Things to Do in Florence 2025: Musical Events

If you are a music enthusiast looking for live music events, Florence offers a series of musical events. The musical season in Florence begins in May with the prestigious Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Italy's oldest opera and classical music festival. June brings Firenze Rocks, an epic rock festival at the Visarno Arena, and Estate Fiesolana at the Roman Theater of Fiesole, a multidisciplinary outdoor festival. In July, the MusArt Festival takes place in the Medici Park of Pratolino, while August sees the Beat Festival in Empoli, a rock event with concerts and street food. The season concludes in September with the Firenze Jazz Fringe Festival, offering five days of jazz performances throughout the city.

May

Live music in Florence always kicks off in April at the theater with the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (which hits its full stride in May); the oldest and most prestigious opera and classical music festival in Italy. This year marks the 87th edition of the festival, featuring a rich program of major operas and concerts. Some big names include Tchaikovsky, Aida, and Mozart.

On May 2nd, the Baroque Florence Festival also begins, now in its tenth edition. It's the only baroque music festival in Florence's historic center, running until June 27, with 14 concerts by internationally renowned musicians hosted in cultural venues that are usually closed to the public.

June

June means it's time for Firenze Rocks! The epic rock festival that shakes Florence with unforgettable concerts at the Visarno Arena in the Cascine Park returns this year from June 12 to 15, headlined by Guns N’ Roses, Korn, and Green Day.

Also in June, Estate Fiesolana kicks off at the Roman Theater of Fiesole (from June 6 to September 12), Italy’s oldest multidisciplinary open-air festival. Music and theater fill a magical venue, featuring a wide array of artists and performances.

July

The tenth edition of the MusArt Festival (July 16–25, 2025) returns to the new location inaugurated last year: the stunning Medici Park of Pratolino! Many international artists have performed on its historic stage, and this year will feature classical, pop, and jazz music concerts, theater and dance shows, themed evenings, and a high-quality film series.

August

Just outside the city, near the end of August, Empoli hosts the Beat Festival(Friday, August 29 to Sunday, September 7), a rock festival in the Prato della Serravalle. Expect concerts, street food, sports, skateboarding, craft markets, and all kinds of entertainment for both adults and children. This year’s lineup includes Fabri Fibra, Willie Peyote, and Bresh.

September

Closing out the season are the Decibel Open Air (September 6–7, 2025), an electronic music marathon at Parco delle Cascine featuring DJs from around the world, and the Firenze Jazz Fringe Festival (FJFF). Five days of jazz, with over 200 artists and musicians performing 50 shows scattered across the most iconic and lively areas of the Oltrarno: San Niccolò, Piazza Santo Spirito, the Basilica of San Felice, and along the riverbanks. (Dates to be confirmed.)

Photo credits: https://www.beatfestival.net/