Artigianato e Palazzo 2026

From September 11 to 13, the Giardino Corsini will host the 32nd edition of the event dedicated to artisanal excellence

From September 11 to 13, 2026, the Giardino Corsini in Florence will once again transform into a meeting place where craftsmanship, creativity, and contemporary art converge for the 32nd edition of Artigianato e Palazzo. This year’s theme is Reconnecting with Nature, a reflection on the relationship between humans, materials, and the environment that runs throughout the entire event.

This new edition brings together 100 artisans and young designers—both Italian and international—who are invited to explore, through objects, techniques, and experimentation, the connection between nature and the creative process. Nature is thus not merely a source of inspiration, but a living, breathing material from which to build new forms, revive traditions, and envision the future.

From ceramics to weaving, from marble to bamboo, through the reuse of materials and traditional techniques, Artigianato e Palazzo 2026 brings together different generations and artistic languages, reaffirming Florence as one of the premier destinations for the promotion of the arts and crafts.

The event, born from an idea by Neri Torrigiani—which was immediately welcomed with enthusiasm and supported by Giorgiana Corsini—is now promoted by the Giardino Corsini Association chaired by Sabina Corsini.

Artigianato e Palazzo (ph. Romig Ciccarelli)

Artigianato e Palazzo 2026: When Nature Becomes a Creative Medium

Reconnecting with nature is the central theme of the event and serves as a key to viewing the work of artisans from a contemporary perspective. Sustainability, in fact, is interpreted not only as a production choice but as a cultural vision. Reclaiming materials, rediscovering traditional techniques, using natural fibers, or breathing new life into discarded items are all different ways of exploring the relationship between creativity and the environment.

The exhibition thus spans a wide range of experiences: from theupcycling of natural horn eyewear by Ushak Atelier di Meraviglie to the shirts by FRii Shirt, made from reclaimed hotel linens; from the natural dyes at Guado Urbino to the creations of Ha.Ma., which transforms Carrara marble into jewelry, all the way to the reclaimed crystal by Studio Bojola and the upcycled furnishings by Nika Arts.

These initiatives are complemented by ancient crafts such as urushi lacquer work, basket weaving, weaving on historic looms, and millinery. A mosaic of techniques that demonstrates how tradition can continue to evolve without losing its connection to the materials and the local area.

Artigianato e Palazzo

Installations at the Giardino Corsini: Three Projects Blending Art, Sound, and Architecture

One of the most interesting aspects of Artigianato e Palazzo 2026 will be the program of special projects that will directly involve the spaces of the Giardino Corsini.

Young designer Jonathan Bocca created Linfa. La filosofia dello stupore, a site-specific installation designed to forge a connection between the Palace and the Garden. A large organic form winds through the event spaces like a root, incorporating several historic statues along the way. The goal is to invite the public to view the existing heritage with fresh eyes, drawing connections between memory, design, art, and craftsmanship.

Also transforming the garden into an immersive experience will be Bosco Sonoro by Michel Vecchi. In the Orto delle Monache, 25 mushroom-shaped sculptures carved from fallen trees will create a true sensory landscape. Through headphones, the public will be able to discover the works in an intimate setting, where sound becomes an integral part of the experience.

Rounding out the exhibition is Thòlos by CanyaLab, a bamboo pavilion conceived as a work of architecture in the making. The structure will be built on-site during the event, becoming an open construction site where renewable materials, artisanal techniques, and design research interact with the natural surroundings.

'Linfa' Jonathan Bocca, Artigianato e Palazzo

Between Nature and Artifice: the Artex Craft Gallery

Among the events of the 2026 edition, the Craft Gallery returns—a project promoted by Artex—which this year presents the group exhibition Between Nature and Artifice, curated by Jean Blanchaert and designed by Studio La Vanguardia. The project begins with a simple yet central question: What happens when humans take a natural material and transform it into an object? The exhibition explores precisely this relationship, showcasing artifacts that evoke nature through shapes, colors, decorations, and materials, as well as through production processes that are increasingly focused on sustainability and respect for the environment.

Antonietta Mazzotti Emaldi’s Ceramics Take Center Stage at La Grande Bellezza

Among the special projects of Artigianato e Palazzo 2026 is the exhibition Our Lady of Ceramics: Antonietta Mazzotti Emaldi, organized as part of La Grande Bellezza – The Dream Factory by Starhotels, a project dedicated to promoting the finest Italian artistic craftsmanship. The featured artist is Antonietta Mazzotti Emaldi, an artist-craftswoman and the doyenne of Faenza ceramics, who has long been associated with the event’s origins.

Works from some of her most significant collections will be on display in Florence, including Menadi, Garofano – Faience Garden, Proserpina, and Survival. The common thread linking them is, once again, the relationship with nature, explored through the language of ceramics, myth, and transformation. From the symbolism of the pomegranate to the resilience of nature, the works depict a material capable of changing form and meaning while keeping its original strength intact.

Next Generation: Young Artisans Look to the Future

A significant portion of the event will also be dedicated to the younger generations through Next Generation, a project supported by the Ferragamo Foundation.

Here, the spotlight will be on young artisans and designers who reinterpret traditional techniques and knowledge through their own personal and contemporary approaches. Among them are Ozio Piccolo Studio Tessile by Simone Falli, who works with self-made wooden looms; Eremōns by Chen Yueting and Xu Weidong, based between Italy and China; ceramist Lapo Giusti; restorer Tommaso Maselli; and artist-artisan Kimberly Bárcenas Hernández.

It is a story of craftsmanship as an ever-evolving profession, where knowledge inherited from the past becomes the starting point for new experiments.

Artigianato e Palazzo (ph Michele Monasta)

Craftsmanship and Inclusion: Work as a Social Tool

The 2026 edition also reaffirms Artigianato e Palazzo’s focus on issues ofsocial inclusion. Thanks to the project Craftsmanship That Unites, Craftsmanship That Includes, supported by the “Otto per Mille” funds of the Waldensian Church, the event will feature organizations that use craftsmanship as a tool for training, autonomy, and reintegration.

Among the organizations involved are the Alice Cooperative, the FLO Concept Social Cooperative, Community Garden APS, the SolcoLibertas Social Cooperative, and the Progress Association, which operates within the Juvenile Detention Center in Florence. Handmade ceramics crafted by women from the Tunisian village of Sejnane, presented by the nonprofit association Malles Design Mediterraneo, also contribute to this narrative: the pieces on display will be available for purchase, and the proceeds will go to support the artisans who created them.

RECREOS at Palazzo: Craftsmanship as a Tool for Urban Regeneration

Among the new features of this edition is also RECREOS at Palazzo, a project presented by the CR Firenze Foundation, which has supported Artigianato e Palazzo since 2000. The exhibition will bring a selection of the winners of the Recreos Call for Proposals—an initiative dedicated to the revitalization of craftsmanship along Via Palazzuolo in Florence—inside Palazzo Corsini. Crafts thus become not only cultural heritage but also a tool for generating new economic opportunities, activities, and opportunities for interaction within the urban fabric.

Awards, Talks, and Workshops: What to Do at Artigianato e Palazzo

Enriching the three days at the Giardino Corsini will be a program of talks, workshops, and free events. Confirmed awards include the Perseo Award – Fondazione CR Firenze, given to the booth most appreciated by the public; the Giorgiana Corsini Award, dedicated to the most meticulously designed booth; and the Italian Excellence Award from EGGroup Italy. There will also be workshops for children, activities focused on decoration, weaving, and tailoring, as well as guided tours to explore the Corsini Garden and its arborial heritage.

Artigianato e Palazzo

Among the events that blend craftsmanship, history, and culinary culture are the Family Recipes, dedicated to Albinia Lucarelli Becevello, known as “Suor Intingola,” Gabriele D’Annunzio’s longtime cook. Every day at 6 p.m., at the Giardinetto delle Rose, the public can learn about the history of the relationship between the poet and his cook through recipes, letters, and stories. The sessions will feature readings by actress Maria Cassi and, at the end, a tasting of dishes inspired by D’Annunzio’s cuisine, served on “Ricette di Famiglia” plates created by Bitossi Home. In the Giardino Segreto, meanwhile, visitors can admire some of Prince Filippo Corsini’s vintage cars and stop for brunch at the Ditta Artigianale space.

The History of Artigianato e Palazzo

Artigianato e Palazzo was founded in Florence in 1995, based on an idea by Neri Torrigiani and promoted by Giorgiana Corsini, with the aim of preserving and promoting fine craftsmanship, the value of handmade items, and attention to detail.

Even its name aims to evoke and highlight the strong social significance of the artisan, whose workshop once thrived around the Palazzo—seen as a “showcase” and a place for experimentation. This allowed for a continuous exchange with patrons of all social classes and offered the artisan the opportunity to benefit from a direct relationship with the public as the guardian of social aesthetics.

While rooted in the oldest artisan traditions, it aims to highlight the contemporary nature of craftsmanship to celebrate the artisan’s status, work, and role within the cultural and commercial context, as a pinnacle of quality and technical skill.

The exhibition brings together and presents a new selection of artisans each year and is produced by the Giardino Corsini Association, currently chaired by Sabina Corsini.

Corsini Garden

Artigianato e Palazzo
September 11–13, 2026
Open all day from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Giardino Corsini
Via della Scala, 115
Via Il Prato, 58

Admission
Minimum donation: €12.00
Free admission for those under 25
On Friday, September 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., admission is free for members of FAI Toscana, ADSI, Touring Club Italiano, Garden Club Firenze, and Lion’s Club Firenze members, as well as members of the British Institute of Florence, Rinascentecard holders, and Rinascente employees, in addition to ticket holders for the Firenze ’50, ’60, ’70 exhibition, the Villa Bardini Garden, and the Ferragamo Museum.

For more information
www.artigianatoepalazzo.it
Tel. +39 055 2654588/89 - info@artigianatoepalazzo.it