I hope you had a fantastic Easter Sunday and managed to track down plenty of chocolate eggs! 🥚

In Italy, the legend of the rabbit hiding treats for children is a staple, and I still have some of my fondest childhood memories from that morning hunt. We have a saying that goes: "Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi" (Christmas with family, Easter with whoever you want). So we usually have a big lunch that is followed by another huge lunch on Monday, called Pasquetta. 

Grab a leftover piece of Colomba, the special Easter dessert, and let’s dive into what’s happening in Milan.

Business, Tech & Innovation 

n8n AI Inspiration Sessions: Milan 

This hands-on workshop at YoRoom is all about turning "magic" into real-world workflows. Whether you're a complete beginner or a tech enthusiast, you'll get to build your own AI agent and see some cool live demos of expense automation in action, no boring theory, just pure building and networking.

Community and Networking 

Milan Startup Ping Pong – Founders & Rebels #2 

Founders, VCs, and operators meeting over table tennis. No agenda, just a few games and conversations. All levels are welcome.

Milan Startup Basket #24 

Join a crew of founders and venture capitalists for an hour of high-intensity hoops where the teamwork on the court is just as important as the strategy in the boardroom. 

At Our Table

In Italy, Sundays are for sitting together, sharing food, and taking things slow. "Pranzo della domenica" designed to let you disconnect from the clock. You’ll enjoy great food, participate in a fun game with prizes, and spend a slow afternoon in the company of new friends.

Designers, let’s get to know each other! 

The "Designers of Milan" community is kicking off its very first meetup, and it’s as laid-back as it gets. It’s a simple "meet and greet" over drinks to swap ideas, talk shop, and help shape what this new design collective will look like in the future.

Pizza Run Club: FAST’N’CRUST 

The rules are simple: you run, and then you eat pizza. This monthly ritual is the ultimate "guilt-free" social run through the streets of Milan. Whether you're chasing a personal best or just chasing the smell of wood-fired dough, it’s all about the community vibe.

Entertainment

English Improv + Stand-up Comedy 

If your Monday needs a serious injection of energy, head over to Ostello Bello for a night where literally anything can happen. It’s a mix of unpredictable improv and stand-up sets that bring together the city's international crowd.

Gilberto Gil 

A living legend of Brazilian music is landing at Alcatraz for a night that promises pure magic. Joined by an incredible superband, Gilberto Gil brings the warmth of Tropicália and decades of hits that shaped global music history to Milan. 

Eiffel 65 

The legendary Eiffel 65 is taking over Fabrique for a night of pure Italo-dance energy. If you've ever hummed "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" or "Move Your Body," this is your chance to scream those choruses live with a crowd that’s just as hyped as you are. 

Art and Culture

Paint & Be Seen: Art & Photo Experience 

This is a raw, filter-free creative session held in a real artist's studio near Gorla.
You’ll sit before a canvas with a glass of wine, letting go of perfection while a professional photographer captures the genuine, unposed moments of your process. You’ll leave with your own acrylic painting and a set of soulful black-and-white portraits.

Milan Design Week 2026 will, for sure, be the event of the month, where technological innovation meets the pulsating soul of the city. The citywide event runs from Monday, April 20th to Sunday, April 26th, 2026. Here are the keys to ensure you don’t arrive unprepared…

The Theme is "Essere Progetto" (To Be Project)

This year’s reflection shifts toward Artificial Intelligence. How can the human touch govern machines to create design that is truly ethical and regenerative? It is a question that will find its answers among the most anticipated installations of the season.

Mapping Creativity

The historic districts return as protagonists, alongside some unmissable new entries:

Quick Survival Guide

Tickets & Registration

Access to the Salone del Mobile (Fiera Milano Rho) is managed exclusively through the official digital platform. If you’re interested, we recommend registering in advance to take advantage of Early Bird rates on SaloneMilano.

Rates & Categories:

🏙 The Milan Brief: City News You Need
What happened last week and what’s changing in the city.

CITY / Marathon on Sunday

If you’re planning to drive through the city center this Sunday, April 6th, you might want to reconsider. The 23rd Milano Marathon is taking over the streets, and it’s bringing a massive gridlock with it. 112 roads will be completely off-limits to cars, bikes, and scooters as 10,000 runners reclaim the asphalt.

OUTDOORS / Villa Carlotta Reopens: Your 7-Hectare Spring Escape  

Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo has just swung its gates open, showing off those legendary 19th-century camellias and giant azalea "tunnels" that look like something straight out of a Disney movie. If the flowers don't do it for you, the monumental staircase view of Bellagio definitely will.

LOGISTICS / The Easter Trash Code

Garbage pickup remains regular for Easter and Pasquetta, but the local riciclerie (recycling centers) are closed on Sunday. If you’re planning a big post-brunch cleanup on Monday, keep in mind that only the Olgettina and Muggiano sites will be open, and even then, only until 3 PM. Plan your spring cleaning accordingly or be prepared to share your balcony with those pizza boxes for a few extra days!

REAL ESTATE / A "Village" Makeover

Finding a home in Milan usually feels like a combat sport, but Gibeon Partners is trying to change the game. They’ve taken over a small urban "borgo" and are pumping out 54 renovated, move-in-ready apartments in the Via Brunetti area. We’re talking turn-key two-room flats priced between €150k and €240k, which, in this city, is basically a unicorn sighting. It’s a massive win for small investors and anyone tired of looking at "fixer-uppers" that cost a fortune!

LUXURY REAL ESTATE / Via Montenapoleone’s Record Sale 

If you thought your rent was high, wait until you hear this: the historic 18th-century palazzo at Via Montenapoleone 8 just changed hands for a staggering €1.1 billion. Kering (the giants behind Gucci and Saint Laurent) sold an 80% stake to the Qatari Al Mirqab Group, marking one of the biggest real estate deals in Milanese history. 

URBAN PLANNING / Goodbye Pavé

If you’ve ever rattled your teeth out cycling over the stones on Via De Amicis, we have good news: the old-school masselli are being removed starting April 8th. The city is swapping the bumpy rocks for smooth asphalt between Via Olona and Via Ausonio to make the heavy-traffic stretch safer. Just a heads-up: bus lines 96, 97, NM2, and NM4 are going on a two-month detour while the crews do their thing. Plan your commute accordingly!

FINANCE / The Easter Banking Blackout

If you’re wondering why your paycheck or rent transfer is stuck in limbo, don't panic; it’s not a glitch. The European "Target 2" payment system will be on a long weekend from April 2nd to the 6th. This means ordinary bank transfers are effectively frozen for five days. If you missed the Thursday morning cutoff, your money won't move until Tuesday, April 7th. 

INNOVATION / Milan, global ranks and local leaders 

It turns out Milan isn't just designing chairs and clothes, we’re inventing the future, too. According to the 2025 Technology Dashboard, Milan is the 16th most innovative city in Europe and 47th worldwide for new patents. Leading the charge are giants like LyondellBasell, Pirelli, and Prysmian, along with the bright minds at Politecnico di Milano. Whether it's high-tech polymers or advanced telecommunications, the city remains Italy's undisputed engine for new ideas, proving that the "Made in Milan" label is becoming just as much about tech as it is about style.

We know how fast Milan moves, so thank you for spending a few minutes of your week with us. Our goal is to make this city feel a little more like home, one update at a time.

Help us grow! 🚀 If you found this week’s breakdown helpful, forward it to a friend who’s looking for their place in the city. We’re just getting started, and your support makes all the difference.

If you’re an event organizer yourself, submit it here so we can share it with the community. 

Have a fantastic, productive, and social week in Milan.

Stay curious, stay connected.

Ale and The FoundIt Milan Team