Florence Dance Festival
Great international contemporary dance in the heart of Florence
About Florence Dance Festival
The Florence Dance Festival
The Florence Dance Festival is one of Italy's longest-running and most prestigious contemporary dance events. Established in 1990 by the Florence Dance Center under the artistic direction of Marga Nativo and Keith Ferrone, the festival has brought some of the greatest names in world dance to Florence, pairing them with emerging young choreographers in a constant dialogue between tradition and research.
An extraordinary setting in Florence
The beating heart of the event is the Chiostro Grande of the Santa Maria Novella monumental complex, located in the historic center of Florence, the capital of Tuscany. Beneath the frescoed vaults and within the silence of the Renaissance cloister, dance engages with the city's architecture and history, creating an atmosphere unique in the world. Over the years, the festival has also utilized other symbolic locations in the Florentine territory, such as the Medici Park of Pratolino, expanding its reach beyond the city walls.
An international stage
The program features companies from all over the world: from Italy to the United States, from Australia to Asia. In recent years, the festival stage has hosted groups such as the CompañÃa Antonio Gades, the Peridance Contemporary Dance Company from New York, Lewis Major Projects from Australia, the Balletto di Toscana, and the Balletto di Venezia. Alongside the performances, the festival awards the Premio Mercurio Volante and dedicates space to the training of young dancers.
More than just a festival
The Florence Dance Festival is not merely a showcase of performances, but a true cultural laboratory that weaves together dance, live music, and visual arts. The festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Tuscany Region, and the Municipality of Florence, confirming its role as a benchmark for auteur dance in the Italian and European landscape.
- Where: Chiostro Grande of Santa Maria Novella, Florence (FI)
- When: Between June and July
- Genre: Contemporary dance, ballet, international performances
Florence Dance Festival — edition 2026
The 37th edition of the Florence Dance Festival enlivens the Chiostro Maggiore of Santa Maria Novella in Florence from June 25 to July 21, 2026, under the theme "Projection of Light". Once again, the festival combines international companies, live music events featuring the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina, and the awarding of the prestigious Premio Mercurio Volante. The program opens with a preview at the Medici Park of Pratolino and continues with contemporary dance and ballet performances by companies from Italy, Europe, the United States, Australia, and Asia.
Programme Florence Dance Festival 2026
Edition Theme
The 37th edition is dedicated to the theme "Projection of Light", the guiding thread of the performances scheduled at the Chiostro Grande of Santa Maria Novella.
Guest Companies
- Vortice Dance Company — multimedia show Carmina Burana (July 1, 9:30 PM)
- Kinesis Contemporary Dance Company
- FloDance
- Lewis Major Projects (Australia)
- Taipei Municipal Zhong Zheng Senior High School (Taiwan)
- Balletto di Venezia
Main Events
- ResiDance at the Medici Park of Pratolino — June 21, 6:30 PM
- La Prima Danza: The Butterfly Dream — June 24, 6:30 PM
- Life and Dance — June 25, 8:00 PM
- Carmina Burana (Vortice Dance Company) — July 1, 9:30 PM
Premio Mercurio Volante
The festival awards the Premio Mercurio Volante, dedicated this year to the President of the Giorgio La Pira Foundation, Patrizia Giunti.
The complete evening-by-evening calendar is updated on the official website and ticketing circuits.
Highlights Florence Dance Festival 2026
Prices Florence Dance Festival 2026
Practical information — Florence Dance Festival
How to get there
The Chiostro Grande of Santa Maria Novella is located in the historic center of Florence, just a short walk from the Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station, easily accessible by train from all over Italy. Those arriving by car can use city center parking facilities, keeping in mind the restricted traffic zone (ZTL).
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online via the Box Office Toscana and TicketOne networks, or, if available, at the box office at the entrance to the Chiostro Grande starting an hour and a half before the start of each performance.
Accessibility
Access to the Chiostro Grande is free of architectural barriers; priority entry is guaranteed for spectators with reduced mobility, with free admission for their companion.
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Where does it take place — Florence Dance Festival
Chiostro Grande di Santa Maria Novella
Piazza Santa Maria Novella 18, 50123 Firenze