Good morning,

We’re officially making the pivot from Art Week to Design Week without even having a second to put down our glasses, we really are living in a cutting-edge city that’s constantly buzzing with energy. If last week was all about getting lost in galleries and conceptual installations, the next few days are when design literally takes over every corner of Milan: from hidden courtyards in the city center to industrial districts transforming into futuristic stages.

This is that time of year when Milan never sleeps, where every doorway might hide a surprise, and where, between one event and the next, you feel part of something truly global. In this edition, we’ve handpicked the best of the Fuorisalone for you, from parties and immersive exhibitions to some seriously quirky highlights (yes, we’re talking about meatball-flavored lollipops), along with the essential news to help you survive the urban jungle of the Design Week.

Business, Tech & Innovation 

Automation and Agent AI (Randstad box - Tue, April 21st, 6pm)

A chat about how AI agents can actually handle the boring, repetitive stuff that eats up our day. It’s a practical look at moving from "doing tasks" to building systems that work for you, specifically for marketers and founders. 

🤑 Free (registration required)

Mindstone Milan April AI Meetup (Talent Garden Calabiana - Wed, April 22nd, 6:30 pm) 

It’s a solid mix of three quick talks: a technical demo on building with LLMs, some practical tips to speed up your daily workflow, and a bit of "big picture" talk about where this is all heading. Stick around for the pizza and drinks afterwards to do some networking.

🤑 Free (registration required)

Founder Series Milan (Veliu - Thu, April 23rd, 6:30pm) 

The Lovable team is hosting a "Hacking Sprint" where you can try building your own product on the spot. You’ll also hear from a couple of founders who managed to scale their platforms from scratch using the tool. Seems to be very much focused on "shipping" and getting things done, so come ready to build.

🤑 Free (registration required)

Sports and Social

Milan Startup 5x5 – Founders & Rebels (Tue, April 21st, 8pm) 

A 60-minute game of five-a-side football specifically for founders, VCs, and people in the startup scene. It doesn't matter if you haven't played in years or if you're a regular, the game is fast, fun, and a great way to actually connect with people when you're not in "pitch mode”.

💸 €8 (advance payment via PayPal required)

The Crunchy Week Run (Anche Forno- April 21st – 24th) 

No bags, no fuss, just four days of runs starting from Isola. It’s the perfect way to escape the design crowds for a bit and actually move. The first three days are open to everyone (just show up), while Friday requires a quick sign-up.

🤑 Free (Friday run requires registration)

Lake Como Hike: Bellano → Varenna (Sat, April 25th, 7:30am) 

Meeting at Milano Centrale to catch the train to Bellano, then hiking up to Castello di Vezio for those insane panoramic views before heading down into Varenna for a drink by the water. It’s a bit of a workout but totally worth it for the scenery and the fresh air. Just make sure to wear decent shoes and bring some water!

🤑 Free + Train ticket (Confirmation and WhatsApp group join required)

Personal Growth & Skills

Public Speaking & Leadership by The Milliners (Mon, April 20th, 7:15 pm) 

The Milliners is an English-speaking Toastmasters club where you can work on your public speaking through prepared talks and fun, impromptu "table topics." It’s a very supportive environment at Bar Mercurio, and a great way to sharpen your leadership skills while meeting new people.

💸 €10 (includes a drink and finger food)

Arts and Culture

Hands in Clay – Ceramics Workshop (Thu, 7:00 pm) 

There’s no strict program, so you can just choose a project and start modeling at your own pace with an instructor there to help out, bringing home the masterpiece you create!

💸 €45 (Includes all materials and firings)

Pink Floyd Legend @ Teatro Galleria (Teatro Galleria - Fri, April 24th, 9 pm) 

If you’re a Pink Floyd fan, this is one of those shows that’s really worth catching. The "Pink Floyd Legend" are probably one of the most accurate tribute bands around, and they’re bringing their full production to Legnano. 

💸 Tickets from 39€ 

THE DESIGN WEEK 

Finally, the week has arrived! Whether you love it or live to complain about the crowds, the Design Week is undeniably the city's "major event" of the year. 

For these few days, Milan turns into a massive, open-air gallery where design, art, and innovation spill out from every showroom and street corner. It’s chaotic, it’s intense, and it’s always worth checking out at least one or two things you’re actually curious about.

We selected some events for you all that might be the highlights of the week:

Besides that, there are gonna be 1,800 events across 19 neighborhoods, so you can check the program, see the map, and create your personal agenda.

What happened last week and what’s changing in the city.

ECONOMY / Major Fraud in Milan & Rome Nightlife Scene

The Guardia di Finanza just busted a massive scheme involving some of the city's most famous restaurants (and Rome’s too). The trick? They used "shell companies" to hide over 500 workers, skipping out on €4 million in taxes and social security. It turns out their "secret ingredient" was just plain old tax evasion and fake contracts. Authorities have already served them a €300,000 fine and seized several spots.
The good news? The restaurants stay open under new management, so you can still get your dinner, this time, hopefully, with a side of legality!

REAL ESTATE / Milan Still Wins the "Expensive" Award

The latest Istat data for March 2026 has landed with some spicy news for renters. While the rest of Italy is seeing a modest bump, Milan is shockingly leading the pack with price hikes nearly double the national average. If you’re renewing your lease this month, expect to shell out an extra €29 per month on average. That means a typical three-room apartment is creeping up toward the €1,934/month mark. So, if your landlord is suddenly extra friendly this week, you now know exactly why.

CITY LIFE / Surviving the Design Week

Getting around Milan during Design Week is usually a nightmare, but the city is actually throwing us a bone this year. From April 21st to 26th, the metro is getting a boost, and on Saturday, April 25th, the lines will stay open until 2:00 AM. If you're a student with a Salone del Mobile ticket, keep an eye out for a €10 mobility voucher you can use on apps like Wetaxi or Lime. Plus, there are nearly 400 new taxis on the road and 20,000 shared bikes ready for the taking. 

FOOD & INNOVATION / Meatball Lollipops? Yes, Seriously.

IKEA and Chupa Chups have teamed up to create a meatball-flavored lollipop.
It sounds like a dare, but it’s actually a savory-sweet mix inspired by the iconic Swedish meatballs and their classic lingonberry jam. If you’re brave enough to try it, you can snag one for free at Spazio Maiocchi during Design Week. If you miss the preview, don't worry, they’re producing a million of them to be handed out for free at IKEA stores starting in June.

ECONOMY / Design Week is Still a Money-Making Machine

It’s estimated that this year's Design Week will generate over €255 million in tourist spending, a nearly 15% jump from last year. Most of that cash is going into hotels and dining, with the average visitor dropping about €250 during their stay. Interestingly, while Italian spending is slightly down, international visitors are picking up the slack, making up over 60% of the crowds. So, if your favorite local bistro is suddenly fully booked and charging a premium, now you know the math behind it!

Bending Spoons - Software Engineer

Google - Creative and Creators Lead  

Amazon - Program Manager

Amazon - IT Support Engineer

Satispay - Data Analyst (B2B Focus) 

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 in one of the events

Ale and The FoundIt Milan Team