Milan lights up with curiosity and science with Focus Live, the ninth edition of the Focus festival taking place from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026 at the Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci. This year’s theme is Intelligences, in the plural: an invitation to explore the many ways in which the mind, behavior, technology, and nature produce solutions, learn, communicate, and adapt.

For three days, from morning to evening, Focus Live will bring over 100 events to the stage featuring scientists, researchers, science communicators, sports champions, figures from the world of entertainment, and journalism, with meetings designed to tell science in an accessible and engaging way. The public can follow the appointments on the Main Stage, the Speakers’ Corner, and the Minds’ Corner, as well as enjoy direct experiences in areas dedicated to interactive activities, demonstrations, and workshops. Among the big names taking part in this edition of Focus Live are: Luca Parmitano and Umberto Guidoni, astronauts; Federico Basso, actor; Roberto Battiston, physicist; Paolo Benanti, theologian; Paolo Borzacchiello, author and language expert; Giulia Calogero, marine biologist; Jacopo Cardillo, aka Jago, sculptor; Davide Damiani, creator and radio host; Guido Damini, history communicator; Carola Divu, science communicator; Faso, musician; Mattia Garutti, oncologist; Tommaso Ghidini, ESA executive; Beatrice Marini, cosmetic chemist and trichologist technician; Mike Maric, former freediving world record holder and researcher; Enrico Melozzi, orchestra conductor; Giorgio Metta, scientific director of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Silvestro Micera, bioengineer; Pietro Mortini, neurosurgeon; Laura Pepe, historian; Enrica Maria Porcari, first Chief Information Officer at CERN in Geneva; Maria Rescigno, immunologist; Pippo Ricci, basketball player; Ruggero Rollini, science communicator; Massimo Tarenghi, astrophysicist; Massimo Temporelli, physicist and science communicator; Filippo Tortu, sprinter; Pablo Trincia, journalist and podcaster. The full program, with links to book free admission (while spots last), is available at live.focus.it/palinsesto.

“With this ninth edition, Focus Live confirms itself as a great open construction site on knowledge” states the Director of Focus, Gian Mattia Bazzoli. “This year we wanted an even richer and capillary schedule: meetings that intertwine science, technology, and psychology, immersive virtual reality experiences, and interactive workshops designed for all ages. The objective remains the one that has always guided our editorial team: to convey the complexity of the changing world with our usual rigor, but in an accessible and engaging language, capable of inspiring wonder in anyone who comes to visit us.”

Focus Live is created in close collaboration with the Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci, cultural partner and co-producer of the program, which offers its historical setting to explore the many ways in which human beings, animals, plants, and technologies think, learn, and find solutions through talks, experiences, workshops, and shows.

All information at: https://live.focus.it.

Instagram: @focus_ita

Facebook: @focus

THE PROGRAM

FOCUS LIVE SPECIAL EVENTS

On the evenings of Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24, the Focus Live schedule is enriched with two special events starting at 8:30 PM. On Friday 23, a leap two thousand years back in time will take place together with journalist and podcaster Pablo Trincia, who signs an exceptional event in collaboration with Focus Storia: Caligola e la triade oscura. A captivating investigation into the personality of one of ancient Rome’s most enigmatic emperors, analyzed through traits of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Starting from the accounts of great historians such as Tacitus and Suetonius, the reflection broadens to build a bridge with contemporary power figures.

On the evening of Saturday 24, the room transforms into an interactive arena with the game show Sfida ai… cervelli!. The audience will become an active part of the show, organized into three exceptional teams led by Federico Basso, Davide Damiani, and basketball player Pippo Ricci. With smartphones in hand and brain teasers to solve, the competition will test logic, promptness, emotional intelligence, AI deceptions, and cunningness.

THE MAIN STAGE

Focus Live opens on Friday, October 23 at 10:00 AM, following institutional greetings, with European Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut Luca Parmitano (via video connection) and astronaut and astrophysicist Umberto Guidoni, in the panel Come si pensa in orbita? to explore the perspectives of two different generations of astronauts and stories from their space travels. Space then turns to music and technology with Il violino magico, a multi-voice session bringing musicians, singers, directors, and researchers from the Wearable Robotics Lab at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa onto the stage to demonstrate how a pair of wearable exoskeletons can guide artistic gestures and make two bodies “think together” through live experiments with the audience.

On the main stage, Friday afternoon continues under the sign of creativity with Salvo Di Paola and Nicolò Cuccì, who will reveal the chemistry of animation and secrets of comedy behind the scenes of the animated series Il Baracchino (Prime Video), before giving way to a reflection on health with physician and researcher Silvio Garattini, ready to outline fundamental rules for a long and healthy life in the name of prevention. Next, attention shifts to tomorrow’s technologies: first with the talk L’auto che pensa (in collaboration with BYD), where Alessandro Grosso (Country Manager Italy & Regional Director Italy and Poland at BYD and DENZA) and Professor Sergio Savaresi from Politecnico di Milano will analyze the real boundaries of autonomous driving, followed by neuroscientist Michela Matteoli from Humanitas University, starring in Cervelli in fiore, an overview on taking care of the mind through nutrition, physical activity, and cultural stimulation. Closing the main stage will be Giorgio Metta, scientific director of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, with a fascinating journey exploring the impact of robots in our daily present and their projections toward 2100.

The schedule for Saturday, October 24 opens at 10:00 AM looking into space with Tommaso Ghidini (ESA) and astrophysicist Massimo Tarenghi (Intelligenze aliene?), moving on to the potential of conscious breathing with freediving champion Mike Maric (Respira, poi pensa). Professor Laura Pepe will guide the audience through metis, the classical cunning of Odysseus compared with AI in the talk titled L’intelligenza classica, while Father Luca Peyron and Friar Marcello Longhi close the morning with a reflection on the social impact of technology. The afternoon starts with a chat with Olympic champion Filippo Tortu in La scienza dello sprint, recounting the intersection between mind and speed, followed by a focus on cancer prevention and microbiota with Mattia Garutti, Maria Rescigno, and Ruggero Rollini (Parliamone di pancia, in collaboration with AIRC). Music and neurosciences meet in the lecture-performance Dalle note ai neuroni, featuring maestro Enrico Melozzi, Faso (Elio e le Storie Tese), and neuroscientist Alice Mado Proverbio. Closing the day will be physicist Roberto Battiston with a realistic analysis of future space projects, physicist and communicator Massimo Temporelli with L’universo in tasca, and writer/pilot Laura Mancuso alongside Marco Iezzi from Museo Scienza e Tecnologia di Milano.

Sunday, October 25 opens with linguistic intelligence expert Paolo Borzacchiello in Usa (bene) il cervello, explaining how hormones, words, and cognitive biases affect our daily decisions. The morning continues with artist and sculptor Jago in a journey inside the art of subtracting material to free form from marble, followed by Fabrizio Maiello’s story of rebirth alongside journalist Marco Cattaneo and philosopher Corrado Sinigaglia, examining how soccer athleticism can reprogram the mind and save a life. Closing the morning on the main stage will be journalist and communicator Paolo Attivissimo with Luna: che ci torniamo a fare?, providing an overview of upcoming crewed missions and technologies for future lunar bases.

The afternoon opens with a focus on neurosurgical frontiers alongside professors Silvestro Micera and Pietro Mortini, followed by a fun pop segment featuring a Star Wars science quiz with Dario Polli and cosplayers from the legendary saga. Space is then given to historical and evolutionary reflections with communicator Massimo Polidoro in Non ha vinto il più intelligente, tracing the origins of Homo sapiens through imagination, luck, and cognitive traps like fake news. The main stage finale is entrusted to La scienza della voce, an event-show curated by renowned phoniatrician Franco Fussi together with vocal experimenter Albert Hera, singer Karima, and tenor Vittorio Grigolo, ready to explore and perform live the extraordinary potential of the vocal instrument.

THE SPEAKERS’ CORNER

The Speakers’ Corner opens on Friday morning, October 23, with botanist Marco Stefano Caccianiga, ready to delve into carnivorous plants in Che genio, quella pianta carnivora!, followed by Corriere della Sera deputy director and 7 director Venanzio Postiglione, presenting an analysis on the weight and meaning of key civilizational words in the panel E tu che parole usi?. In the afternoon, ocean depths take center stage with biologist Roberto Danovaro in C’è vita laggiù?, followed by mental health insights with neurologist Simone Salemme in the panel Il brain training funziona?, clarifying real capabilities of cognitive games for the brain. In the evening, the area opens to major physics themes: first via a special connection from Brussels with Gabriele Veneziano, father of string theory, explaining what came before the Big Bang, followed by computer scientist Paolo Ciancarini, who analyzes the boundary between calculation and actual comprehension through the chessboard metaphor in Scacco matto all’AI .

Saturday’s Speakers’ Corner opens with Tecnologia, cuore e coraggio, where Enrica Porcari, Chief Information Officer at CERN, shares insights on knowledge and data management at the planet’s largest scientific infrastructure. Geneticist Silvia Ghirotto presents a journey discovering early Europeans’ appearances in Come eravamo. The dialogue between technology and biology continues with professors Alex Costa and Andrea Bassi (Piante che si illuminano), illustrating plant-environment communications, followed by computer scientist Paolo Ferragina, who narrates the transition from search engines to generative AI in Dalle biblioteche agli agenti. The afternoon features space weather explained by INAF researcher Paolo Romano, 3D printing applied to personalized medicine presented by Paolo Oliva (Humanitas University), quantum computing exploration with Professor Claudio Giannetti, and an analysis on the future of mountains amidst disappearing snow led by nivologist Claudio Artoni.

Sunday’s Speakers’ Corner schedule opens with Quei cervelloni degli animali, exploring cognitive abilities in the animal kingdom with Professor Monica Battini. Next comes an interactive experiment by European Commission researchers Alberto Guidi and Lorenzo Pirelli (Percezione o realtà?), designed to measure gaps between perception and real statistical data. In the afternoon, bioengineer Maria Chiara Carrozza addresses nature-inspired biorobotics and harmony between humans and machines in Intelligenze in equilibrio, leading into practical guidance by Professor Rodolfo Zunino in Occhio alle truffe on psychological triggers used in social engineering. The final deep-dive features biologist Giulia Calogero and physicist Carlo Guidi in Il cervello dei capodogli, analyzing sea giants’ complex cognitive, social, and emotional capacities.

THE MINDS’ CORNER

The Minds’ Corner program kicks off Friday morning, October 23, with the interactive quiz Intelligenza bestiale, led by Focus journalist Giovanna Camardo and Professor Monica Battini, testing the audience on surprising animal cognitive skills. In the afternoon, physics professor Erik Viotti leads La montagna intelligente, traveling through adaptation mechanisms of nature and alpine flora to challenge and redefine our concept of intelligence.

Saturday opens looking toward the future with Davide Fanciulli (Programme Officer at the UN in Geneva – Beyond Lab), Richard Maydell (Policy Officer at the EU Commission Joint Research Centre), and Nicola Spano (Policy Officer at the EU Commission JRC): in Decidere oggi con gli occhi di domani, the three speakers demonstrate how current choices impact future generations using a decision-analysis prototype. In the afternoon, cosmetic chemist Beatrice Marini tackles consumer awareness in Siamo diventati tutti cosmetologi?, clarifying boundaries between available ingredient data and informed choices.

Sunday at the Minds’ Corner starts with Missione frigorifero, an interactive team challenge curated by food technologist Cristian Panarelli to discover proper food preservation rules and prevent food waste/poisoning through trivia. Next, philosophy professor Nicola Donti presents an ironic comparison between philosophy and tech in Socrate VS ChatGPT, exploring AI’s impact on learning. In the afternoon, political philosopher Marco Solinas examines psychological dynamics behind fake news in L’intelligenza cieca delle teorie cospirative, while science communicator Carola Divù highlights mistake values in scientific discovery during Errori geniali.

KIDS AREA AND FOCUS JUNIOR SHOW

Generous space is dedicated to the Focus Junior Kids Area, expanding across two rooms of the Cavallerizze building. Here, hands-on workshops, robotics, math, nature activities, sponsor-backed science labs, and a large “Games without Wi-Fi” zone featuring brain teasers, mega puzzles, sudoku, and chess matches await children and teens.

Designed for ages 4–13, three days of activities cover manga, writing, natural sciences, and creative entertainment. Stage guests include author Davide Morosinotto, Geronimo Stilton, Marmò, and psychologist Roberta Tessaro.

Friday morning features journalist Vito Tartamella showcasing famous science pranks in Che burloni questi scienziati. Leo Scienza and AIRC then host Piatto ricco (di scienza) mi ci ficco (con coscienza), a theatrical lab on nutrition. Morning activities conclude with Davide Morosinotto’s creative challenge Chi è più intelligente? and Novi Education’s Moonshot project presentation supported by Banca Ifis. In the afternoon, Camilla Buso and Paolo Giancola guide Missione memoria to boost mind capabilities through imagery storytelling.

Saturday opens with a Chinese character workshop by Zhang Yingying (Confucius Institute), followed by a Crea un manga drawing workshop by Ivana Murianni and Federico Freschi. In the afternoon, Faso explores La scienza del baseball, followed by Alice Forte’s animated storytelling, Carlo Resca’s investigative workshop Storie che la sanno lunga, and Marmò & Giulia Mattarella’s musical show Dolcetto scherzetto.

Sunday begins with Leo Scienza’s show Galileo e la scienza delle domande, dog/cat cognition insights by dog trainer Sooad Diab, and a Jay Junior comic workshop with Valentina Venegoni and Sara Vincenzi. Afternoon sessions cover Scratch video game coding with Leone Perfetti, a family smartphone awareness debate with Roberta Tessaro, Geronimo Stilton’s ecology guide in Missione acqua!, and the grand interactive show finale Tutti pazzi per la scienza by Leo Scienza.

THE PLANETARIUM

Curated and hosted by science communicator and planetarist Nino Ragusi, Planetarium sessions begin Friday morning, October 23, with Le orse con la coda (night sky navigation guide), followed by Pianeti, lune e comete. Afternoon proections feature L’astronomia nell’arte, Nato sotto il segno dell’Ofiuco (astronomy vs. astrology distinctions), and the animated short La regata spaziale.

Saturday morning repeats constellation navigation and solar system explorations. Afternoon projections feature Persi in mezzo al mare (celestial navigation techniques), Nebulose, galassie e ammassi (stellar life cycles), and a return of Nato sotto il segno dell’Ofiuco.

Sunday opens with Le orse con la coda and Nato sotto il segno dell’Ofiuco. Afternoon screenings showcase L’astronomia nell’arte, Nebulose, galassie e ammassi, and conclude with Persi in mezzo al mare.

THE CAVALLERIZZE

Science leaves the stage and lands directly on interactive tables. Through headsets, microscopes, simulators, and small robots, research centers transform spaces into hands-on laboratories. Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna showcases AI-analyzed chess and an inclusive VR rowing simulator, while Gruppo Astrofili di Cinisello welcomes visitors into a 6-meter inflatable planetarium. The European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) hosts daily relays covering non-animal testing, tire impacts, behavioral biometrics, dual-use tech, and nuclear safety. Electronic recycling labs by SmontoLab, practical geology by Università degli Studi di Milano, ecosystem AI sounds by Bicocca, satellite cyberattack stress tests by Politecnico di Torino, DNA biological investigations by Human Technopole/AIRC, medical simulations by Humanitas University, edible batteries by IIT, Da Vinci AI dialogs by Università Cattolica, and BYD robotic displays round out the experiential journey.

OUTDOOR AREA

Three outdoor experiences feature automotive, simulation, and space innovation. BYD showcases the Dolphin G DM-i model. Orbitix & Moon VR Experience offer an immersive virtual reality moon landing simulation. The Italian Air Force welcomes guests with a mobile flight simulator inside a real cockpit.

GUIDED TOURS AND WORKSHOPS BY MUSEO NAZIONALE SCIENZA E TECNOLOGIA LEONARDO DA VINCI

On Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October, the Museum enriches the Focus Live 2026 lineup with guided tours and practical activities. Visitors can explore the Leonardo da Vinci Galleries (ages 9+), the Space Area (ages 8+), sustainability systems in ILAB Sustainability (Everything is connected, ages 9+), digital art in ILAB Digital Steam (Interactive images, ages 9+), early-childhood nature labs in PLAYLAB (Explore Playlab, ages 3–6), and VR tactical missions on Mars in the Virtual Zone (THE TOUCH, ages 16+).

FOCUS LIVE PARTNERS

Main Partner: BYD, Eni

Partner: Alice Ceramica, Banca Ifis, Barilla, Humanitas University, Jordan Oral Care, Pedrali

Content Partner: AIRC, Federchimica, Fondazione Fair, ILIAD, Mondadori Education, Opera San Francesco

Technical Partner: La Lucerna Educational

Cultural Partner: Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia