This is only a selection of the many events taking place every year in Florence and surrounding area.

Pitti Immagine
Florence hosts five fashion events spread throughout the year that are among the most important in the international calendar: Pitti Immagine Uomo, Bimbo, Filati, Casa and ModaPelle. Pitti Immagine's mission is to stage fashion fairs and events in the sense of production-consumption, as well as aesthetic and cultural design. The shows have shifted from fashion as a product to fashion as global lifestyles, as striking settings, as social relations and communication among classes, generations and cultures.

April – May - June

International Handicrafts Fair (April)
Florence’s craft show is at its best in spring and you can take advantage of the many opportunities from discounts on the admission ticket and meals to the playroom for small children. It features exhibitions of many handmade products including clothing and accessories, silverware and jewellery, furniture, beauty and health products as well as food and wine. There is also an area dedicated to gastronomic delights where you can select the most delicious genuine specialities.

 
Calendimaggio                                                                                                                This festival taking place on the 30th of  April and 1st of May is a medieval inspired celebration to welcome return of Spring. The event features a musical contest between two oldest parts of the city.

May Festival                                                                                                                        The festival features flower exhibitions and music concerts.
First Sunday in May as well as 24th and 28th June. Football game in 16th century costume commemorating the game played in defiance of besieging troops of Charles V in 1536. Played in Piazza della Signoria.

Florence International Music Festival
This festival that has been going since 2003 is designed especially for young talented musicians from all over the world. The objective of the event is to promote young musicians who will have the unique opportunity to perform in some of the most beautiful and historically relevant venues in Florence.
24th and 28th. Football game in 16th century costume commemorating the game played 400 years ago as dare to Charles V who was besieging city. The event is preceded by historical procession.

San Giovanni Festival
Celebrations in honour of Florence’s Patron Saint on the 24th of June that coincide with the final of the costume football tournament in Piazza Santa Croce. In the evening a firework display takes place over the river.

August

Summer Festival                                                                                                          Summer open-air theatre, music, dancing and other entertainments at this festival taking place in Fiesole outside Florence.

December

Festival dei Popoli
It is Florence's film festival with international and Italian categories. When it was founded, its leitmotif was to transport its public to places far away in terms of both time and distance; to bring the world to Florence. Documentaries are an important part of the festival dei Popoli, which is still an important part of the Florentine cultural calendar.

Florence Biennale
Every two years the Fortezza da Basso hosts the International Arts Biennale in Florence. Since 1997 professional artists have been able to exhibit their latest works in a panoramic survey of contemporary art every two years. The Florence Biennale is uniquely open to expansion and diversity as participants are chosen without prejudice as to style, theme or school. If you are in Florence in December then don't miss this chance to experience fresh, new art in a unique surrounding.