Events & Festivals in Pisa
Your complete guide to what's happening throughout the year
Pisa's calendar runs deeper than its famous tilt. The city hosts year-round gatherings rooted in university life, seafaring history, and local custom. Watch the patron saint's day ignite with fire, or catch open-air concerts in ancient squares. These moments connect you directly to how locals live. Events concentrate in the historic center, along the Arno River, and in the Leaning Tower square. Familiar landmarks become stages. Plan around a festival. See the real Pisa.
- Capodanno Pisano and related events in late March
- Luminara di San Ranieri and Gioco del Ponte in late June
- Pisa Summer Festival concert series in July
- 4 October 2026 San Francesco d'Assisi
- 1 November 2026 Tutti i Santi
- 8 December 2026 Immacolata Concezione
- 25 December 2026 Natale
- 26 December 2026 Santo Stefano
- 1 January 2027 Capodanno
- 6 January 2027 Epifania
- 28 March 2027 Pasqua
- 29 March 2027 Lunedì dell'Angelo
- 25 April 2027 Festa della Liberazione
- 1 May 2027 Festa del Lavoro
- 17 May 2027 Lunedì di Pentecoste
- 2 June 2027 Festa della Repubblica
- 15 August 2027 Ferragosto o Assunzione
January
No major events typically scheduled for January. Check back for updates.
February
No major events typically scheduled for February. Check back for updates.
March
🎉Capodanno Pisano
Pisa keeps its own New Year. March 25 marked the date historically. Costumed figures parade from San Michele degli Scalzi church to the Cathedral. The highlight: sunlight strikes a marble egg on the cathedral facade. Music follows. History buffs and families both fit here. The mood feels ceremonial and rooted.
April
🛒Mercato delle Pulci di Pisa
This monthly flea market swallows Piazza dei Cavalieri and Borgo Stretto whole. Dealers sell antiques, vintage clothes, books, records, odd finds. Collectors arrive. Students hunt bargains. Casual browsers wander. The tone stays active and unpretentious. Unusual souvenirs hide here. Dig.
May
⚽Regata delle Antiche Repubbliche Marinare
Four maritime republics race. Pisa faces Amalfi, Genoa, Venice. The host city rotates annually. In Pisa, expect period-costume processions and fierce rowing on the Arno. The regatta honors Pisa's seafaring past. Traditional competition and pageantry draw the right crowd.
June
🙏Luminara di San Ranieri
San Ranieri eve transforms the Arno. Over 70,000 candles mount white wooden frames on riverside buildings. Dusk brings the lighting. Water mirrors flame. Fireworks close the night. Silence falls. Magic happens. All ages welcome.
🎉Gioco del Ponte
Ponte di Mezzo hosts this ancient battle. North and south districts clash. Teams in 16th-century dress push a heavy cart across the span. A grand parade precedes the contest. Noise and physical effort dominate. Local passion runs high. Traditional rivalry attracts the right visitors.
July
🎵Pisa Summer Festival
International acts play open-air venues, often Piazza dei Cavalieri. Rock, pop, and indie artists from Italy and beyond fill the bill. Ancient walls frame the stage. The crowd mixes students, locals, and travelers. Energy runs high.
🎭Cinema sotto la Torre
Cinema rises beneath the Leaning Tower. Recent releases, classics, and Italian films screen in original language with subtitles. Bring blankets. Rent chairs. Summer evenings turn relaxed and communal here.
🙏Festa di Sant'Anna
San Martino district throws its own party. Sant'Anna church anchors the event. Processions, live music, and food stalls line up. Cecina and schiacciata feed the crowd. Children's games run nearby. Community spirit rules. Tourists rarely venture here.
August
No major events typically scheduled for August. Check back for updates.
September
No major events typically scheduled for September. Check back for updates.
October
No major events typically scheduled for October. Check back for updates.
November
No major events typically scheduled for November. Check back for updates.
December
No major events typically scheduled for December. Check back for updates.
Tips for Attending Events
Practical advice to help you get the most out of local events and festivals.
Luminara and Gioco del Ponte pack the city. Arrive hours early. Use public transport.
Summer evenings cool near the water. Bring a layer.
Pisa Summer Festival tickets move online. Buy early. They sell out.
Neighborhood feste like Sant'Anna run on cash. Food stalls need it. Local vendors too.
Event Categories
Browse events by type to find what interests you.
Major festivals and celebrations
Cultural events, arts, theater
Sporting events and competitions
Seasonal markets, night markets
Religious observances and festivals
Music festivals and concerts
Food festivals and culinary events
Rooms near Pisa's main venues go first around festival dates - our accommodation guide covers which neighborhoods to book and when.
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