Ancona honours St. Francis: 2026 events programme

Ancona honours St. Francis: the 2026 events programme

In 2026 Ancona is hosting a range of events dedicated to St. Francis on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of his death. The programme combines cultural talks, guided walks, a theatrical-musical show and educational activities open to residents and visitors.

• 14 April, 6:30 PM – Book presentation "E se tornasse Francesco" with Father Enzo Fortunato at the Regional Seminary of Ancona, Monte d'Ago.
• 11 April and 9 May – Two 15 km walks along the Cammino Francescano in the Marca di Ancona, accompanied by volunteer guides. The 11 April walk departs from the San Francesco quay (porto dorico) at 7:30 AM, arriving in Angeli di Varano (Casa Alloggio "Il Focolare") around 12:30 PM; the 9 May route starts from Angeli di Varano at 7:30 AM and reaches Numana by about 11:30 AM. Open to everyone.
• 13 June, 9:00 PM – "Francesco" show at Teatro delle Muse featuring journalist Aldo Cazzullo and musician Angelo Branduardi. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Associazione Opere Caritative Francescane OdV. Tickets available from 16 April.
• September – Educational project and competition "Francesco è ancora vivo" for Marche schools, supported by the Chamber of Commerce of the Marche; workshops and interdisciplinary activities around the saint's values.
• From 4 October for the whole month – Panel exhibition "San Francesco Vive" on display at the Chiesa del Gesù.

The programme aims to connect spirituality with cultural reflection and civic engagement, focusing on themes such as peace, poverty and social responsibility. Many events are free; for paid performances it is recommended to buy tickets in advance.

For the latest information on schedules, participation rules and meeting points for the walks, consult the Municipality of Ancona website or official diocesan channels.