What to do this week in Florence and surroundings
Events, exhibitions, and appointments not to be missed from 12 to 18 October 2026
Art, concerts, and shows. Here are this week’s must-see events in Florence and the surrounding area.
Romanzo criminale at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
From 23 to 31 October, the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is hosting *Romanzo criminale*, the new opera based on Giancarlo De Cataldo’s famous bestseller. With music and conducting by Oscar-winner Nicola Piovani, a libretto by De Cataldo himself and direction by Massimo Popolizio, the production brings one of the most iconic stories of Italian noir to the stage, in a unique fusion of literature, music and theatre.
Romanzo CriminaleFánHuā Chinese Film Festival
From 15 to 18 October, the La Compagnia cinema in Florence is hosting the FánHuā Chinese Film Festival, as part of the 50 Days of Cinema programme. An opportunity to discover contemporary Chinese cinema and build a bridge between Italian and Chinese culture through stories, images and new perspectives.
Cooking Class & Tea Ceremony at the Teatro del Sale
As part of the FánHuā Chinese Film Festival—the festival dedicated to Chinese cinema taking place at the Cinema Teatro La Compagnia—Saturday, October 17 at the Teatro del Sale will feature a day of events designed to offer a closer look at Chinese culture and traditions. The program includes, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a cooking class with lunch in collaboration with Ciblèo and Cibrèo, during which participants will have the opportunity to discover and taste some Chinese culinary specialties. From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., the spotlight will shift to the evocative tea ceremony, a demonstration dedicated to the preparation and tasting of Chinese tea, accompanied by a live performance on the guzheng, a traditional stringed instrument. The day will conclude from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with the book presentation of Mao Zedong by Sergio Basso and a discussion with the author, offering an in-depth look at one of the most important and controversial figures in contemporary Chinese history. The cooking class with lunch costs 50 euros for adults and 25 euros for children ages 4 to 10. The tea ceremony and the meeting with the author are free, but reservations are required.
Cooking class al Teatro del SaleIn the Footsteps of St Francis, the project marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi
In the Footsteps of St Francis is a project by the City of Florence marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi – a journey through art, history and spirituality that brings the collections of the Civic Museums into dialogue with some of the city’s most significant Franciscan sites. Until 25 October, at the Stefano Bardini Museum, The Meal of St Francis and St Clare will be on display – a 16th-century painting previously held in the storage depots of the civic collections. The work depicts the meeting between the two saints and their meal in Assisi, bathed in a miraculous light. The project continues with free guided tours of the church of San Salvatore al Monte, every first Sunday of the month from 4 October to 6 December. An opportunity to discover the history and artistic heritage of one of Florence’s most important Franciscan complexes, overlooking the city’s skyline.
Vintage Market at The Social Hub Florence
Sunday 18 October, The Social Hub in Florence is hosting the Pimp My Vintage Market: a day of vintage clothes and accessories, vinyl records, design, handmade crafts and young creatives, all in the spirit of sustainability and unique shopping. From 11.00 to 20.00, there will also be activities and workshops!
Vintage Market di Pimp My VintageSAM – Sant’Ambrogio Made
Sunday 18 October, from 9 am to 7 pm, the canopy of the Sant’Ambrogio Market, in Piazza Ghiberti, will be transformed into a space dedicated to contemporary craftsmanship and creativity. Forty craftspeople will be showcasing their creations, including unique pieces, illustrations, clothing and independent design. The programme also features workshops for adults and children, live painting, artistic performances, walks to explore the neighbourhood, and special openings of craft shops and creative studios. An opportunity to experience Sant’Ambrogio in a different light, meet the creators and rediscover the neighbourhood’s artisan spirit.
Piantala at the Manifattura Tabacchi
From 16 to 18 October, at the Manifattura Tabacchi, Piantala returns – the pop-up market dedicated to the world of botany, featuring over 15,000 plants across 350 varieties. As well as buying plants and accessories, visitors can take part in free yoga sessions, DJ sets, creative workshops, botanical workshops to make kokedama and terrariums, and even tarot readings. Three days celebrating greenery, creativity and community. Entry is free but booking is essential; some activities incur a charge.
Looking forward to Autumnia 2026
Until 5 November, Figline and Incisa Valdarno are gearing up for the 27th edition of Autumnia with a packed programme of 17 events dedicated to agriculture, the environment and food. The programme includes nature walks, festivals celebrating ancient farming traditions, tastings of local specialities, themed dinners, cookery workshops, children’s activities and initiatives focused on animal welfare and sustainability. A month to rediscover local traditions, explore the best the Valdarno has to offer and experience the region through activities for all ages, with most events free of charge.
Chestnut Festival – Marradi Marron Buono Market Exhibition
On all four Sundays in October, Marradi will host the 63rd Chestnut Festival – Marron Buono of Marradi Fair, featuring roasted chestnuts, chestnut cake, castagnaccio, creams, and other traditional local specialties. The village will also feature crafts, cooking demonstrations, exhibitions, workshops, concerts, and performances to celebrate one of the Alto Mugello region’s most iconic products
International Jazz Stars at PARC
From October 18 to December 6, the fifth edition of Flux – flussi di musica creativa returns to PARC, the festival dedicated to jazz and contemporary musical research, directed by Maurizio Busia and Francesco Mariotti. Six events, including several Italian premieres, bring together leading international artists and new voices. The programme opens with Roberto Ottaviano and Rob Luft (18/10), followed by Aruán Ortiz and the Bitter Crop project (1/11), Marc Ribot, Farida Amadou and Ches Smith (8/11), Artifacts Trio with Silvia Bolognesi (15/11), and Mary Halvorson with the Canis Major quartet (22/11). The festival closes with Karl Evangelista, Alexander Hawkins, John Edwards and Mark Sanders, alongside Gabrio Baldacci (6/12).
Must-See Exhibitions in Florence
There are many exhibitions scattered throughout the city that are not to be missed in these first months of the year: let’s discover them together!
Broken. The Power of the Fragment
