The Palio di San Giovanni Battista, now in its XXXI edition, is the most heartfelt and historical event in Fabriano, a historical re-enactment that every year in June, takes the city back in time, to the heart of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It is not just a festival, but a challenge involving the four historical Gates of the city: Borgo, Piano, Cervara, and Pisana.

The core of the Palio is the Sfida del Maglio (Challenge of the Mallet), which takes place on June 24, the day of San Giovanni Battista, the patron saint of the city of Fabriano.

It is a unique competition that tests the strength and skill of the blacksmiths from each Gate. This spectacular race is accompanied by other re-enactments and events, including the parade of the historical procession with over 600 costumed participants, who bring the city streets to life. Among the competitions are also the Archery Challenge, the Palio of the Urchins, and the Joust of the Popular Games.

The Palio di San Giovanni is an experience that goes beyond simple re-enactment. It is the pride of a community, an opportunity to rediscover its roots and celebrate the history, the craftsmanship with its workshops, and the traditions that have made Fabriano famous worldwide.

Le Infiorate (The Flower Carpets)
As part of the Palio di San Giovanni, the infioratori (flower artists) of the four districts compete in a competition focused on artistic Flower Carpets. These are created among the cloisters and squares of the historic center, places of historical re-enactment of fourteenth-century Fabriano.

The sketches prepared by local artists, through a patient and skillful composition of herbs, flowers, and shrub species, are transformed by the "portaioli" (people of the Gates) into scenes and figures dedicated to the cult of San Giovanni Battista and the history of the city of Fabriano.
Over 400 Master Flower Artists work on the creation of these floral works of art over the course of one night and one day.

FabrianoInAcquarello is not just a festival, but one of the most important events in the world dedicated to the fascinating artistic technique of watercolour. Every year, artists from every corner of the globe gather in Fabriano, the UNESCO Creative City, to celebrate the magic of watercolour together.

The event transforms the city into an open-air art gallery. The streets and squares come alive with exhibitions, practical demonstrations and workshops held by international experts. It is a unique opportunity to marvel at different styles and interpretations, exchange ideas and learn the secrets of an art that requires great skill and sensitivity.

FabrianoInAcquarello is a tribute to the history of the city, which has been famous for its paper production since the Middle Ages. The bond between Fabriano paper and watercolour is unbreakable, and this festival is the most authentic celebration of it. Taking part means immersing yourself in an atmosphere of creativity, passion and sharing, discovering how art can unite different cultures and people in a single, vibrant colour.

Reaching its third edition, "Fabriano Carta è Cultura" confirms itself as the annual event that takes place in September, created to enhance the role of culture according to UNESCO guidelines and to strengthen the city's identity as a laboratory of creativity, inclusion, and the future.

The 2025 edition was enriched by a significant appointment: the Annual Meeting of the Italian Network of UNESCO Creative Cities (Network italiano delle Città Creative UNESCO), an opportunity for discussion and collaboration among Italian cities belonging to the UCCN. At the center of the debate was the theme “Culture and Artificial Intelligence: Shaping the Future of UNESCO Creative Cities.”

The program, rich and multidisciplinary, offers exhibitions, installations, screenings, readings, concerts, meetings, and workshops. The city's identifying element, paper (carta), remains the protagonist: not only as the physical support of memory, but also as a metaphor for cultural transformation, capable of uniting roots and innovation, matter and thought, analog and digital.

The market hosts up to 35 exhibition spaces and takes place in the historic center, approximately on a monthly basis: the second Sunday of every month in the October–May period, and the second Friday of every month from June to September. The market helps to increase the attractiveness of the historic center, encouraging the participation of citizens and tourists, and promotes conscious consumption oriented toward the reuse and recovery of used objects.

Sales are reserved for hobbyists, creative individuals, sellers and collectors of used or vintage objects, and artisans, who have obtained the authorizations required by regional and municipal laws.