From September 19 to October 4, 2026, Cortona once again takes center stage in contemporary art with Cortona in Arte, the sculpture and painting exhibition that, for its sixth edition, brings 44 Italian and international artists to the heart of the city. Among them, 16 internationally renowned sculptors, gathered in Cortona for the first time in a single major exhibition of plastic arts.

2026 Edition: "From Darkness to Light"

Dates: September 19 to October 4, 2026

Venue: Centro Convegni Sant'Agostino, Cortona

Hours: every day from 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Admission: free

Edition number: VI, titled "From Darkness to Light"

The exhibition is conceived and curated by Marilena Visconti, general director and expert in art, antiques and contemporary art. It is organized by Cortona Sviluppo, under the patronage of the Municipality of Cortona and with the support of BPC Banca Popolare di Cortona and the Consorzio Cortona Vini.

The sculptors on show: from Venice to Cortona

The heart of the sixth edition is sculpture, with 16 internationally significant names never before brought together in Cortona. Among them is Arkeo, who took part in the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, alongside Matteo Lo Greco, Mauro Bonaventura, Marcapiano, Diego Rudellin, Umberto Iorio and Benvenuto Succi. The plastic arts section also includes Antonella Squillaci, Luca Corallini, Atmosfhera, Armando D'Andrea and Angelo Scardino, with works and installations spread across the spaces of the Centro Convegni Sant'Agostino.

Contemporary painting on display

Alongside sculpture, the exhibition devotes ample space to contemporary painting, with works by Sergio Villa, Sergio Cavallerin and Giovanni Cristini among the most prominent names, together with Sarah Miatt, Daniela Ghione, Paolo Manzari, Annalisa Migliacci, Cynthia Muriel, Riccardo Veschini, Marilena Visini, Beata Murawska, Maria Eleonora Lestingi, Elena Maria Barra, Gaetano Maffeo, Stefania Galletti, Nicola Porta, Daniele Di Giuseppe, Daniela Ferrero, Claudio Moretti, Adelina Gegaj and Francesca Bendistinto.

Opening-night performances: music and visual art

On opening day, the exhibition is enriched by two striking performative moments. The first is a musical interlude by soprano Noemi Umani, known for her debuts at major Italian and international opera houses and festivals, who will perform alongside Matteo Mencarelli and Niccolò Neri in "Batti, batti, o bel Masetto", from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni.

The second is "Segni Opposti" ("Opposing Signs"), a visual art performance by Monica Argentino, a versatile Roman artist who weaves together poetry, music and painting. A work of text, voice and painterly gesture that visually explores the contrasts, tensions and balance between the different forces of matter, exploring art as a universal language.

Why Cortona in Arte matters for Cortona

Now in its sixth edition, Cortona in Arte confirms the city's calling for contemporary art, pairing its historical and landscape heritage with an event that draws sculptors and painters of national and international standing. The support of the Municipality of Cortona, BPC Banca Popolare di Cortona and the Consorzio Cortona Vini shows how deeply the event is felt as part of the region's cultural identity, bringing together for the first time in Cortona names rarely found in a single exhibition.

Where to stay for Cortona in Arte

Villa Santa Margherita is just a few minutes from the Centro Convegni Sant'Agostino and Cortona's historic center, the ideal base for exploring the exhibition and its installations at your own pace throughout the show, from September 19 to October 4. Discover our rooms and available offers.