LecceArtWeek
The week of contemporary art spread throughout the historic center of Lecce
About LecceArtWeek
A Baroque city turned into a widespread gallery
Every year, at the beginning of summer, LecceArtWeek transforms the historic center of Lecce into a large, widespread contemporary art installation. The Baroque courtyards, deconsecrated churches, and museums of the Salento capital become stops on an exhibition route that weaves together painting, sculpture, installation, video art, and performance, fostering a dialogue between established Italian masters and young researchers from all over the world.
The festival, organized by the Gruppo DARTE under the artistic direction of Andrea Tapparini, has become one of the most dynamic art projects in Southern Italy. Each edition brings together artists from about eighteen countries and unfolds through several high-profile curatorial projects, hosted simultaneously in various venues across the city.
Venues in the heart of Lecce
The core of the event is the MUST - Historical Museum of the City of Lecce, housed in the former Clarisse monastery on Via degli Ammirati, which hosts both the Civic Gallery and the Off Gallery. Surrounding the museum, the route expands to some of the most evocative spots in the historic center: the Church of San Francesco della Scarpa, with its crypt and nave, and the Fondazione Palmieri, set up in the former Church of the Pentite. In some editions, the festival has also involved noble palaces and institutional venues such as the former Conservatory of Sant'Anna and Palazzo Turrisi-Palumbo.
A bridge between tradition and experimentation
LecceArtWeek builds a bridge between the great protagonists of the Italian 20th century—from the masters of abstraction to Pop Art and Transavanguardia—and the most experimental research of the present, from digital experimentation to live performance. Visitors can thus move, within a few hundred meters, from an exhibition dedicated to modern classics to a solo show by an emerging artist or an international group exhibition.
- Multiple curatorial projects hosted simultaneously
- National and international artists from about 18 countries
- Free admission to all exhibitions
- Performances, meetings, and tours in the Baroque historic center
An essential event for Lecce and Puglia
With its widespread and free format, LecceArtWeek has become a fixture in the cultural calendar of the city and the entire Puglia region. The festival enhances the architectural heritage of the Salento capital, offering visitors a unique opportunity to discover international contemporary art while walking among the Lecce stones. For those visiting the Province of Lecce at the start of summer, it is one of the best ways to experience the city beyond the usual tourist routes.
LecceArtWeek — edition 2026
The fifth edition of LecceArtWeek, titled It's always magic - Wonderful things, takes place from June 5 to July 5, 2026, in the historic center of Lecce. The festival, directed by Andrea Tapparini for the Gruppo DARTE, brings together six high-profile curatorial projects distributed across three main venues—the MUST, the Church of San Francesco della Scarpa, and the Fondazione Palmieri—with artists from eighteen countries. The inauguration at the MUST is scheduled for June 5 at 6:30 PM, followed on June 6 by the opening of the San Francesco della Scarpa and Fondazione Palmieri venues. Admission to all exhibitions is free.
Programme LecceArtWeek 2026
MUST - Historical Museum of the City of Lecce (Via degli Ammirati 11)
- It's always magic: protagonists of the Italian 20th century (Civic Gallery, June 5 - July 5) - curated by Andrea Tapparini with Marine Butera and Monica Lisi. Works by Mario Schifano, Mimmo Rotella, Mimmo Paladino, Valerio Adami, Sandro Chia, Carla Accardi, and Luigi Ontani, a journey through abstraction, Pop Art, and Transavanguardia. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM.
- Life is circus. Circus is life (Off Gallery, June 5-28) - solo show by Irena Vujanović (Serbia), curated by Andrea Tapparini and Luca Curci: twelve works blending painting and digital experimentation. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM.
- Senses - 4th edition (Off Gallery, June 5-28) - international group show curated by Amaride Ferrante, featuring artists from 14 countries working in painting, sculpture, and mixed media. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM.
Church of San Francesco della Scarpa (Via Benedetto Cairoli 15)
- The unknown island and other stories (Crypt, June 6-17) - solo show by Paolo Vitale, curated by Andrea Tapparini with critical advice from Claudia Presicce. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM.
- There is a time for everything (June 6-17) - group show curated by Alessia Vitali and Cristina Carriere, featuring artists from the Scuola PIA (Marco La Cava, Riccardo Muscatello, Ludovica Foscarini, Gloria Frigerio, Ambra Grassi, Samuele Bergamo, Alice Graziadio, Federico Rizzo, and others). At the opening, performances by Francesca Foscarini (6:30 PM) and Kal (7:00 PM). Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM.
Fondazione Palmieri - Former Church of the Pentite (Vico dei Sotterranei 1)
- Redemption machines (June 6-17) - solo show by Giampaolo Parrilla, curated by Andrea Tapparini: fourteen unpublished paintings that transform the female body into a political and spiritual symbol. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM.
Highlights LecceArtWeek 2026
Prices LecceArtWeek 2026
Practical information — LecceArtWeek
How to get there
The MUST and other venues are located in the historic center of Lecce and are easily accessible on foot. By train, Lecce station is served by direct connections from Bari, Brindisi, and major Italian cities; the center is about a 15-minute walk from the station. By car, it is recommended to use the parking lots along the ring road, as the center is largely a restricted traffic zone. The nearest airport is Brindisi-Salento, about 40 km away.
Hours and admission
Free admission to all exhibitions. The MUST is generally open from Tuesday to Sunday, with extended hours in the late afternoon and evening; the Church of San Francesco della Scarpa and Fondazione Palmieri venues follow evening hours. It is advisable to check the updated hours for each venue before visiting.
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Where does it take place — LecceArtWeek
MUST - Museo Storico della Città di Lecce
Via degli Ammirati 11, 73100 Lecce