Mantua’s event calendar is anchored by the Festivaletteratura, one of Italy’s most prestigious cultural festivals that transforms the city into an open-air literary salon each September. Beyond that, the city hosts a respected jazz festival, traditional Christmas markets, classical music seasons, and food-centred events that celebrate the region’s distinctive cuisine. Most events are concentrated in the warmer months (May through October), though the Christmas market season in November and December draws its own crowd. Here is the full calendar with dates, locations, and what to expect from each event. For a complete city overview, see our Mantua travel guide.
Mantua Events and Festivals: A Year-Round Calendar
Festivaletteratura (Literature Festival) | Early September
The Festivaletteratura is the undisputed highlight of Mantua’s cultural calendar. Running for 5 days in the first or second week of September (exact dates are announced each spring at festivaletteratura.it), it draws over 100,000 visitors and more than 300 authors from around the world. The format is unique: events are not confined to a convention centre but spread across 30-plus venues throughout the historic centre, including piazzas, cloisters, palace courtyards, the Teatro Bibiena, and even a floating stage on Lago di Mezzo. Most talks and readings are in Italian, but there are always English-language sessions with international authors. Tickets for individual events cost €5 to €12, and a festival pass runs around €40. Events sell out quickly; book online when the programme is released in July. During the festival, the entire city centre becomes pedestrian-only, and bookstalls, food stands, and pop-up bars fill the squares. Hotel prices during festival week are the highest of the year (€150 to €250 for a 3-star) and book out months in advance. If you are not attending the festival, avoid visiting Mantua during these 5 days unless you enjoy very large crowds. Check the Mantua weather by month guide for seasonal climate data.
Mantua Jazz Festival | July
The Mantua Jazz Festival (Mantova Jazz) runs throughout July with concerts several nights per week. Venues include the Teatro Bibiena, Piazza Sordello, the cloister of the former Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, and outdoor stages along the lakes. The lineup mixes established Italian jazz musicians with international acts. Past performers have included Stefano Bollani, Enrico Rava, and Paolo Fresu. Individual concert tickets cost €10 to €25, and a full festival pass is around €80. Concerts typically start at 9:00 PM when the evening temperatures are more comfortable (around 25°C / 77°F). The programme is published on mantovajazz.it in May. Book tickets online; popular shows sell out. To find the best season for your trip, read about the best time to visit Mantua.
Mantua Christmas Markets | Late November to December 24
The Mercatini di Natale (Christmas markets) run from the last weekend of November through December 24, operating daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM (until 10:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays). The main market is set up in Piazza Sordello with around 40 wooden chalets, and a smaller market operates in Piazza delle Erbe with another 20 stalls. Vendors sell handmade Christmas decorations, wooden toys, local food products including mostarda (candied fruit in mustard syrup, a Mantuan speciality), sbrisolona cake, and mulled wine (vin brulé, €4 to €5 per cup). There is a small ice-skating rink set up in Piazza Martiri di Belfiore (€8 per session including skate rental). The markets are illuminated with fairy lights strung across the piazzas. They are busiest on weekends, especially the Saturdays before Christmas. Entry is free. The foggy winter atmosphere actually enhances the market experience, with the lights reflecting off the damp cobblestones. For sightseeing beyond festivals, browse things to do in Mantua.
Festa di Sant’Anselmo | March 18
Sant’Anselmo is Mantua’s patron saint, and March 18 is a city holiday. The main events are religious: a morning mass at the Cathedral of San Pietro in Piazza Sordello, followed by a procession through the streets of the old town carrying a reliquary bust of the saint. It is not a major tourist event, but it offers a glimpse of local tradition. Most shops and some restaurants close for the day. If your visit happens to coincide, the procession passes through Piazza delle Erbe around 11:00 AM. Explore the city’s districts in our Mantua neighborhoods guide.
Mantova Food and Wine Festival | Late May
A weekend-long celebration of Mantuan cuisine held in late May (dates vary), the Mantova Food and Wine Festival sets up tasting stalls throughout the historic centre, with a main hub in Piazza Leon Battista Alberti. Local producers offer tortelli di zucca, risotto alla pilota, salumi (cured meats), Grana Padano, Lambrusco Mantovano, and sbrisolona. Tastings cost €3 to €7 per plate. The event includes cooking demonstrations by local chefs and free guided tours of the Ducal Palace kitchens. Most offerings are free to enter, with food paid for as you go via a token system. It is a good way to sample multiple Mantuan specialities in one place. Expect crowds, especially at Saturday lunchtime. Find hotels with our guide to where to stay in Mantua.
Trame Sonore (Chamber Music Festival) | Late May to Early June
Trame Sonore is a chamber music festival founded in 2013 that runs over 4 days in late May or early June. The concept is “music in the rooms of the city”: concerts are held in the halls and chambers of the Ducal Palace, Palazzo Te, and other historic buildings, with the audience seated among the frescoes and furnishings. The programme focuses on classical chamber music from the Baroque to contemporary periods, performed by internationally regarded ensembles. Individual concerts cost €10 to €20. The full programme is published at tramesonore.it in April. Tickets sell out for the most intimate venues, like the Camera degli Sposi concerts (limited to about 25 seats, priced around €50). For practical travel information, read our Mantua travel tips.
Mantova Medievale | Second Weekend of October
A medieval reenactment festival held over a weekend in mid-October in the streets around Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza Sordello. Costumed performers recreate medieval crafts (blacksmithing, weaving, calligraphy), there are falconry displays, and food stalls serve medieval-inspired dishes. Entry is free. It is particularly popular with families; children can try archery and coin striking. The event runs from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Check exact dates on the Comune di Mantova website in September.
