Corri la Vita 2026

The iconic event T-shirt, designed again this year by Ferragamo

Every September, tens of thousands of Florentines and visitors take to the streets for Corri la Vita -- one of the most genuinely moving and community-driven events on the city's calendar. Despite the name ("Run for Life"), it's really a walk at heart: a non-competitive fundraising event supporting breast cancer prevention, treatment, and research, built around the motto "Giving is participating."

2026 Date

The 24th edition takes place on Sunday, September 27th, 2026, departing from Viale Lincoln in Parco delle Cascine and finishing in Piazza della Signoria. More than 40,000 people took part in the 2025 edition, and organizers describe this year's route as longer and even more engaging than before.

Walk, Don't Run - Though You Can Do Either

Corri la Vita is non-competitive by design. The vast majority of participants treat it exactly as advertised here: a walk through the historic center, alongside families, groups of friends, and colleagues - it is really about the community. A running option exists for anyone who wants it, and prizes are awarded to the top three men's and women's finishers, but timing yourself is entirely optional - most people are there for the walk, the cause, and the day out.

The T-Shirt and Registration

Registration opens on September 1st, with a minimum donation of €10 securing the official t-shirt - cyclamen pink for 2026, designed once again by longtime partner Salvatore Ferragamo. T-shirts are available at distribution points around Florence from September 1st, and for anyone elsewhere in Italy, the shirt can be delivered free of charge (while supplies last) through an arrangement with BRT and BoxOffice Toscana.

Wearing the official shirt on event day unlocks free admission to a long list of Florence's cultural sites, arranged through a partnership with Città Nascosta. Past years' venues have included the Basilica of Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio, the Orto Botanico, the Museo Novecento, Forte Belvedere, the Stibbert Museum, and Orsanmichele. For 2026, new additions include the "BROKEN. The Power of the Fragment" exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi, the Museum of Restoration with the Chapel of Palazzo Ridolfi, the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno, the Museo della Misericordia, the Accademia dei Georgofili, an "Open" exhibition in the restored spaces of Palazzo Buontalenti, and the Anconella water treatment plant -- plus two out-of-town additions, the Centro Pecci contemporary art museum in Prato and the Museo della Paglia in Signa.

History

The event began in 2003 and was held in Piazza Santa Croce for its first six years before moving through Piazza Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, and eventually settling at Parco delle Cascine as its starting point. Over more than two decades, Corri la Vita has raised more than €10 million and involved well over half a million participants, funding breast cancer prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and psychological support programs.

Health Village and Screenings

From Friday, September 25th through Sunday, September 27th, a "Health Village" is set up in Piazza della Repubblica from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering free consultations and wellness activities. On the Saturday and Sunday, participants can book a mammography screening aboard a mobile unit, and physicians are on hand for consultations. Free melanoma screenings are also offered on September 26th and 27th in Piazza della Signoria aboard a mobile clinic. Both screening types require advance booking.

Getting There

The walk starts at Viale Lincoln inside Parco delle Cascine, at the western edge of the historic center -- an easy walk or short tram ride from most central hotels. Given the number of participants and road closures along the route into Piazza della Signoria, expect slower traffic and crowded sidewalks in the historic center that Sunday morning, whether or not you're taking part.

For registration, the current route details, and this year's full program, see the Corri la Vita website.