Catania is not a city that can be captured in a single image. Alongside its Baroque façades, historic markets and the ever-present silhouette of Mount Etna, there is another Catania: a contemporary city shaped by post-industrial spaces, independent galleries, theatre, music and new forms of artistic expression.
Autumn 2026 is a particularly exciting time to discover this side of the city. Between September and October, Catania comes alive with a calendar of events spanning historic landmarks and contemporary venues, offering new ways to experience the city.
At Habitat, we have selected some of the cultural events not to be missed.
Bellini International Context: tradition meets the present
From 15 September to 4 October, the Bellini International Context returns with more than thirty events dedicated to Vincenzo Bellini. Opera, classical music and jazz, theatre, talks and new artistic encounters come together in a programme spread across some of Catania’s most iconic venues, from Teatro Sangiorgi and the Vincenzo Bellini Conservatory to the Church of Santa Teresa, Villa Bellini and Teatro Metropolitan. An opportunity to rediscover Bellini’s legacy through a contemporary perspective, creating a dialogue between memory and the present.FAI Autumn Days: stepping inside a lesser-known Catania
On 10 and 11 October, the FAI Autumn Days return, one of Italy’s major national events dedicated to discovering the country’s cultural and landscape heritage. For one weekend, palaces, gardens, architectural landmarks and places that are often little known or normally closed to the public open their doors, offering the opportunity to see the city from a different perspective. In Catania, it is a particularly fascinating opportunity to venture beyond the most familiar itineraries and discover the stories, architecture and spaces that form part of the city’s identity but often remain hidden. A different way to explore Catania, quite literally stepping inside some of its most intriguing places.Catania OFF Fringe Festival: the city becomes a stage
October brings the fifth edition of the Catania OFF Fringe Festival, one of the city’s key events dedicated to performing arts and independent theatre. The 2026 programme unfolds across several dates throughout the month, with the heart of the Fringe taking place from 15 to 25 October. Theatre, performance and experimentation move beyond conventional venues and take over different spaces across the city. Village OFF becomes a meeting point for artists, cultural professionals and audiences, hosting exhibitions, talks, concerts, presentations and a range of accompanying events. Following the Fringe is also a way of experiencing Catania differently: stepping into unexpected spaces, meeting artists and discovering a culturally vibrant city in constant transformation.TEDxCatania 2026: ideas, connections and transformation
On 24 October, Teatro Metropolitan hosts TEDxCatania 2026, a day dedicated to ideas, stories and experiences capable of opening up new perspectives. The theme of this year’s edition is “INNESTI. Cosa sei pronto a trasformare?” — “Grafts. What are you ready to transform?” — an invitation to reflect on what can emerge when different disciplines, cultures, experiences and visions come together. Among the speakers will be Bianca Celano, chef of Materia | Spazio Cucina, Habitat’s restaurant. Her culinary research begins with Sicily’s biodiversity and ingredients, transforming them into a contemporary cuisine where territory, culture and innovation come together. For us, this will therefore be a particularly special edition. Bianca will bring her experience and vision to the TEDxCatania stage, alongside voices from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds.Alfredo Pirri at Fondazione Brodbeck
For contemporary art lovers, one of the essential stops is Fondazione Brodbeck, in Catania’s San Cristoforo district. Set within the post-industrial spaces of a former liquorice factory, the Foundation hosts “Fare cose”, a solo exhibition by Alfredo Pirri, curated by Cesare Biasini Selvaggi and Gianluca Collica. The project emerged from a long-standing dialogue between the artist and the Foundation and was conceived in direct relation to the architecture of the space. The works interact with the industrial surroundings, turning the visit into an experience in which art and architecture become part of the same narrative. Following the summer break, the Foundation reopens on 16 September with “Fare cose” and new projects.Libriste: when the book becomes a work of art
Until 10 October, On the Contemporary presents “Libriste – Libri d’artista e altre opere”, a KoobookArchive project coordinated by Emanuela Nicoletti. The exhibition brings together nine female artists — Marcella Barone, Anna Guillot, Hilde Margani-Escher, Gertrude Moser-Wagner, Yoko Ono, Rossella Poidomani, Eline ’t Sant, Rossana Taormina and Chantal Vey — exploring the book not simply as a publishing medium, but as a genuine space for artistic research. Books, boxes, installations and different works explore the boundaries between visual art, graphic design, material experimentation, photography and contemporary artistic practice. A more intimate exhibition, particularly appealing to those interested in design, independent publishing and contemporary visual languages.A contemporary weekend in Catania
Visiting Catania means encountering its Baroque architecture, walking along Via Etnea, getting lost among its markets and seeing Mount Etna suddenly appear at the end of a street. But it also means discovering a less obvious side of the city. A Catania of historic palaces that occasionally open their doors, former factories transformed into art foundations, small independent spaces, experimental theatre, music, artists and emerging cultural projects. This is the city we love to share at Habitat: not simply a destination to visit, but a place to experience through its transformations, the people who bring it to life and its contemporary languages. Habitat is the starting point from which to discover it. Catania, beyond the Baroque.
