"Italy on Stage": a new law linking culture and cities

Law No. 40/2026, known as "Italy on Stage", has been published in the Official Gazette. It introduces digital and regulatory tools to reorganize cultural asset management at the territorial level. The measures aim to improve transparency and interoperability in cultural governance and to integrate cultural policy with urban strategies and digital tourism.

Main measures

• National digital registry of cultural institutions and places: a database collecting data on management models, accessibility, conservation status and reuse potential of cultural properties to support planning and smart city services.
• Digital register for horizontal subsidiarity: a platform to involve private entities and third-sector organizations in the management of public cultural assets with quality, competition and transparency criteria.
• Measures for museums and the cultural market: streamlined procedures for art loans, extended validity for circulation certificates and new criteria for autonomous museum bodies.
• Circulation of non-displayed works: municipalities may request non-displayed state-owned works provided they meet conservation, project and network requirements.

Impact on cities

• Improved mapping and integration of cultural assets into local digital and tourism strategies.
• Stronger public‑private partnerships supporting urban regeneration and tech-driven cultural projects.
• Easier organization of exhibitions and cultural routes integrated with urban platforms for smart tourism.
• An emphasis on cultural accessibility for inner areas, small towns and mountainous territories.

The Ministry of Culture has 24 months to define the first national "Italy on Stage" Strategy, setting shared objectives for municipalities, regions and cultural networks. Overall, the law aims to build a digital cultural ecosystem that supports data interoperability, sustainable management models and greater community participation in urban life.