Sport, fairs, fashion and art exhibitions: discover with us the best events to attend in Italy in May 2024.
May is one of the best month to plan a trip to Italy, with spring at its best thanks to daylight lasting until dinner time (around 8 p.m.) and to temperatures warm but not as hot as in the summer, with locals starting to enjoy the pleasure of a meal outside in gardens, parks and dehors. May is also scheduled to host many interesting events, from sport to art exhibitions crossing international fairs, so here we are going to show you 7 events and exhibitions to attend in Italy this May 2024. Let's find out them together!
Events and exhibitions not to miss this May in Italy
In May the spring season in Italy is beautiful, parks are blossomed, weather is fantastic with sunny days and fresh evenings and events season is at its hype, the cultural offer in this month in Italy is varied and broad: international sport events, fair shows, art exhibitions - the choice is almost unlimited. From north to south, crossing regions and the biggest cities, follow our ultimate guide to the most interesting events and art exhibitions to attend in May 2024 in Italy.
7. May Day concert in Rome
It is the traditional music show with which Rome celebrates every year the 1st of May (the Labour Day), the May Day concert familiarly called the Concertone (literally big concert) is a great music event attended by the most popular Italian singers and music bands. The event is sponsored by the main Italian labour unions and it is a fully free concert that usually marks the beginning of the outdoors live show season. The May Day concert has always taken place in Saint John Lateran square in front of Rome's Cathedral, but this year because of the renovations works in view of the next Jubilee, the concert will be hosted in the Circus Maximum area.
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6. Giro d'Italia
On the next 4th of May 2024, it will start from Turin the 107th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of the most important and prestigious international cycling race which traditionally passes through the Italian peninsula. The 2024 race is divided in 20 stages crossing 12 regions and it will arrive in Rome on the next 26th of May 2024. The great start will kick off from the Venaria Reale in Piedmont, the historical royal palace sited close to the city of Turin and it will pass through the Superga hill to pay homage to the Grande Torino football team on occasion of the 75th anniversary of the plan crash that killed all the members of that legendary group of athletes.
Visit the Venaria Reale❯
5. Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2024 in Rome
As every year, it will come back in Rome the most important Italian tennis event: the Internazionali BNL d’Italia are traditionally played in the eternal city in May in the historical location of the Tennis stadium at the Foro Italico, the sport district built for the summer Olympics games hosted in Rome in the 1960. The Internazionali BNL d’Italia tournament is part of the ATP tour and never like this year it has been awaited by Italian tennis lovers thanks to the participation of Jannik Sinner, the best Italian tennis player now occupying the third position in men tennis rankings on the ATP tour. The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2024 are scheduled from the 6th of May until the 19th of May 2024.
Explore the beauties of Rome❯
4. International Book Fair in Turin
It is the most important Italian book fair, the International book fair (in Italian, Salone internazionale del Libro) is scheduled in May and it is hosted every year in Turin, the traditional Italian capital of publishers. With 1200 events organised and 2000 guests mainly writers, journalists and intellectuals coming from all over the world, the Salone del Libro is an international festival of culture, an unmissable occasion for all the book lovers to be in touch with more than 1000 publishing houses. The International Book Fair - Salone del Libro has been organised since 1988 at the Lingotto Fiere exhibition center and its 36th edition is scheduled from the 9th of May until the 13th of May 2024.
Discover Turin with us❯3. From the heart to the hands: Dolce & Gabbana in Milan
In the Italian capital of fashion industry, Milan, inside the gorgeous Palazzo Reale, it will be hosted an incredible solo exhibition about the works of one of the most famous Italian fashion maison: Dolce & Gabbana. "From the heart to the hands" is a tribute to the amazing Italian heritage of the famous Made in Italy through the works of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who have created a unique way to produce luxury fashion masterpieces from thought by heart and made by hands. "From Heart to the Hands" will take place from the 7th of April until the 31st of July 2024.
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2. The Elective Affinities exhibition in Venice
For the first time in Italy, the romantic city of Venice will host an extraordinary exhibition based on the collection of Berggruen Museum of Berlin (which is part of the New National Gallery) with more than 40 masterpieces made by Picasso, Cezanne, Matisse, Klee and Giacometti which will go on display along with Giorgione, Tiepolo, Sebastiano Ricci and other artworks of the Galleria dell'Accademia of Venice. The Elective Affinities (the exhibition title is an homage to Goethe who traveled to Venice during his Gran Tour in Italy) will be hosted at Gallerie dell'Academia and Casa dei Tre Oci in Giudecca island which is meant to become the new headquarter of Berggruen Institute Europe. The Elective Affinities is scheduled from the 24th of March until the the 23rd of June 2024.
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1. 60' Pop Art Italia in Pistoia
The city of Pistoia, in Tuscany, celebrates the artistic movement of Pop Art with a collective exhibition of the most important Italian pop artists: Schifano, Festa, Pistoletto, Rotelli and many more. At Palazzo Buontalenti, 70 important artworks coming from the main Italian pop art collections will be shown as an itinerary through the Italian cities - Rome, Milan, Turin, Venice, Palermo and Pistoia - which played a fundamental role for the artistic movement born in the 60' of the last century. 60' Pop Art Italia is scheduled from the 16th of March until the 14th of July 2024.
Find out more about Pistoia❯
Events and exhibitions to visit in May in Italy: choose your favorite
Sport, fashion, book fair and art exhibitions: the cultural offer in Italy for this May is amazing with many international appointments scheduled for this month. So don't miss the chance to travel to Italy next May, indeed you will have the opportunity to enjoy the spring time in the Italian peninsula and to attend one or more of the events and exhibitions scheduled in this May 2024.
