If you’re planning to be in Tuscany this summer, here’s an insider tip you won’t want to miss: the Florence Dance Festival is back for its 37th edition, bringing dance, music, international artists, and new creative voices to Florence in June and July 2026.
This year’s edition follows the theme “Proiezione di Luce,” a poetic idea that connects the festival’s program through light, movement, generations, and artistic exchange. Once again, the Florence Dance Festival confirms its role as one of the city’s most elegant summer cultural events, with performances in symbolic places of Florence and its surroundings.
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Florence Dance Festival: An Open-Air Stage in a UNESCO Treasure
One of the most fascinating parts of the Florence Dance Festival? The venue.
The Florence Dance Festival takes place in the magnificent Chiostro Maggiore of Santa Maria Novella, one of Florence’s most historic spaces and part of its UNESCO World Heritage site. Imagine watching contemporary dance surrounded by Renaissance arches, with the Tuscan sky above — it’s that kind of experience.
The 2026 program also extends beyond the cloister, with events connected to places such as the Parco Mediceo di Pratolino, Fiesole, and Palazzuolo sul Senio, showing how dance can move through the city and the wider Florentine territory.
What’s on the Program for 2026?
The 2026 edition brings together contemporary dance, international companies, emerging artists, site-specific projects, and music performances. The main program at Santa Maria Novella begins on June 24 with LA PRIMA DANZA | The Butterfly Dream, a site-specific choreographic project connected to the historic spaces of the Santa Maria Novella complex.
One of the major highlights of the festival is the special event on July 1, when Vortice Dance Company from Portugal presents Carmina Burana at the Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella. The production reinterprets the famous work through contemporary dance, immersive visual elements, projections, light effects, and technology.
Here’s a look at the upcoming Florence Dance Festival 2026 calendar:
| Date & Time | Performance | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, June 21, 2026 – 6:30 PM | ResiDance | Parco Mediceo di Pratolino |
| Wednesday, June 24, 2026 – 6:30 PM | LA PRIMA DANZA | The Butterfly Dream | Santa Maria Novella complex |
| Thursday, June 25, 2026 – 8:00 PM | LIFE AND DANCE | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Friday, June 27, 2026 – 9:30 PM | Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina – Back to the 80s | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Sunday, June 28, 2026 – 8:30 PM | Florence Dance Platform – Palcoscenico per le nuove generazioni d’artisti | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Wednesday, July 1, 2026 – 9:30 PM | Vortice Dance Company – Carmina Burana | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Friday, July 3, 2026 – 9:30 PM | PCK Dance – Into The Light | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Sunday, July 5, 2026 – 9:30 PM | FLODANCE – Proiezione di Luce | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Monday, July 6, 2026 – 9:30 PM | Compagnia Bellanda – Sûr, me sûr / Equilibrio Dinamico – Equal to Men / Simple Love | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Thursday, July 9, 2026 – 9:30 PM | Kinesis CDC – Secret Garden / Mystes DC – Loop | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Saturday, July 11, 2026 – 8:00 PM | Twilight in the Round | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Monday, July 13, 2026 – 9:30 PM | FLODANCE – La Sicilia dei fratelli Florio – l’inizio | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Tuesday, July 14, 2026 – 9:30 PM | Vocal Blue Trains | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Thursday, July 16, 2026 – 9:30 PM | Lewis Major Projects – Present Tense | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Saturday, July 18, 2026 – 9:30 PM | Style & Culture – A Celebration in Dance | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Monday, July 20, 2026 – 8:00 PM | Twilight in the Round | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
| Tuesday, July 21, 2026 – 9:30 PM | Balletto di Venezia – Stelle di Domani | Chiostro Maggiore Santa Maria Novella |
How to Get Tickets
Tickets are already available online here and prices vary by show, starting from €16.50 to €55.00. It’s always a good idea to book in advance, especially for popular performances like Carmen, which tend to sell out quickly.
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Florence Beyond the Festival
Looking for more unforgettable experiences? Explore our full Tuscany Events Calendar and plan your perfect trip!
Of course, Florence is always magical, but there’s something special about summer evenings in the city. After the show, take a stroll through Piazza Santa Maria Novella, enjoy a gelato by the Arno, or book a late dinner at one of the hidden trattorias nearby. If you want a classic American-style break during the day, the Hard Rock Cafe Florence, just steps from the Duomo, is a fun spot for lunch before an evening of dance.
Ready to Experience Dance Under the Tuscan Sky?
You can find the full program and more information on the official website: www.florencedancefestival.org
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