Verona Events

Annual national meeting for cycling enthusiasts, with bicycle trips around the lands of Juliet.

Like most other major Italian cities, Verona holds an annual jazz festival over a three week period in July. Performances from Italian and international jazz musicians take place at a variety of atmospheric venues throughout the city including the Arena, the Teatro Romano and the Corte Merchato Vecchio.

Verona’s legendary opera season takes place in the spectacular Roman Arena and draws audiences in their thousands. Placido Domingo made his debut here and the annual opera season still draws a star-studded cast of performers. The two-month season sees around 50 performances. Book tickets and accommodation early.

Verona’s Summer Theatre Season takes place in the city’s old Roman theatre. A world-class event, the festival includes three major dramatic works in July and three dance shows in August. Theatre performances focus on Shakespeare, while international dance troupes such as Momix and the Brazilian Balé Folclórico da Bahia from Brazil perform the dance repertoire.

Tocatì, meaning ‘it’s your turn’ in Veronese dialect, is a street festival dedicated to preserving and reviving traditional games. Held in the historic centre, hundreds of competitors teach children (and adults) to spin tops, use a sling, clink marbles or compete in tip cat tournaments. Every year, a guest country is invited giving the festival an international flavour. Musical concerts, exhibits and other cultural activities take place alongside the games.

Verona's version of the carnival kicks off the year with lots of parties and activities. It culminates on the Thursday before Lent with a famous parade where 4,000 participants all dressed in masked costumes walk through the streets together with their allegorical hand-made floats, brass bands and drum majorettes.

Verona in love, held on the days leading up to Valentine's Day and on the day itself sees the entire being covered in romance of all sorts. Red heart lanterns and millions of love notes dot the streets. There are free romantic themed concerts taking place in the romantic Piazza Dei Signore Square as well.

Vinitaly is Italy’s most important annual wine fair and runs over five days. Hundreds of producers showcase the best regional wines amid wine-tasting sessions, industry meetings and seminars. The fair site is huge and is packed with tens of thousands of people throughout the five days.