Welcome back!
As we head into the upcoming week, one date on the calendar stands out to everyone in Italy: May 1st.
Known as Festa dei Lavoratori (Labor Day or International Workers' Day), May 1st is a major national holiday in Italy. It’s a day dedicated to the achievements of workers and the struggle for labor rights, but on a cultural level, it’s much more than just a day off.
In Italy, the tradition for the First of May is usually centred around two things: socializing and being outdoors.
One of the main events in Italy is the 1st of May Concert in Rome, a large, free concert in a square that lasts for many hours with famous Italian singers. Usually, people from all around Italy go there.
Whether you choose to join a protest, attend a concert, or simply enjoy a grigliata with friends, the spirit of Primo Maggio is all about community and enjoying the hard-earned leisure time.
Besides Primo Maggio, we have a whole week to discover in terms of events, so let’s dive into it!
🗓️ Upcoming Events in Milan
Business, Tech & Innovation
Claude for Women in Tech (Mon, April 27th, 6:30pm)
An event for all women working tech. Come to discuss real-world applications of Claude Code across business and technical contexts, from automating workflows to accelerating development cycles and beyond.
🤑 Free (waiting list)
Coworking Day (Randstad Box - Tue, April 28th, 11 am – 5 pm)
This is the first official coworking session hosted by the DMK Tribe, designed specifically for marketing pros, entrepreneurs, and creatives. It’s less about formal talks and more about getting your projects done in a motivating environment while naturally unlocking new insights through peer-to-peer connection.
🤑 Free (registration required)
Networking & Digital Marketing Tribe Meetup (Randstad Box - Tue, April 28th, 6 pm)
If you don’t make it to the coworking, you can still join the community for networking in the evening. Meet like-minded professionals, exchange ideas, and plug into an international community that regularly brings together people around marketing, content, AI, personal branding, and entrepreneurship.
🤑 Free (Confirmation required)
Community & Lifestyle
Beach Volley for Founders & Rebels (Mon, April 27th, 8:30-10pm)
Mixed-Level Games - play with at least 6 people per court. If more people join, they rotate and run a mini-tournament. All levels welcome.
💸 €10 per person (Advance payment required via PayPal)
Stramilano 10K - Milan's Startup Community (Duomo - Sun, May 3rd, 9:30 am)
Join fellow founders, operators, and investors for Milan’s iconic 10km run. No pitch decks or slides, just a morning of fresh air, 50,000 runners, and the best networking conversations you can have while slightly out of breath. Meet up at 9:30 am for a pre-race chat before the 10:00 start.
💸 Registration for the run is required via the official Stramilano website
Confirmation for Milan’s Startup Community via the event link.
Monte Croce di Muggio Trekking & Local Gastronomy (Sat, May 2nd, 8am)
Escape the city for a full day of Alpine culture and spectacular views of Lake Como. This moderate 4.9km hike takes you to the panoramic summit of Monte Croce di Muggio, passing through ancient villages and WWI defense systems. The experience is designed to be social and stress-free - a minivan transfer from Milan and a traditional mountain lunch at a local restaurant (with vegan and gluten-free options) are included.
Pick-up: Darsena di Milano or Porta Venezia - Sat, May 2nd, 8:00 am
💸 € 68 (Includes transport and full lunch).
Follow them on IG to receive a welcome discount. Registration required via trek-a-break.com - closes 2 days before the event.
Art, Culture and Entertainment
Monet: The Immersive Experience (Ventura Milano - Final days until Sun, May 3rd)
Step inside the world of Claude Monet in this 360-degree digital art exhibition. This immersive experience allows you to walk through the landscapes that inspired the master of Impressionism, featuring large-scale projections and a unique VR segment.
💸 Tickets from 7€ (available online)
5 Seconds of Summer Live in Milan (Unipol Forum - Tue, April 28th, 8:45 pm)
The global pop-rock band is going live in Milan.
💸 Tickets from €53.10
STAR WARS: Return of the Jedi in Concert (Teatro degli Arcimboldi - May 2nd & 3rd)
The conclusion of the original George Lucas trilogy is at the cinema on a giant screen while John Williams’ legendary score is performed live by a full symphony orchestra.
Showtimes are held: Saturday at 9 pm and Sunday at 3 pm & 7:30 pm.
💸 Tickets from €44
Bill Evans & The VansBand All Stars (Blue Note Milan - Fri, May 1st, 8:30 pm)
A world-class tribute to jazz legend Miles Davis by one of his own protégés. Saxophonist Bill Evans, who joined Davis’s band at just 22, brings together an "All Star" lineup to blend original Davis compositions with contemporary soul, funk, and neo-jazz. It’s a masterclass in fusion and improvisation by a musician who has played with everyone from Herbie Hancock to Mick Jagger.
💸 €37 online / €42 at the door
p.s Dinner reservations available
SPECIAL OF THE WEEK - FREE MUSEUMS the 1st SUNDAY of the MONTH (May 3rd)
The first Sunday of every month in Italy is an initiative that opens the doors of state and civic museums to everyone for free. It’s the perfect opportunity to dive into Milan’s rich artistic heritage and explore those galleries you’ve been meaning to visit, without the price tag!
Here is a list of some spots for Sunday, May 3rd:
Must-Visit Art & History
Culture, Fashion & Nature
Modern & Civic Gems
🏙 The Milan Brief: City News You Need
What happened last week and what’s changing in the city.
HEALTH & FAMILY / Free Home Midwife Service Goes Regional
Lombardy is officially taking its "home-visit midwife" service permanent, expanding it to all of Milan and the region by late summer 2026. The program provides a professional midwife at your door within a week of giving birth to check on both mom and baby. Beyond health checks, it’s designed to support new families through the first complex days and monitor for postpartum depression. With millions in new funding, the goal is to ensure no new parent has to navigate those first steps alone. A solid win for local family support!
ECONOMY / Global Tensions Cooling Local Growth
The conflict in the Middle East is hitting home, and Assolombarda has just hit the "refresh" button on Milan’s economic forecast, and not in a good way. The region’s GDP growth for 2026 has been downgraded to 0.6%, down from the 1.0% predicted back in January. Since Northern Italy is the country’s industrial powerhouse, it’s feeling the pinch more than the rest of the peninsula.
ENTERTAINMENT / Karol G is Bringing the "Bichota" Energy to San Siro
After making history as the first Latin female headliner at Coachella, Karol G will take over the San Siro Stadium on July 24th, 2027. Even though the show is over a year away, the ticket hunt starts now. Presale opens Tuesday, April 29th, at 2 PM via Live Nation, with general sales following on Thursday. Given her 117 billion streams, these tickets will likely disappear faster than a cold Aperol Spritz on a July afternoon.
TRANSPORT / Trenord Claims 84% Punctuality
Trenord just dropped its report for Q1 2026, claiming that 84% of its 204,000 trains arrived on time. If you’ve spent any time waiting on a platform lately, that number might feel a bit... optimistic. To be fair, they transported 55 million passengers during the Winter Olympics madness, even bumping up the Malpensa Express to 90.6% punctuality for the Games.
The Winter Olympics party is over, and the bill has finally arrived, and it’s steeper than expected. A €310 million "hole" has appeared in the Milano Cortina Foundation’s balance sheet, triggered by a mix of construction delays (looking at you, Santa Giulia Arena) and lower-than-projected revenues. City Hall might have to cough up between €50M and €80M to cover the gap. It turns out that bringing the world’s best athletes to the Alps had a final price tag of €1.7 billion, proving once again that in Milan, even the snow comes at a premium.
While guests at the luxury Rosa Grand pay €300+ a night for Duomo views, the staff behind the scenes say they can’t even afford breakfast. On Tuesday, cleaners and porters walked out during the busy Design Week to protest a "two-tier" system. Despite doing the same work as direct hires, these outsourced staff receive just €3 in meal vouchers compared to their colleagues' €8. With a 90% turnout, the strike successfully forced a seat at the table with the hotel ownership for April 27th.
LIFESTYLE / Hollywood Stars Take Over Corso Venezia
Milan’s status as a global glamour capital was on full display this week as icons like Margot Robbie and Zoe Saldana touched down for the grand opening of Restoration Hardware. Hosted in the historic Palazzo del Principe di Piombino, the event turned Corso Venezia into an Oscar-worthy red carpet. The massive seven-story gallery is now officially open to the public, featuring a luxury design journey.
💼 Work Opportunities for English Speakers
Amazon - Analyst 12-month Fixed Term Contract
Microsoft - Cloud Solution Architect
Satispay - Strategic Account Manager
Bending Spoons - Data analyst
Thanks for reading that far! Share it with a friend if you found it useful. Give us feedback if you didn’t. Hope to see you around at one of the events
Ale and The FoundIt Milan Team
