Shows not to be missed during the Christmas holidays in Florence
From the classics to contemporary. Theatre for all tastes and all ages
The Christmas period transforms Florence into an even more fascinating place, with lights, markets and a festive atmosphere that can be felt throughout the city. Let's explore together the main theatre events in Florence during the festive season, a wonderful opportunity to experience art and culture in one of the most charming periods of the year.
Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
At the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, from 20 December to 4 January 2026, La bohème by Giacomo Puccini returns to the stage, one of the most beloved works in the operatic repertoire. Revived in a production that has already been warmly received by both critics and audiences between 2017 and 2023, the opera—on a libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, inspired by Henri Murger’s novel—features the direction of Bruno Ravella.
Late-19th-century Paris is brought to life through essential yet evocative sets designed by Tiziano Santi, which suggest rather than describe the spaces: from Rodolfo and Marcello’s attic to the luminous Café Momus, and finally the stark Barrière d’Enfer. On the podium of the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is Diego Ceretta, serving as maestro concertatore and conductor, while Ravella’s staging—now part of the theatre’s recent repertoire—stands out for its balance between philological rigor and narrative delicacy.
La bohèmeTeatro Niccolini
To welcome the New Year in an original way, deeply rooted in Tuscan tradition, on Wednesday, 31 December, the Teatro Niccolini hosts two performances—at 7:15 pm and 10:00 pm—of L’Acqua Cheta, a classic of Florentine popular theatre by Augusto Novelli. On stage, the Compagnia delle Seggiole brings to life an evening that weaves together irony, memory and reflection, turning the theatre into a space of genuine shared experience—a fitting and evocative way to step into 2025.
Verdi Theatre
The Teatro Verdi also offers a rich and varied program, accompanying Florentine audiences throughout the festive season with music, theatre, and family-friendly shows. The season kicks off on Tuesday, 23 December with The Nutcracker, a must-see for the holiday atmosphere, followed on 24 December by the ORT Christmas Concert at 8:45 pm, conducted by Nicolò Jacopo Suppa with Ettore Pagano on cello.
On 26 December and 5, 6, and 7 January, audiences can enjoy Din Don Down – Alla ricerca di D(io) by Paolo Ruffini, a show blending reflection and irony. In the following days, the theatre alternates prose and popular entertainment with Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, starring Cesare Bocci and Vittoria Belvedere, performed on 27 and 28 December, and in a double performance on New Year’s Eve at 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm.
The festive program continues on 31 December with the New Year’s Concert of the ORT, conducted by Diego Ceretta, featuring soprano Giuliana Gianfaldoni and tenor Riccardo Della Sciucca. The new year opens its doors to younger audiences with Aladin – The Musical by Stefano D’Orazio on 3 and 4 January. The holiday season at Teatro Verdi confirms its role as one of the city’s most vibrant cultural hubs, engaging diverse audiences and turning the festive period into a celebration of live performance.
Pergola Theatre
The Teatro della Pergola also celebrates the festive season by blending theatre, visual arts, and iconic stories of Italian culture. From 20 December to 1 February 2026, the Sala Oro hosts Pinocchio – The Adventure of the Puppet, an exhibition curated by Walter Sardonini that guides visitors on an iconographic journey through Carlo Collodi’s masterpiece, as interpreted by the artists who shaped its imagery. The exhibition features original illustrations by masters such as Venturino Venturi, Emanuele Luzzati, and Andrea Rauch, alongside stage elements, puppets, costumes, and masks created by the Teatro della Pergola Art Laboratory for the 2021 production of Pinocchio, directed by Pier Paolo Pacini. The display, organized into three chronological sections, forms part of the lead-up to the bicentennial of Collodi’s birth in 2026.
Alongside the exhibition, Paolo Genovese returns to the Pergola with his first theatrical direction, presenting a stage adaptation of the cult film Perfect Strangers, from 27 December to 4 January 2026. The play places the audience at the center of a dinner among friends, which turns into a game of truth, where phones, messages, and secrets reveal the increasingly fragile boundaries between public, private, and hidden lives. A contemporary and engaging show, perfect for festive evenings.
Perfetti Sconosciuti Puccini Theatre
The Teatro Puccini also joins the festive season with a program that alternates live music, poetic theatre, and sophisticated comedy. From 26 to 28 December, audiences can immerse themselves in imagination with The Little Prince, a production by La Macchina del Suono inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s masterpiece, adapted and directed by Italo Dall’Orto. Designed for all ages, the show features costumes by Elena Mannini and sets by Armando Mannini, bringing the timeless poetry of the story vividly to the stage.
Closing the year, on Tuesday, 30 December and on New Year’s Eve at 10:00 pm, Maria Cassi and Leonardo Brizzi return with Grand soirée – Lo sveglione di Capodanno, a musical show that blends irony, surreal humor, improvisation, and original music—an entertaining and clever way to welcome the new year.
