race. This edition is marginally more prestigious, and even more crowded.

Admission: The best 150€-to-200€ grandstand seats sell out years in advance. Standing in the center of the piazza is free.

Crossbow Palio St Rufino
August 28, 29 and 30
Assisi

Taking place on the last Thursday, Friday and Saturday of August, the Palio St-Rufino is a traditional competition between the crossbowmen of Assisi. The city’s three Terzieri factions San Francesco, San Rufino & Dive Marie compete for the prized “Drappo”, painted by a local artist. The Palio is followed by a procession in period costume, banquet and celebrations.

Admission: tickets from € 10/15

Festival delle Nazioni
August 22 – September 2
Città di Castello

This acclaimed international festival of chamber music is in its 47th year and takes place in churches and other venues around the northern Umbria town of Città di Castello. The 2026 edition is focused on Germany and Germanic cultures.

Admission: tickets €15/23.

Todi Festival
August 28 to  September 6
Todi

As Todi has become increasingly chic and popular, so its arts festival, now in its 40th year, has assumed a higher profile. It combines art exhibitions and seminars with theatre and musical events.

Admission: tickets with different prices.

Bravio delle Botti (Barrel Race)
August 30
Montepulciano

This is something akin to a medieval fraternity stunt. Teams of poliziani (the name for local residents) dress like their 14th-century ancestors in order to be the first to roll a 79kg (175-lb.) barrel uphill to the top of town. Come for the pageantry and feasting afterward

Admission: free

——————————————–
September:

Giostra del Saracino (Saracen Joust)
September 6
Arezzo

This jousting tournament is between mounted knights in 13th-century armor and the effigy of a Saracen warrior. It’s held on Arezzo’s main square and is one of the few versions of this sport in which the target, which swivels and is armed with a whip, actually hits back.

Palio dei Balestrieri (Crossbow Competition)
September 13
Sansepolcro

Sansepolcro gets the home-turf advantage in part two of the medieval crossbow competition with Umbrian rival Gubbio.

Admission: free.

Panicale Pan Opera Festival
September 4- 20
Panicale (PG)

Sagra Musicale Umbra (Umbria Music Festival)
The first two weeks of September
Perugia and various places in Umbria

Sagra Musicale Umbra is an event that combines music and spirit. It is one of the most ancient festival of Europe dating back to 1937, and one of the most important in Umbria. The tireless research of the combination between spirituality and music spurs the organizations to look each year for more suggestive places in order to evoke in the listener the sacred sense deriving from the combination of architecture, music and sacred art. This festival is, and has been for years, fundamental for the promotion of Perugia’s artistic patrimony.

The Quintana is an ancient challenge, an exciting race mixing performance and competition, and is taking place on the 12th and 13th September in Foligno with the Revenge Carousel. After the June appointment, live again the 1600 atmosphere and let yourself be carried away by the enthusiasm wrapping the city since the days preceding the much awaited competition, when in the “Games Field” the knights of the ten districts of the town face each other by showing high skills and ability. Each rider, riding his own horse, tries to thread with its lance the ring hanging to the statue of the Quintana, located at the centre of an eight-shaped itinerary, in a race including three shifts: in each shift the diameter’s size of the ring decreases, so to get increasingly narrower.

Admission: tickets € 40/50

Perugia Flower Show
Fall Edition – September 20 and 21
Perugia

Perugia Flower Show, market exhibition of rare and unusual plants, returns on  September 20 and 21  to the Villa Colle del Cardinale, in the countryside near Perugia. The “Fall” edition will come with the best exhibitors on the national territory, to spend with the numerous visitors two days of fun and learning on the theme of nursery gardening and quality gardening. Many side activities will involve young and old in gardening courses, creative demonstrations, educational workshops.

Admission: ticket € 10.

Festival del Medioevo Gubbio (Middle Age Festival)
September 23 – 27
Gubbio

A great cultural event, a unique event of its kind: five days of  meetings with historians, writers, scientists, philosophers and journalists to tell ten centuries of history, from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the discovery of America.

Admission: most events are  free, otherwise prices vary.

I Primi d’Italia
September 25 – 28
Foligno

Pasta, rice, soups, gnocchi, polenta and many other agricultural and food excellences are once again the protagonists of the new edition of “I Primi d’Italia”, the most tasty culinary marathon in Italy that takes place in Foligno from 25 to 28 September.

Admission: tickets from € 4 to € 80

——————————————–
October:

Festa di San Francesco
October 4
Assisi

Umbria’s largest religious festival draws pilgrims and religious leaders from across Italy and beyond. As well as religious events, October 4 sees a procession in medieval costume to the Basilica di San Franceso, and on the following day a large market and fair, La Fiera di San Francesco, takes place in Assisi’s streets.

Admission: free.