Imola di Mercoledì: summer evenings in the historic centre of Imola
There is a special energy running through Imola on summer evenings: Imola di Mercoledì (literally “Imola on Wednesdays”) is back, the event that on a few Wednesdays between June and July turns the historic centre into one big stage of shopping, culture, music and good food. Shops open late into the night, craft and antiques markets, guided tours, tastings, sports activities, bouncy castles and much more: there truly is something for everyone.
Imola di Mercoledì at a glance
- What it is: summer evenings in the historic centre of Imola, with shops open late, free guided tours, music in the squares and tastings.
- Organisation: Confcommercio Ascom Imola, the local traders’ association.
- 2027 edition: dates not yet announced; the programme is published on the official website.
- 2026 edition: four Wednesdays, 17 and 24 June, 1 and 8 July, on the theme of the “Treasure Hunt”.
The 2026 edition: four Wednesdays devoted to the “Treasure Hunt”
The 2026 edition was especially engaging: the chosen theme was the “Treasure Hunt”. The old town became a trail of discovery dedicated to four great figures of Imola’s history: Leonardo da Vinci, Caterina Sforza, Giuseppe Scarabelli and Saint Francis of Assisi, in a perfect blend of entertainment and evening shopping.
Shops stayed open until 11:30 pm, and that was not all: the special openings also involved palaces and museums, which could be explored on free guided tours.
The free guided tours of 2026
In 2026 the season of tours opened in style, with a calendar that led visitors through the city’s memories. Because (we truly believe it) only by walking among the stones that have lived through history does history stop being a dry mnemonic exercise and finally become an experience.
- Wednesday 17 June: The Historic Garden of the Bishop’s Palace and the Carriage Museum: an evocative itinerary among grapefruit and lemon trees, roses and hydrangeas: 1,500 specimens of flowers, shrubs and trees enhanced by the evening lighting and the sumptuous eighteenth-century carriages that belonged to Imola’s bishops, complete with their refined original leather harnesses.
- Wednesday 24 June: Guided tour with Prof. Fabrizia Farni, exploring the lives and curiosities of Imola’s most emblematic figures, from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century.
- Wednesday 1 July: With Prof. Riccardo del Monte, discovering the Alidosi dynasty, the ancient family that defended the city for centuries by sword and by cunning.
- Wednesday 8 July: Grand finale at the Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), the city’s institutional emblem and keeper of its history.
Good to know: in 2026 places on the tours were limited, and tickets for the guided routes, all free of charge, were booked at the infopoint from 7:45 pm. Bear it in mind for the next edition too.
Music in the square for every taste
The 2026 musical programme catered for every taste too, with plenty of live music in the square.
- Wednesday 17 June: Live karaoke and dancing from the ’60s to today with Pietro Calì.
- Wednesday 24 June: The Arena Spettacoli presents “Pop Explosion – Summer Concert” with the DoreMimosa and GiOI choirs.
- Wednesday 1 July: The stage goes to young talents with the Timeless School Contest.
- Wednesday 8 July: Grand closing night with the Warning Trio and Italian and international rock and pop hits from the ’90s and 2000s.
Romagna flavours and the official t-shirt
And since this is Romagna, no festival is complete without the pleasure of good food. Among the many offerings, Ristocò has prepared a mixed fish starter for 23 euros and a mixed meat one, with cold cuts and finger food, for 22 euros: both served with a spritz or a glass of wine. A perfect occasion to raise a toast to the beauty of Imola!
And to take home a special souvenir of the evening, in 2026 all you had to do was show two receipts at the infopoint for a total of 30 euros, spent in at least two businesses of the old town, to receive the official t-shirt of the edition as a gift.
Waiting for the next edition
The choice is huge: you can join a tour dedicated to the excellences of the area, be charmed by a Caribbean dance performance, listen to a concert or stop in the square and try your luck solving intriguing riddles. The detailed programme of the next edition will be published on the event’s official website.
And for the rest of the year the historic centre still has plenty to offer, from museums to osterie (traditional taverns): between one Wednesday and the next, discover our tips on the best restaurants in Imola.
Read also: all the events in Imola in 2027 at the racetrack and in the old town, plus a visit you can make in the centre all year round: the Palazzo Tozzoni house museum.
Where to stay? We look forward to welcoming you at Podere Zampiera Vecchia
Thinking of joining the evenings and looking for a place to stay? We have the right solution for you. We look forward to welcoming you at Podere Zampiera Vecchia to make your holiday even more special: immerse yourself in the scents of the countryside and savour the pleasure of pure relaxation.
