The anniversary programme unfolds over three days and brings together institutional moments, academic debate, artistic expression, and public engagement. It reflects the EUI’s dual mission as a centre of academic excellence and a space for dialogue between research, policy, and society.
Across Florence and Fiesole, the programme combines high-level ceremonies, ministerial discussions, open forums, exhibitions, and public events, offering multiple ways to engage with the themes of Europe, knowledge, and the role of universities in shaping the future.
More information on how to register and join the celebration will be provided soon.
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 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 inauguration of Palazzo Buontalenti and the opening of OPEN, an interdisciplinary exhibition curated by Sergio Risaliti and Stefania Rispoli. Through contemporary art and research, it explores the invisible foundations of economic and social life, inviting visitors into a newly restored space for an immersive evening experience celebrating the future of knowledge.
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.
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.
Download the full programme
Last update: March 2026
(296 KB - pdf)