LARP in Italy is usually called gioco di ruolo dal vivo, shortened to GRV, and more and more often simply "larp". It is a scene of long-running fantasy campaigns, a very large annual festival near Rome, short chamber games and a growing number of one-shot productions with science-fiction and historical themes. This guide explains how the Italian scene works, which events have dates for late 2026 and 2027 on organizer or official pages, and how to prepare for your first game.
Looking for exact dates? See upcoming LARP events in Italy in our LARP Calendar.
LARP in Italy: What to Expect
Search for "LARP Italy" in English and you will find a few international listings. Search for "gioco di ruolo dal vivo" or "GRV" and you will find the organizers themselves. The same hobby goes by all three names. Italian organizers often publish an English page next to the Italian one, but the games are mostly played in Italian, so always check the language of play before you pay.
An Italian article on the scene describes four main formats:
- campaigns, long-running episodic fantasy games with detailed rules, which it calls the most affordable kind of live roleplay apart from chamber larps;
- festivals, huge gatherings such as Battle for Vilegis, which it calls the largest and best known in Italy;
- chamber larps (larp da camera), short and often experimental games for small groups;
- one-shots, self-contained games, with expensive high-production ones nicknamed "blockbuster".
The same article notes two broad camps among players: those who favor classic, rulebook-based play and those who follow Nordic larp. Both exist side by side, and you can pick whichever suits you.
How the Italian LARP Scene Works
Most Italian LARP is run by non-profit associations and small production companies. Some require you to join as a member before you can play. Chroma-K, for example, states that its events are reserved for members and that members make voluntary donations to fund the games. Battle for Vilegis is organized by The Gamers ASD APS, and its registration form also serves as personal insurance and liability waiver, so read it carefully.
Italian players have also started to organize the scene as a field. In December 2025 Larp Studio, together with the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca and Federludo, the national federation of play associations, held what was presented as the first national larp convention in Italy, the Larp Forum. A second edition is planned for December 2026 (details below).
Who Runs What
The Italian article mentioned above names Bollaverde and GRVItalia among the oldest campaign organizers, and Eryados, Hup, Chaos League, Proxima and Terre Spezzate among the makers of one-shots. Local "Larp Club" groups in many cities are the usual way into chamber larps. We list below only the games we could confirm on an organizer's own page or an official announcement.
Best LARP Events in Italy 2026 and 2027
Italian organizers often open registration only a few months ahead, and some pages show an event without a venue or price. Check each page again before you plan travel.
The Keep: Radiant (Battle for Vilegis)
A four-day fantasy event from November 26 to 29, 2026, at the castle of Graffignano in the province of Viterbo. The organizers describe it as a mix of the classic Vilegis field play with castle-based play, with nine Casate (the game's houses) taking part. Admission is closed because the venue has limited space. The page does not list a price, so see the official page and the registration form.
Italian Larp Festival
Organized by Chaos League, the Italian Larp Festival takes place from December 4 to 6, 2026, at the RHI Porta Bologna hotel in Pieve di Cento, near Bologna. The organizers present it as open to newcomers and experienced players, and no costume or experience is required. The program includes chamber larps, an ILF Talk day on Friday with talks and workshops, parties, performances, awards and a family track for children. Participants choose their larps through a form sent after registration. The ticket is 270 EUR with food and lodging included, with instalments available, and 160 EUR for under 18s. See the official page.
Leviathan: Countdown (Eryados)
A science-fiction larp about a simulated space agency, held in Monte Porzio Catone near Rome from December 4 to 6, 2026, with the INAF Rome Astronomical Observatory as its operations center. It is organized by Eryados together with INAF and the International Astronomical Union, and about 100 participants are expected. Players may work with real astronomical data, and no special skills are needed. According to INAF, the 390 EUR ticket includes two nights in a hotel, catering, photo and video service and insurance. Registration is on the Eryados website. See the INAF announcement.
Larp Forum 2026 (Larp Studio)
Not a game but a convention for players and designers: the second Italian larp convention runs from December 11 to 13, 2026, on the IMT campus in Lucca. A standard pass costs 35 EUR and includes talks, workshops, poster sessions and round tables, plus membership in the Italian Larp Academy. Campus canteen meals are 10 EUR extra. Details are on the Larp Forum website.
Exclave (Chroma-K)
Chroma-K describes Exclave as a fantasy post-apocalyptic campaign: a three-day immersive game for 100 participants, played at the Convento dell'Incontro in Bagno a Ripoli, about half an hour from central Florence. The next run is March 12 to 14, 2027, with two more dates planned after it. Registration opens soon, membership is required, and no price is listed. The site is in Italian and does not state the language of play explicitly. See the organizer's page.
Age of Guardians (Battle for Vilegis)
Battle for Vilegis calls itself the biggest LARP event in Italy, and its English page mentions up to 1,400 players at past events. It is a medieval fantasy sandbox in its own setting: players join one of ten Casate (Argantis, Brandis, Devoras, Gregoria, Laoconte, Lynxia, Nepturia, Radiant, Valerian and Vassago) and chase power, glory and wealth through battles, missions, alliances and political conclaves in the Citadel. The game runs 24 hours a day from Time In to Time Out, and you may bring your own character concept as long as it fits the medieval fantasy look. The Italian site GDRItalia reported that the first edition, in April 2012, already drew more than 700 players from Italy, Spain and Germany.
Age of Guardians, the main festival, has two sessions in 2027: June 2 to 6 and September 22 to 26. It takes place on a 40-hectare plain in the Viterbo countryside north of Rome, about 15 km from Vetralla railway station. For June 2027 the regular ticket rises by registration window: 95 EUR until November 30, 2026, then 105, 115 and 125 EUR, and 135 EUR at the door. New players pay 65 EUR (85 EUR at the door), children under 13 pay 50 EUR, and new players under 13 and children under 5 play for free. Players camp: in-game tents must look the part, modern gazebos go to the out-game area, there is no power supply, and food stands in the Citadel serve Italian food with vegetarian options. The rules are in Italian, with an English game handbook available. See the official page and the registration page.
In Fabula (Chroma-K)
A fairy-tale fantasy one-shot from the same association, scheduled for September 10 to 12, 2027, with pre-registration open. The organizers do not list a venue or price. See the organizer's page.
LARP Events in Italy by Date
- November 26 to 29, 2026: The Keep: Radiant, Graffignano (VT).
- December 4 to 6, 2026: Italian Larp Festival, Pieve di Cento (BO).
- December 4 to 6, 2026: Leviathan: Countdown, Monte Porzio Catone (RM).
- December 11 to 13, 2026: Larp Forum, Lucca (convention).
- March 12 to 14, 2027: Exclave, Bagno a Ripoli (Florence).
- June 2 to 6, 2027: Age of Guardians, Battle for Vilegis.
- September 10 to 12, 2027: In Fabula, Chroma-K (venue not stated).
- September 22 to 26, 2027: Age of Guardians, Battle for Vilegis.
This list is not complete. We left out games that we could see only on third-party listings and not on an organizer's page. Our calendar will keep growing as dates are confirmed.
How to Find a Game in Italy
There is no single official calendar, so most players combine a few sources. The International Larp Database, which has Italian roots, and Larp Radar collect many announcements, and our calendar shows the events we could verify. Once you find a game, go to the organizer's page: it holds the real dates, prices and rules, and listings can lag behind.
Follow organizers on social media and join their community channels. Most games ask you to fill in a form with your wishes, and the organizers then confirm a character or a faction. Answer early and honestly, because it shapes the game you get.
Costs, Language and Seasons
Prices in the pages above run from about 35 EUR for a convention pass and 65 to 135 EUR for a festival ticket at Battle for Vilegis to 270 to 390 EUR for a full weekend with hotel and food included. Compare what is included: some games provide meals and lodging, others do not, and some require a membership on top of the ticket. Reduced rates for newcomers or under 18s are common.
Language matters. The organizer pages we found are in Italian, sometimes with an English version, and the Chroma-K, Battle for Vilegis and Larp Forum sites do not promise English-language play. If you do not speak Italian, ask the organizers before you register.
The dates above cluster in late autumn, early December and the spring and early autumn months. Castles and hotels host the winter games, so you sleep indoors, while the big festival is held in a field, so check the weather and the event guide. Whatever the format, pack for the weather at the site, a copy of your character background, any medication you need, and plan your travel in advance, because several venues are far from big train stations.
How to Plan Your LARP Trip to Italy
- follow the organizers' own pages, because registration windows can be short;
- ask about the language of play and whether you must join a membership association;
- check the venue and transport, as many games are in castles and rural sites;
- read each event's rules and costume requirements, and bring only gear that passes the safety check.
We do not sell weapons, and every event has its own weapon safety checks, so confirm what is allowed with the organizer before you travel.
Tips for First-Time LARP Players in Italy
Start small. A chamber larp, a convention day or a short one-shot is a cheaper first step than a multi-day camp. If your Italian is limited, ask the organizers whether they can help you in English before you book.
Read the setting material and prepare a short backstory for your character. Message the organizers with questions about rules and safety, because game masters are happy to help newcomers. Then build your look around your character, since costume rules differ by event.
At LARPSHOPKEEPER we make polyurethane LARP armor reinforced with fiberglass. It is handmade and painted by hand in our workshop in Ukraine, in a general fantasy style, and we ship worldwide, including Italy. You get free recoloring in your colors, custom pieces to order, and instalment payments. If you are going with friends, group orders from 5 players get 15% off, and you can browse helmets to complete the set. Our customers have worn our armor at large events such as ConQuest of Mythodea and DrachenFest.
LARP in Italy is young, varied and mostly in Italian. Pick a game, check its page and join the next one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is LARP Called in Italy?
Do I Need to Speak Italian to Play LARP in Italy?
How Much Does a LARP Event in Italy Cost?
Where Can I Find Upcoming LARP Events in Italy?
Event information is provided for orientation only. LARPSHOPKEEPER is not affiliated with the organizers. Please check dates and details on the official event websites.