Calcio Storico 2026

Calcio Fiorentino or Calcio in Costume - better known in Florence as Calcio Storico - is a traditional football game dating back to the 15th century. A violent mix of football, soccer, wrestling and perhaps boxing, the tournament is played in medieval costume every year from mid to late June.

The final match is usually held on June 24th (last year it was moved up a bit due to an election). The event takes place in Florence's Piazza Santa Croce, where the piazza is transformed into a playing field with a thick layer of sand under the players and bleacher-style stands for the spectators.

The exact origins of the game are unclear, but some believe it began as a way to keep military troops in shape while waiting to go to battle. Later, it became more of a competitive sport for young Florentine aristocrats. The first official rules for the Calcio Storico were written by Florentine Count Giovanni de'Bardi di Vernio in 1580. Each game of the Calcio Storico has 54 players divided into two teams of 27 which are lined up in three rows. After that, it seems there are no real guidelines - just the final objective of making a goal. The round ball is tossed around the field while the players do anything in their power to stop their opponents from scoring. Punching, tackling, kicking and clawing are all acceptable tactics to stop the opponent (we also saw biting and sand throwing one year!). A goal is made by throwing the ball over a 4 foot high wooden wall that runs the length of the field.

You can see the location of the above plaque on the wall of Palazzo Antellesi.

The four teams consist of players from four areas of the city: Santa Croce ("Azzurri" or Blues); Santa Maria Novella ("Rossi" or Reds); Santo Spirito ("Bianchi" or Whites); and San Giovanni ("Verdi" or Greens). Needless to say, passionate loyalties fuel the ruthlessness of the tournament.

Before each game, a long procession of the players, flag throwers, drummers, and other Florentine citizens all dressed in historical costumes starts from Piazza Santa Maria Novella and slowly makes its way to Piazza della Signoria, down Via de'Neri, and then up Via dei Benci until it finally reaches Piazza Santa Croce. The comradery, pageantry, costumes and trumpets are quite impressive and worth watching even if you don't have the stomach (or tickets - which are usually very hard to come by) to watch the actual game.

An update on Calcio Storico tickets for 2026:

Ticket Sale Mechanics
Where: Exclusively online via TicketOne.it.
When: Sales launch precisely on June 11, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon) local Italian time.

A Quick Reality Check on Buying
The warning from the SAI Programs guide is spot on. If you are trying to pull tickets for this, treating it like a high-stakes concert drop is your best bet:

Pre-register: Create and verify your TicketOne account before June 11. If you are logging in at 11:59 AM to set up an account, you will likely miss out.

Be fast: The final sells out almost instantly. Even the semifinals go incredibly quick because the local fan bases (the Calcianti and their neighborhoods) swamp the site.

Seating reality: Ticket prices generally range from around €29 (for the standing/uncovered curves) up to €80+ (for the covered grandstands/tribuna). Note that while tickets technically have seat numbers, once you are inside the arena in Piazza Santa Croce, local crowds tend to treat seating as "first-come, first-served" by neighborhood color, so plan to arrive early (around 3:30 PM is standard) to secure a good vantage point.

For a real sense of the atmosphere of the event, here is a well-done video of the Calcio Storico:GLADIATORS SPIRIT'S IS STILL ALIVE Calcio storico Fiorentino Take 2 from Brice Ansel on Vimeo