XVI Florence Biennale 2027 – Florence, Italy

Overview

The XVI Florence Biennale will take place from 23 to 31 October 2027 at Fortezza da Basso in Florence, Italy. The international contemporary art and design exhibition will bring together artists and designers from around the world for nine days of exhibitions, awards, talks, educational activities and special projects. The 2027 edition also marks the 30th anniversary of the Florence Biennale.

The exhibition will open to the public on Saturday, 23 October at 14:00. Florence Biennale covers both contemporary art and design, making it broader than a traditional painting or sculpture exhibition.

The 2027 edition is already well underway in terms of preparation. Applications are open, a list of participating artists and designers has been published, and the organisers have announced the central theme and several Guests of Honour.

What Makes the Florence Biennale Special

The Florence Biennale has developed an international character while being closely connected to Florence’s centuries-old artistic heritage. Contemporary works are presented in the historic setting of Fortezza da Basso, creating a contrast between Renaissance-era Florence and current artistic practices.

The event is also independent in its approach to exhibiting artists and designers. Rather than focusing on one artistic movement, it accepts a wide range of techniques, styles and contemporary approaches.

The 2025 edition, for example, presented more than 1,600 exhibited works, with more than 600 exhibitors from 84 countries and over 21,000 visitors. These figures belong to the previous edition and should not be treated as a forecast for 2027.

2027 Theme: Beyond the Sense of Time

The official theme for the XVI Florence Biennale is “Beyond the Sense of Time – Memory, Caducity and Eternity in Contemporary Art and Design.”

The theme explores how contemporary technology and modern life are changing the way people experience time. It encourages artists and designers to consider three interconnected dimensions: memory, representing the persistence of the past; caducity, reflecting impermanence and the finite nature of existence; and eternity, representing the human desire for continuity beyond ordinary time.

The organisers also connect the theme with broader philosophical and cultural interpretations of time, from the distinction between Chronos and Kairos in Greek thought to concepts of cyclical time, impermanence and harmony found in other traditions.

Artists are not required to produce work specifically around the theme, but it provides a conceptual framework for the 2027 exhibition and its related conferences and educational projects.

Contemporary Art & Design Exhibitions

The Florence Biennale presents a broad range of contemporary artistic disciplines. The 2027 art categories include Ceramic Art, Digital Art, Drawing, Calligraphy and Printmaking, Installation Art, Jewellery Art and Design, Mixed Media, Painting, Performance Art, Photography, Sculpture, Textile & Fiber Art and Video Art.

The design section covers areas including Architecture and Town Design, Industrial and Product Design, Fashion and Jewellery Design, Interior Design, Communication and Graphic Design, and Technology and Game Design.

This variety means that a visitor can move from traditional artistic techniques such as painting and sculpture to digital, installation, performance and experimental design practices within the same exhibition.

Participating Artists & Designers

The 2027 participant list is already being published by the organisers and includes artists and designers from numerous countries. The current list includes participants from Italy, the United States, India, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and many other countries.

The list will continue to be relevant as the exhibition approaches, but visitors should distinguish between participating exhibitors and the separately announced Guests of Honour. Participation does not necessarily mean that every artist will have the same type of exhibition space or programme role.

The international character of the participant list is one of the event’s major attractions, particularly for visitors interested in comparing contemporary artistic approaches from different cultural backgrounds.

Guests of Honour & Special Projects

The Florence Biennale has already announced several figures connected with the 2027 edition. Among the early confirmed Guests of Honour is Australian urban artist Stormie Mills, who has previously worked in Florence on the public-art project The Lost Giant. For the XVI edition, Mills is developing a special exhibition project connected with the new theme.

The organisers are also developing projects outside the principal exhibition at Fortezza da Basso. Their programme leading toward 2027 includes collaborations with artists, hotels, creative institutions and other locations around Florence.

This city-wide dimension means that the Florence Biennale experience is not necessarily limited to the main exhibition halls. Additional projects can provide visitors with opportunities to encounter contemporary art in different settings around the city.

International Awards

Awards are a major part of the Florence Biennale. Participating artists compete for the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” International Award, judged by an international jury made up of figures from the art and cultural world.

The design section has its own “Leonardo da Vinci” International Award, introduced in 2019 to recognise outstanding designers. Both award systems cover the respective creative disciplines represented at the Biennale.

The official award ceremonies for the 2027 edition are scheduled for Sunday, 31 October 2027, the final day of the exhibition.

Festival Experience

Although the Florence Biennale is primarily an exhibition, visitors can experience considerably more than rows of artworks. The programme can include conferences, educational projects, presentations, award events and special exhibitions.

The setting is an important part of the experience. Fortezza da Basso is a historic fortress and exhibition complex close to Florence’s central railway station, giving the Biennale a distinctive architectural environment.

Visitors interested in contemporary art can therefore combine several hours at the exhibition with Florence’s historic centre, museums, churches, galleries and other cultural attractions.

Date & Schedule

The XVI Florence Biennale takes place from 23–31 October 2027.

The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, 23 October at 14:00. The official information currently confirms the closing and award day as Sunday, 31 October, when the Lorenzo il Magnifico and Leonardo da Vinci awards will be presented.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Location & Venue

The main exhibition will be held at Fortezza da Basso, Viale Filippo Strozzi 1, Florence. The venue is one of Florence’s major historic exhibition complexes and is located just north of the historic centre.

Its location makes the Biennale particularly convenient for visitors arriving by train. Firenze Santa Maria Novella station is within walking distance of Fortezza da Basso, while several local bus and tram connections serve the surrounding area.

The combination of historic architecture and contemporary exhibition design gives the Biennale a distinctive visual environment that differs from a conventional modern gallery.

Florence Biennale History

The 2027 edition represents the 30th anniversary of the Florence Biennale. Over its history, the event has developed into an international platform for independent contemporary artists and designers.

The Biennale’s programme has gradually expanded beyond exhibitions to include international awards, conferences, educational projects, special exhibitions and collaborations with cultural institutions and private partners.

Previous editions have also attracted prominent Guests of Honour and recipients of lifetime achievement awards. In 2025, for example, the Florence Biennale presented its “Lorenzo il Magnifico” International Lifetime Achievement Award to Tim Burton and its “Leonardo da Vinci” International Lifetime Achievement Award for Design to Patricia Urquiola. These are previous-edition honours, not 2027 award announcements.

Getting to the Florence Biennale

Fortezza da Basso is conveniently located near Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station, making the Biennale easy to reach for visitors travelling by high-speed train from cities such as Rome, Milan, Bologna and Venice.

Florence’s tram network also provides connections around the station and northern central districts. Visitors staying in the historic centre can generally walk to the venue rather than relying on a taxi or private car.

For international visitors, Florence Airport is the closest airport. Pisa Airport provides an alternative for some international and low-cost routes, with onward rail or road connections to Florence.

Where to Stay Nearby

Visitors who want the easiest access to the Biennale can stay around Santa Maria Novella, San Lorenzo or the northern part of Florence’s historic centre. These areas are within convenient walking distance of Fortezza da Basso.

The central districts around the Duomo, Santa Croce and Santo Spirito also work well for visitors combining the Biennale with sightseeing. Florence is compact enough that many central locations can be reached on foot.

October is a popular period for visiting Florence, so booking accommodation early is advisable, particularly for visitors attending during the opening weekend or final award days.

Restaurants & Local Food

Florence provides a wide range of Tuscan dining options close to Fortezza da Basso and throughout the historic centre. Traditional dishes include bistecca alla fiorentina, ribollita, pappa al pomodoro, crostini and various preparations based on Tuscan seasonal produce.

Visitors looking for a quick meal between exhibitions can explore the markets and casual food establishments around San Lorenzo. For a longer evening meal, the historic centre and Oltrarno provide a much wider selection of restaurants.

Florentine food is generally substantial, but vegetarian options are widely available in the city, particularly in modern restaurants and cafés.

Ticket Information & Access

The official Florence Biennale website currently provides access to the 2027 ticketing section, while the exhibition itself is scheduled to open to the public on 23 October. Visitors should check the official ticket page for the latest admission prices and conditions as the event approaches.

The visitor experience is separate from artist participation. Artists and designers have an application and admission process, with the final application deadline currently listed as 31 March 2027 and final registration by 30 April 2027, subject to exhibition capacity.

These artist deadlines are not visitor ticket deadlines, so general visitors should follow the public ticket information rather than the exhibitor registration calendar.

Tips Before You Go

Allow several hours if you want to explore the exhibition properly. With a large international group of artists and designers working across many categories, rushing through the galleries can make it difficult to appreciate the range of work.

If you are particularly interested in the award programme, consider visiting near the end of the Biennale. The final day on 31 October includes the scheduled international award ceremonies.

It is also worth checking the programme for conferences and special projects before arriving. These activities can add considerable value to a visit, particularly for visitors interested in the ideas behind the artworks rather than only the exhibition itself.

Official Event Information

The official source for the event is the Florence Biennale official website: https://www.florencebiennale.org/en/web/biennale/home.

The official website currently confirms the XVI Florence Biennale for 23–31 October 2027 at Fortezza da Basso, with public opening at 14:00 on 23 October. It also provides the 2027 participant list, application information, theme and award details.