Italy's Most Original Cultural Festivals of Early May 2025
A roundup of cultural festivals taking place across Italy in early May 2025, covering a wide range of themes from pop philosophy to jazz, illustration, independent living, and sustainable music. Key events include Popsophia in Ancona (May 8-11), Torino Jazz Festival Piemonte (May 15-Nov 12), LIFE festival in Milan (May 7-19 and June 4-21), Di-Se illustration festival in Domodossola (May 3-June 8), Prima Persona Plurale in Turin (May 5-7), ELEMENTI in Romagna (May 2-July 27), AngelicA in Bologna and Modena (until May 31), Heroes Festival across multiple cities (May 7-22), FOTO FESTIVAL VERBANIA (May 8-31), FILI SOTTILI in Ciriè and Lanzo Torinese (May 8-10), Baroque Festival Florence (May 2-June 27), Zerodiciannove in Savona (May 8-11), Internazionale Kids in Reggio Emilia (May 9-11), IPER Festival in Rome (May 2-28), In NUCE dance festival in Marche (May 2-4), and Buongiorno Ceramica! in 58 Italian towns (May 17-18).
Key facts
- Popsophia returns to Ancona from May 8-11, 2025, with the theme 'Abracadabra' at Teatro delle Muse.
- Torino Jazz Festival Piemonte runs from May 15 to November 12, 2025, featuring 23 concerts in 16 municipalities.
- LIFE festival in Milan combines theatre, visual arts, and investigative journalism, with parts at Fabbrica del Vapore and ZONA K.
- Di-Se illustration festival in Domodossola runs from May 3 to June 8, 2025, with guests including Manuele Fior and Elisa Seitzinger.
- Prima Persona Plurale, Italy's first festival on independent living, takes place in Turin from May 5-7, 2025.
- ELEMENTI returns for its sixth edition from May 2 to July 27, 2025, across Ravenna, Cervia, Bagnacavallo, Faenza, and Bagnara di Romagna.
- AngelicA festival in Bologna and Modena celebrates its 35th edition until May 31, 2025.
- Heroes Festival runs from May 7-22, 2025, in Milan, Genoa, Turin, Naples, and Rome, with the theme 'World of Strangers'.
- FOTO FESTIVAL VERBANIA, curated by Jill Mathis, takes place from May 8-31, 2025.
- FILI SOTTILI festival in Ciriè and Lanzo Torinese runs from May 8-10, 2025, focusing on art, health, and inclusion.
- Baroque Festival Florence holds its 10th edition from May 2 to June 27, 2025, with 14 concerts in historic venues.
- Zerodiciannove festival in Savona runs from May 8-11, 2025, featuring Philip Giordano and Pia Valentinis.
- Internazionale Kids returns to Reggio Emilia from May 9-11, 2025, as a journalism festival for children.
- IPER Festival in Rome runs from May 2-28, 2025, with the theme 'Roma e le sue trasformazioni'.
- In NUCE dance festival in Marche runs from May 2-4, 2025, with performances in Fermignano and Gola del Furlo.
- Buongiorno Ceramica! takes place on May 17-18, 2025, across 58 Italian municipalities.
Entities
Artists
- Manuele Fior
- Andrea Guerzoni
- Marta Nijhuis
- Matteo Capobianco Ufo5
- Elisa Seitzinger
- Paolo Metaldi
- Apiario d’Autore
- Philip Giordano
- Pia Valentinis
- Chiara Carminati
- Jill Mathis
- Massimo Simonini
- Mario Zanzani
- Giorgio de Finis
- Antonella Lavazza
- Manuela Lavazza
Institutions
- Fondazione Piemonte dal Vivo
- Fondazione per la Cultura Torino
- Torino Jazz Festival
- Consorzio Piemonte Jazz
- ZONA K
- Fabbrica del Vapore
- Teatro Fontana
- Teatro Out
- Fondazione Time2
- MAGMA
- Centro di Ricerca Musicale/Teatro San Leonardo
- Teatro Comunale di Modena
- Museo delle Periferie
- Azienda Speciale Palaexpo
- AiCC – Associazione italiana Città della Ceramica
- Lunathica
- Artribune
Locations
- Ancona
- Italy
- Teatro delle Muse
- Piemonte
- Turin
- Milan
- Domodossola
- Verbania
- Ravenna
- Cervia
- Bagnacavallo
- Faenza
- Bagnara di Romagna
- Bologna
- Modena
- Genoa
- Naples
- Rome
- Ciriè
- Lanzo Torinese
- Florence
- Sala Capitolare di Santa Felicita
- Chiesa di Santa Felicita
- ex Oratorio di Santa Maria Vergine della Croce al Tempio
- Auditorium Santa Croce al Tempio
- Basilica della Santissima Annunziata
- Pieve di San Martino a Sesto
- Savona
- Liguria
- Reggio Emilia
- Fermignano
- Riserva Naturale della Gola del Furlo
- Marche