September 2026 in Bologna: Francamente and Whitemary at DumBO, Underground Certosa, Daughters of the Alma Mater, The Square Lights Up Again, and the Leonardo da Vinci Exhibition
September in Bologna marks the return to full vitality after the summer break. With still pleasant temperatures and a lively atmosphere, the city starts again with a rich calendar of events ranging from festivals, concerts, exhibitions and shows to cultural initiatives.
It is the ideal month to once again experience the squares, porticoes and symbolic places of the capital of Emilia-Romagna, taking advantage of the many leisure opportunities offered by the beginning of the new season. Here is what to see and what to do in Bologna in September 2026.
Francamente and Whitemary at DumBO – Friday 4 and Saturday 12 September 2026
After the summer, the celebrations begin again at DumBO, the historic Bologna venue that hosts underground events and evenings throughout the year. Among the most interesting names to emerge from the new Italian music scene, Francamente arrives at DumBO on 4 September with the full band tour of Bitte Leben, the debut album released in April by Carosello Records.
Discovered during X Factor 2024, the artist’s album speaks about transformation, identity and change, without giving up lightness, energy and the desire to be together. Therefore, on 4 September 2026, starting at 9:00 p.m., Francamente will perform at DumBO with a live show full of emotion and energy.
But that’s not all: Whitemary will also arrive at the venue in Via Camillo Casarini 19/A.
As part of the DumBO Summertime Live programme, Whitemary will perform on the evening of 12 September, starting at 9:00 p.m. The artist will bring direct, impulsive and unfiltered electronic music: lyrics in Italian, analogue synthesizers and a sound that reaches you immediately, strong and crystal clear.
Underground Certosa at Bologna Cemetery – Sunday 6 September 2026
The Municipality of Bologna is organising an unusual route through mysterious galleries and hidden cloisters, aimed at discovering the Certosa Cemetery.
Starting from Cloister VI, visitors will discover the lesser-known and least visited places of the Certosa. Among the whiteness of marble, the richness of bronze and the colours of mosaics, galleries, underground passages and evocative corners will be shown in a route dedicated to discovering the most unusual side of the Monumental Cemetery.
The September guided tour is scheduled for 6 September 2026, starting at 3:45 p.m. The meeting point is Via della Certosa 18.
Daughters of the Alma Mater 2026 – Tuesday 8 September 2026
The Alma Mater of Bologna, the oldest university in the world, opens a guided tour dedicated to the outstanding female students who have left their mark: from the first female professor to today’s young women.
A route specifically designed around the important contribution of women within the University of Bologna, the first university in the world to award a professorship to a woman. Women who made history such as Laura Bassi, Clotilde Tambroni, Maria Dalle Donne, Anna Morandi and many others tell the story of their lives and careers within the splendid setting of Palazzo Poggi.
In honour of 8 March, International Women’s Day, this event takes place once a month: therefore, mark your calendar for Tuesday 8 September 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Palazzo Poggi, Via Zamboni 33.
The Square Lights Up Again in Piazza Maggiore – from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 September 2026
The Square Lights Up Again is the continuation of the 2022 project created by Bologna Festival in agreement with Alfasigma.
During the September nights, the unfinished façade of the Basilica of San Petronio in Piazza Maggiore will come back to life to the music of Rossini. Here, the great projects that were never completed for its façade will take shape.
The opening evening, on Friday 18 September, will feature art historian Jacopo Veneziani, who will guide the audience through a story dedicated to the history of the city and its identity. Joining him will be the young singers Claudia Ceraulo, Giulia Alletto and Bryan Sala, accompanied on the piano by Pietro Beltrani.
The event will conclude on the evening of Sunday 20 September 2026.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Machines: Between Genius and Innovation – from 24 September 2026
From 24 September 2026, Palazzo Pallavicini in Bologna opens its doors to an extraordinary experience: Leonardo da Vinci’s Machines: Between Genius and Innovation. An unmissable event that takes visitors into the heart of the Renaissance to discover the visionary mind of Leonardo da Vinci. Between ingenuity, art and innovation, the exhibition invites visitors to explore up close the extraordinary machines and revolutionary ideas of the Genius, through an immersive journey capable of amazing and fascinating both adults and children.
Altogether, the exhibition brings together around thirty machines by Leonardo da Vinci, faithfully reproduced in wood and other materials from the original drawings of the great Italian genius. These are masterpieces of precision created in the prestigious Scenography Laboratory of Pusa University in Assisi, the result of meticulous research and historical reconstruction.
If you don’t want to miss these events and live outside of Bologna, we recommend booking accommodation in the city center for a unique and immersive experience. Where? At the Ghisiliera B&B, a property with 40 square meters of apartments located in a strategic position for exploring Bologna like a true local.
Click here to read about the room features, see photos, discover all the extra services, and book your stay!
