The 2025 Florence Biennale will illuminate Tuscany’s capital from 18 to 26 October.
A meeting point for global creativity
Florence’s Fortezza da Basso, the historic Renaissance fortress now used as a major exhibition and conference center, will host the much-anticipated Florence Biennale which this year explores the evocative theme The Sublime Essence of Light and Darkness. This 15th edition of this international contemporary art and design exhibition, running from 18 to 26 October, promises to be yet again a dynamic dialogue between photography, sculpture, design, and cinema, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Renaissance capital. A meeting point for global creativity the Biennale continues to celebrate independent vision, bringing together artists, cultures, and generations from all over the world.
Special projects and notable guests
The 2025 edition invites visitors to reflect on the dualities of human experience - light and shadow, good and evil, the visible and the hidden - through a programme of exhibitions and installations. Special projects and notable guests include internationally acclaimed designers, sculptors, and photographers, and headline two icons: Patricia Urquiola and Tim Burton. On October 23, Urquiola will receive the Leonardo da Vinci Lifetime Achievement Award for Design and present her installation Transitions.
A celebration of Tim Burton
On October 21, Tim Burton will be celebrated with the Lorenzo il Magnifico Lifetime Achievement Award, presenting his personal exhibition Tim Burton: Light and Darkness. Featuring more than 50 works, the show is an interplay of light and shadow, dreams and nightmares through installations, drawings, three-dimensional pieces, and visionary environments.
Staying at the FH55 Grand Hotel Mediterraneo
Other participants include designers, photographers while cinema lovers will enjoy special screenings. Visitors to the 2025 Florence Biennale can stay in the FH55 Grand Hotel Mediterraneo. Combining authentic hospitality with timeless Florentine elegance, this contemporary 4-star hotel on the Lungarno is ideally located for exploring the city and its main attractions, and offers spacious areas, making it perfect for both leisure and business stays.
