World Bee Day in Rome
Art, science, and nature celebrating pollinators in the Capital
About World Bee Day
A global event that becomes a city-wide celebration in Rome
World Bee Day—established by the United Nations and celebrated every May 20th—finds one of its most vibrant showcases in Rome. Rather than a single-venue festival, it is a city-wide program that, over the course of a week, involves the global headquarters of the FAO, the Botanical Garden in Trastevere, the Bioparco in Villa Borghese, the Civic Museum of Zoology, and various natural areas in the province of Rome, in the Lazio region.
The choice of the Capital is no coincidence: Rome hosts the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which coordinates international initiatives for the protection of pollinators. Around this institutional hub, a network of educational events has grown, attracting an increasingly diverse audience each year.
Art and science at the Botanical Garden
The most evocative heart of the program is the Botanical Garden of Rome, on the slopes of the Janiculum Hill, where the 2026 edition featured the unveiling of the API-LOGO art installation by artist Cyril de Commarque, created with technical support from the FAO and dedicated to wild pollinators. The work blends artistic language with scientific content to draw attention to the fragility of wild bee populations, often overlooked compared to the domestic honeybee but equally crucial for ecological balance.
The exhibition at the FAO headquarters
On May 20th, the official day of the event, the FAO headquarters in Rome opens a temporary exhibition dedicated to bees and sustainable beekeeping within the FAO Museum and Network space: historical artifacts, traditional and modern beehives, tools, and industry innovations tell the story of an ancient craft. The inauguration is accompanied by a live link-up with the International Forum on Beekeeping held in Slovenia, the country that promoted the establishment of the day at the United Nations.
The Bioparco: workshops for families
The most popular day for the Roman public is the one at the Bioparco in Villa Borghese, which dedicates an entire Sunday to the theme titled «Bees and other insects». From 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, interactive workshops curated by Eduzoo—the working group of educators from the Italian Union of Zoos and Aquariums—take place: visitors can observe hive activity up close, try to spot the queen bee, discover the mechanisms of pollination, taste different honeys, and mold beeswax. An activity designed primarily for children, but which also fascinates adults.
Why bees matter
The common thread of all initiatives is the same: about three-quarters of the world's food crops depend, to varying degrees, on animal pollination. The decline of pollinators—due to pesticides, habitat loss, monocultures, and climate change—is therefore an issue that directly affects everyone's dinner table. The theme chosen by the FAO for the 2026 edition, «Bees together for people and the planet», emphasizes this collaborative dimension: beekeepers, researchers, institutions, and citizens.
An opportunity to discover green Rome
Participating in World Bee Day is also a great excuse to explore Rome's gardens: the Botanical Garden with its historic collections, the park of Villa Borghese, the Garden of the 5 Senses, and, outside the city, the Martignano Nature Reserve, where guided walks explore the relationship between flower meadows, beekeeping, and the Lazio landscape. A different and slower way to experience the Capital during one of the most beautiful seasons of the year.
World Bee Day — edition 2026
A week for pollinators
From May 18 to 24, 2026, Rome dedicated exhibitions, round tables, family activities, and local itineraries to pollinators, with the goal of raising awareness about the role of bees in urban and rural ecosystems. The international theme chosen by the FAO, «Bees together for people and the planet — a partnership that sustains us all», focused on the collaboration between beekeepers, research, and institutions.
On May 18, the Botanical Garden inaugurated the API-LOGO art installation by Cyril de Commarque, created with technical support from the FAO and dedicated to wild bees. On May 20, the day of the event, the FAO headquarters opened the temporary exhibition of its Museum and Network. On Sunday, May 24, the Bioparco closed the program with a day of workshops open to all.
Programme World Bee Day 2026
Monday, May 18 — Botanical Garden of Rome
- Inauguration of the API-LOGO art installation by Cyril de Commarque, created with technical support from the FAO and dedicated to wild pollinators
Wednesday, May 20 — FAO Headquarters, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
- 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM: Inauguration by Director-General QU Dongyu of the temporary exhibition dedicated to bees and sustainable beekeeping at the FAO Museum and Network
- Historical artifacts, traditional and modern beehives, and industry innovations
- Live link-up with the Third International Forum on Beekeeping in Maribor, Slovenia
Sunday, May 24 — Bioparco of Rome, Villa Borghese
«Bees and other insects» day, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with five interactive workshops curated by Eduzoo, the working group of educators from the Italian Union of Zoos and Aquariums:
- In the world of bees — close-up observation of hive activity, social organization of the colony, and spotting the queen bee
- Pollination in action — secrets of the hive and the work of pollinators for human food production
- Insectopia: friends to discover — games and quizzes to become an entomologist for a day and debunk fears and prejudices about insects
- Honey and biodiversity: a journey through flavors — guided tasting of different honeys and the story of their production
- «Wax» upon a time — hands-on workshop on modeling beeswax and making candles
Other venues involved
- Civic Museum of Zoology
- Luiss University
- Martignano Nature Reserve
- Garden of the 5 Senses
Highlights World Bee Day 2026
- The API-LOGO art installation by Cyril de Commarque at the Botanical Garden, blending contemporary art and scientific outreach
- The exhibition on sustainable beekeeping at the global FAO headquarters, featuring historical and modern beehives
- The «Bees and other insects» Sunday at the Bioparco, with five workshops for children and families
- Guided honey tastings and the beeswax workshop
- Walks in the Martignano Nature Reserve and at the Garden of the 5 Senses
Prices World Bee Day 2026
Practical information — World Bee Day
How to get there
The Bioparco is located in Villa Borghese, Piazzale del Giardino Zoologico 1: it can be reached by tram 19 (Bioparco stop), by local buses, or on foot from Metro A (Flaminio or Spagna stops). The Botanical Garden is at Largo Cristina di Svezia 24, in Trastevere, reachable on foot from Piazza Trilussa. The FAO headquarters is on Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, near the Metro B Circo Massimo stop.
Tickets
Events at the Botanical Garden and FAO are generally free or included in the standard entrance fee; Bioparco workshops are included in the park's admission ticket at no extra cost. It is advisable to check schedules and booking procedures on the official websites of the individual venues in the days leading up to the event.
Tips
Activities at the Bioparco are very popular with families: arriving in the morning allows you to attend more workshops without waiting in line. Comfortable shoes and water are essential, especially for excursions in nature reserves.
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Where does it take place — World Bee Day
Sedi varie: Orto Botanico, sede FAO, Bioparco di Roma, Museo Civico di Zoologia
Piazzale del Giardino Zoologico 1, 00153 Roma