With culture, fashion, sport, musical events and unique traditions, the Italian New Year will be filled with a variety of events not to be missed. Are you planning your next holiday to Italy? Here we recommend 10 events to do in Italy in 2020.
Milan Fashion Week
Milan is the global capital of fashion: in particular, the fashion weeks in January and June are one of the biggest fashion events in the world, alongside events such as fashion shows and exhibitions. 9 January to 8 February Milano Moda Main Fall Winter will present the Autumn/Winter 2020/2021 collection, 10 to 14 January Moda Uomo; Spring/Summer 2021 The fashion collection will be launched in June.
Verona Vinitaly
In April, wine lovers cannot miss the historic international wine and spirits fair Vinitaly in Verona. 2020 will take place from 19 to 22 April: at this Verona fair, more than 4,000 exhibitors from Italy and abroad are expected to take part, with tastings, seminars and conferences on winemaking. Many events on the theme of wine, art and entertainment are also planned for the city centre.
IGLTA Congress in Milan
From 6 to 9 May, Milan will host the 37th IGLTA Congress, a major international event on LGBTQ+ tourism. The four-day event, organised by IGLTA, includes sessions for journalists and international tour operators, educational and B2B marketing sessions, as well as fundraising and social events.
2020 European Football Championship
One of the most important events in Italy in 2020 will be the European Football Championship Uefa Euro 2020. on the 60th anniversary of the competition, this edition will be a touring event with 12 different cities taking part. Italy will play a particularly important role: the first match will take place in Rome on 12 June, and also on 17 and 21 June and 4 July.
Verona Opera Festival
If your holiday to Italy coincides with summer, we recommend that you do not miss this highly anticipated event – the Opera Festival at the Arena di Verona. The extensive opera schedule runs between 13 June and 5 September and features masterpieces like Aida, Turandot, La Traviata and Cavalleria Rusticana, as well as ballet performances and classical concerts.
Siena Horse Racing Festival
If you want to see for yourself an event like no other in the world, then among the must-see events in Italy in 2020, be sure to remember 2 July and 16 August – the dates of the traditional Siena Horse Racing Festival, a re-creation of the world’s most famous ancient horse race (dating back to the 13th century). The races are held directly in Piazza del Campo, Siena’s most central and scenic square; teams from different urban areas will battle it out for victory.
Perugia Umbria Jazz Festival
Jazz fans know that there is only one place to go in the Italian summer – Perugia, where every July the Umbria jazz festival, Italy’s most important jazz event, takes place. 2020’s festival will take place from 10 to 19 July in the centre of Perugia, where you will find a wealth of concerts and international artists (Lenny Kravitz’s concert will take place on 10 July). If you can’t wait until July, you can enjoy the Umbrian Winter Jazz Festival in Orvieto, from the end of December to the beginning of January.
Salento A Night in Taranta
August brings together the most important event in Italy: the Notte della Tarant, a folk music festival dedicated to the revival and promotion of the pizzica, the regional dance of Puglia Salento. in August, the 23rd edition of the festival will, as always, move through the various squares of the Salento area, with the last night in Melpignano, when it will feature internationally renowned artists.
Venice Historical Boat Racing Festival
Visiting Venice is always a thrilling experience, but it is even more wonderful on the first Sunday of September when the traditional Festival of Historical Boat Racing returns, to the ecstasy of visitors and Venetians alike. The race takes place in two stages: a historical boat parade along the Grand Canal, followed by a competitive boat race meeting. Next year it will be held on 6 September.
Trieste Regatta
If you are planning a holiday in Italy in October, take the opportunity to take part in the Barcolana, the historic international regatta held every year on the second Sunday of October in the Gulf of Trieste. it is the largest sailing race in the world with more than 2,500 participants. the 2020 event will take place on 11 October.
Parma Capital of Italian Culture 2020
In addition to the 10 major Italian events for 2020 mentioned above, it is worth mentioning Parma 2020: this is not a single event, but a year-round programme of performances, exhibitions, excursions, concerts and food and wine tours in the city centre. Parma has been named Italian Capital of Culture 2020 and will host more than 500 cultural, beauty and gastronomic events throughout next year.
