Horti Aperti, Pavia's renowned garden and green living festival, returns on Saturday, 19 September and Sunday, 20 September 2026 to the beautiful Horti of Almo Collegio Borromeo for its fifth edition.

The 2026 edition will feature Licia Colò, one of Italy's best-known television presenters and nature communicators, as the festival's guest of honour. During the weekend, a brand-new rose variety dedicated to her will also be officially unveiled.

This year's theme, "Art and Craftsmanship. The Intelligent Garden," reflects the festival's mission to combine scientific knowledge with practical gardening skills. Visitors can enjoy the traditional eco-friendly gardening market alongside conferences, workshops and hands-on activities suitable for all ages.

To mark its fifth anniversary, Horti Aperti expands its programme with two dedicated stages. Alongside the long-established cultural talks stage, a new area devoted entirely to practical workshops will allow visitors to gain first-hand gardening experience while learning from leading experts.

As in previous editions, the festival will open with Stefano Mancuso, internationally acclaimed neuroscientist, botanist and one of Italy's foremost experts on plant intelligence.

Festival Artistic Director Gaetano Zoccali, who leads the event together with Carlo Gariboldi, founder of Ticinum Festival, explains that this year's title represents the two pillars that have defined Horti Aperti since its inception: scientific theory and the everyday practice of gardening.

The festival is traditionally held around the autumn equinox—the ideal season for planting trees, shrubs and perennial plants while respecting natural growing cycles.

Horti Aperti is organised by Ticinum Festival Association in partnership with the Horti Foundation of Almo Collegio Borromeo, with support from Fondazione Monte di Lombardia and Fondazione LGH, under the patronage of the Municipality of Pavia.

Friday, 18 September – Opening Event at the University Botanical Garden

The festival begins on Friday, 18 September at 9:00 pm with a special evening at the University of Pavia Botanical Garden, the oldest botanical garden in Lombardy, located at Via Sant'Epifanio 14.

The opening event features naturalist, wildlife photographer and science communicator Francesco Tomasinelli, presenting the multimedia lecture-performance:

"Nothing Is What It Seems: A Journey Through Mimicry in Nature, Art and Botany."

The event explores the fascinating connections between natural camouflage, art and botanical science.

The heart of the festival moves to the Horti of Almo Collegio Borromeo, where visitors can explore an eco-friendly gardening market featuring around thirty carefully selected nurseries and specialist exhibitors from across Italy.

Open from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, the festival combines:

• a specialist plant fair

• guided tours

• conferences

• cultural talks

• practical workshops

• family activities

This year's programme includes more than forty events across the two days.

Alongside Stefano Mancuso and Licia Colò, the festival welcomes several prominent voices from Italy's environmental and cultural world, including:

• journalist and environmental blogger Tessa Gelisio

• writer Tiziano Fratus

• veterinarian Monica Pais

Landscape architect and urban planner Andreas Kipar, founder of the international design studio LAND, will present a keynote on natural capital and the concept of Nature Positive Cities, illustrating how urban green spaces can become strategic infrastructure for climate resilience and improved quality of life.

One of the major innovations of the 2026 edition is Orto da Coltivare ("The Garden to Grow"), a new interactive area designed for visitors who prefer learning through practical experience.

Participants can join workshops covering:

• vegetable gardening

• fruit growing

• aromatic herbs

• sustainable balcony gardens

Sessions will be led by Matteo Cereda and Pietro Isolan, two of Italy's most popular gardening communicators on social media.

They will be joined by:

• Gian Marco Mapelli ("L'Amico delle Piante")

• Beatrice Bisaglia ("Botanic Bea")

• Francesca Della Giovampaola

• Filippo Bellantoni from the Bosco di Ogigia project

Together they will share practical advice on natural pest control, soil fertility, orchard management and sustainable gardening techniques.

On Sunday, 20 September at 11:00 am, Horti Aperti will host the official presentation of the new Licia Colò Rose, a white rose with a buttery cream centre and delicate notes of myrrh.

The variety was hybridised by Adriana Balzi of Rose Rifiorentissime Nursery in Brescia, a specialist grower known for developing roses suited to the Italian climate using natural cultivation methods.

The rose symbolically celebrates both the festival's guest of honour and the beauty of gardens that Horti Aperti has promoted since its very first edition.

Venue

Horti of Almo Collegio Borromeo
Viale Lungo Ticino Sforza 46
Pavia, Italy

Dates

• Friday, 18 September 2026 – Preview event at 9:00 pm (University Botanical Garden)

• Saturday, 19 September – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm

• Sunday, 20 September – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm

Admission

• Full ticket (valid for both festival days): €10

• Reduced ticket: €5

Discounts are available for students and visitors with disabilities (including one accompanying person).

Visitors are encouraged to check the official Horti Aperti website for the complete programme, latest updates and online ticket booking.

A visit to Horti Aperti is the perfect opportunity to discover the historic centre of Pavia. Just a short walk from the festival grounds, visitors can explore iconic landmarks such as the Covered Bridge (Ponte Coperto) over the Ticino River, the Visconti Castle, elegant historic streets and charming piazzas, enjoying a weekend that beautifully combines nature, art and culture.

When is Horti Aperti 2026?

The festival takes place on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, with a preview event on Friday 18 September at 9:00 pm at the University of Pavia Botanical Garden.

Where is Horti Aperti held?

The main venue is the Horti of Almo Collegio Borromeo, located at Viale Lungo Ticino Sforza 46, Pavia.

Who is the guest of honour for Horti Aperti 2026?

The festival's guest of honour is Licia Colò, who will also be celebrated with the presentation of a newly hybridised rose bearing her name.

How much are tickets?

Admission costs €10 for a ticket valid on both festival days, while reduced-price tickets cost €5. Discounts are available for students and visitors with disabilities.

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