Programme

The celebrations of the European University Institute’s 50th anniversary open on 7 May 2026 in Florence with a formal ceremony at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. This institutional event marks the official launch of the anniversary, bringing together leading national and European authorities, the EUI community, alumni, local institutions, and Florentine high school students. With young people at its core, the ceremony becomes a symbolic generational handover, linking Europe’s leadership with its future citizens and setting the tone for reflection on the past and discussion of the challenges ahead.

The programme continues with a Ministerial Summit- High Council Meeting at the Badia Fiesolana, titled 'Universities for the future. Higher education and research in re-imagining Europe.' Ministers, European Commissioners, and policymakers gather to discuss how universities and research systems can respond to major societal, technological, and geopolitical transformations, and to reaffirm the role of higher education in Europe’s long-term development. The Summit is followed by a press conference and the EUI High Council session on governance and strategy.

Earlier that day, Beyond the EUI: 50 years of alumni engagement brings together the EUI community to reflect on its shared legacy, at Palazzo Buontalenti in Firenze. The afternoon features the Alumni Association conference, 'Geopolitics of knowledge in an increasingly polarised world,' alongside guided preview visits of the exhibition 'OPEN'. The programme concludes with the Alumni Podium, with prominent alumni reflecting on their trajectories and the community’s future.

The day concludes with the with the preview of OPEN, an interdisciplinary exhibition curated by Sergio Risaliti and Stefania Rispoli  in the newly restored wing of Palazzo Buontalenti. Developed in dialogue with the research of historian Johanna Gautier-Morin, the OPEN exhibition explores economic life through its productive, reproductive, and destructive dimensions.

EUIdeas: The Power of Knowledge is the flagship research and public-engagement event of the EUI’s 50th anniversary. Conceived as a full day of exchange and reflection, it brings together academics, policymakers, civic actors, local authorities, alumni, and the wider public to explore how knowledge can help guide Europe through today’s major societal and geopolitical transformations.

Centred on the theme of the power of knowledge, the programme combines plenary discussions, thematic sessions, and networking moments, creating a space where research meets public debate and diverse perspectives converge on Europe’s most pressing challenges. It also highlights the EUI’s longstanding contribution to thought leadership and the evolving role of universities in society.

Open upon registration, the event transforms the Badia Fiesolana into a vibrant arena for interdisciplinary dialogue, reinforcing the EUI’s mission to generate public value, strengthen democratic life, and help shape Europe’s future.

In the evening, there will be the Grand Opening of OPEN, the exhibtion. For the first time, the exhibition will be open to the public with two special grand opening evenings on 8 and 9 May 2026, from 21.00 to 23.00 CEST. Visitors will be able to experience an immersive sound and audiovisual installation in the main courtyard, alongside access to the full exhibition.

The Historical Archives of the European Union welcomes the public to its annual Open Day at Villa Salviati. Visitors are invited to enjoy a rich programme of events, including guided tours, historical readings and reenactments, concerts, art, and fun entertainment and activities for people of all ages. 

Held in downtown Florence, this interdisciplinary event Circolazione dei Saperi explores how knowledge evolves and circulates across history, science, and economics. The event, organised by the Department of Economics and the Department of History in cooperation with Museo Galileo, will be held in Italian.

The day concludes with the second evening of the Grand Opening of OPEN, a new exhibition space at Palazzo Buontalenti. The exhibition examines the often unseen foundations of economic life through works by six contemporary artists.