Scoppio del Carro 2026

Scoppio del Carro 2026: Florence’s Famous Easter “Explosion of the Cart”

Scoppio del Carro, Florence’s famous Easter “Explosion of the Cart,” takes place on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, filling Piazza del Duomo with a historic procession, sacred fire traditions, and the spectacular 11:00 moment when the “colombina” ignites the fireworks on the Brindellone. If you want to see Florence at its most folkloric and alive, this is one of the city’s most unforgettable mornings, where Renaissance streets, religious ritual, and pure theatrical flair collide in the heart of the historic center.

Scoppio del Carro 2026: Confirmed Date, Place, and Key Time

Scoppio del Carro happens every year on Easter Sunday in Piazza del Duomo in Florence. In 2026, Easter Sunday falls on April 5, 2026, which is why Scoppio del Carro 2026 will be on that date.

FeelFlorence, the City of Florence’s official tourism platform, confirms the main spectacle begins exactly at 11:00, when the “colombina” travels from the Cathedral’s high altar down the wire toward the cart and triggers the pyrotechnic display. Visit Tuscany also describes the same 11 a.m. action, explaining that the dove-shaped rocket crosses the nave to the cart and ignites smoke, bangs, and the sparkling pinwheel at the top.

What is Scoppio del Carro, and Why Florence Celebrates It

Visit Tuscany describes Scoppio del Carro as a unique secular-religious folk event whose origins can be traced back to the time of the First Crusade, linked to the Florentine figure Pazzino de’ Pazzi and the tradition of lighting the Holy Fire using three splinters of the Holy Sepulchre preserved in Florence. FeelFlorence provides more detail on the tradition, stating the three flints were later transferred to the Church of Santi Apostoli, where they remain, and that the Holy Fire is lit on Holy Saturday as a prelude to the Easter morning spectacle.

Over centuries, the ritual evolved from a simple distribution of sacred fire to a more elaborate citywide ceremony and, eventually, fireworks. That evolution is part of what makes the event so compelling for visitors, because it’s both deeply historical and immediately exciting, with a clear, dramatic “moment” at 11:00.

The Brindellone: The Cart That Steals the Show

Visit Tuscany confirms the cart is affectionately called the Brindellone, describing it as tall, colorful, and covered with Florentine coats of arms and symbols, stored in a long narrow building on Via il Prato and brought out on Easter morning. FeelFlorence adds vivid specifics: the Brindellone is 12 meters tall, has 3 levels, and weighs 40 quintals, and it is stored in a depot on Via il Prato near Porta al Prato.

On Easter morning, the cart is pulled through the historic center by decorated white oxen and escorted by the city’s historical procession. FeelFlorence states the escort includes about 150 participants in the historical procession of the Florentine Republic, including soldiers, musicians, and flag throwers, reinforcing that this is as much a visual cultural spectacle as it is a religious ceremony.

What You’ll See on Easter Morning: Procession, Holy Fire, and Fireworks

FeelFlorence explains that the cart is brought to Piazza del Duomo and positioned between the Baptistery and the Cathedral façade. At 11:00, during Mass when the Gloria is sung, the colombina travels along the wire to ignite the fireworks, creating flashes, smoke, and sound before the cart reappears against the marble backdrop of the Cathedral.

Visit Tuscany adds that the colombina is then sent back along the wire, and a successful flight is traditionally seen as a good omen for an abundant harvest. For travelers, the story is part of the charm: you’re not only watching fireworks, you’re watching a living superstition and civic ritual play out in the city’s most iconic square.

How to Experience Scoppio del Carro Like a Visitor

Because it’s in Piazza del Duomo, expect very large crowds and limited space. The best approach is to arrive early, choose a spot with a clear sightline toward the area between the Cathedral and Baptistery, and commit to staying put once the square begins to fill.

A simple visitor plan:

• Morning: arrive early and walk into the historic center before streets get too dense.
• Mid-morning: settle into Piazza del Duomo and enjoy the build-up as the procession and ceremony approach.
• 11:00: watch the colombina and fireworks moment.
• After: step away into quieter nearby streets for coffee and a pastry, then continue your Easter day exploring Florence.

Florence Culture Tip: The Calcio Storico Connection

Visit Tuscany notes that Scoppio del Carro ties into another important Florentine event, Calcio Storico, because before the Explosion, the draw of teams takes place to determine the semifinals. Even if you’re not in Florence later in the year for Calcio Storico itself, this connection shows how Easter traditions in Florence often link to the city’s broader calendar of pageantry and historic rituals.

Tickets and Pricing: What’s Confirmed

Scoppio del Carro is a public ceremony in Piazza del Duomo, and the official sources here present it as an event you witness in the square rather than a ticketed performance. Neither Visit Tuscany nor FeelFlorence lists an admission ticket price for watching from the public space, so it’s best described as free to attend in the square, with the “cost” being time, crowd management, and early arrival.

Verified Information at a Glance

• Event name: Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart)
• Event category: Easter folk tradition and secular-religious ceremony with fireworks
• Confirmed city: Florence (Firenze), Italy
• Confirmed main location: Piazza del Duomo
• Confirmed 2026 date: Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026
• Confirmed key time: 11:00 (colombina launches and ignites the cart fireworks)
• Verified core elements: Brindellone cart, decorated oxen, historical procession, Holy Fire tradition, colombina rocket, pyrotechnic spectacle and return flight
• Verified Brindellone details: Stored on Via il Prato; described as 12 m tall, 3 levels, 40 quintals by FeelFlorence
• Ticket pricing: No admission price listed for viewing from public areas in the official sources retrieved here

If you’ll be in Florence in 2026 for Easter, wake up early on April 5, head toward Piazza del Duomo with patience and curiosity, and let Scoppio del Carro give you a morning of tradition, spectacle, and Florentine pride that you’ll remember long after the last spark fades.