On April 22, 2026, the global observance of Earth Day will feature a major initiative in Rome, where Villa Borghese will host the Villaggio per la Terra (Earth Village), a multi-day public event focused on sustainability, innovation, and environmental education. The gathering, organized by Italy’s Ministry of Ecological Transition in collaboration with local institutions and cultural partners, aims to engage citizens, students, and families in tangible actions toward climate resilience and ecological stewardship.
Among the participating organizations is Mediaset, Italy’s leading private broadcaster, which will use its Mediaset Infinity streaming platform to amplify the event’s reach through exclusive content, live broadcasts, and educational programming. This effort forms part of Mediaset’s broader “Per il Futuro” sustainability campaign, launched in 2023 to align its operations and content strategy with the European Green Deal and Italy’s national climate objectives.
The Villaggio per la Terra will transform the historic gardens of Villa Borghese into an interactive hub featuring over 100 exhibits, workshops, and performances centered on renewable energy, circular economy practices, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable lifestyles. According to the official event program published by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, activities will run from April 20 to April 24, 2026, with daily programming designed for diverse age groups and interests.
One of the highlighted attractions is a special volleyball demonstration by the Italian Volleyball Federation (FIPAV), which will showcase its S3 (Sit, Stand, Spike) adaptive volleyball program. Designed to promote inclusivity in sports, S3 enables athletes with varying physical abilities to participate in modified volleyball games using adjusted rules and equipment. The demonstration will seize place on April 22 at 11:00 a.m. In the central piazza of the Villaggio, inviting public participation and awareness-raising about accessibility in physical activity.
the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital IRCCS, in partnership with the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and the MET for Planet initiative, will operate a health and wellness pavilion focused on the interconnection between environmental quality and public health. Visitors will have access to free screenings, expert talks on air quality and respiratory health, and educational materials on how urban green spaces contribute to mental and physical well-being.
Media coverage of the event will be amplified through Mediaset Infinity, which plans to release a dedicated documentary series titled “Terra Futura,” following the preparation and execution of the Villaggio per la Terra. The series, produced in collaboration with Rai Cultura and independent environmental filmmakers, will be available exclusively on the streaming platform starting April 20, 2026, with latest episodes released daily throughout the event period.
According to a press release issued by Mediaset on March 15, 2026, the company has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels, a target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). As part of this commitment, Mediaset Infinity will operate its streaming infrastructure using 100% renewable energy sourced from Italian wind and solar farms, a transition completed in early 2026 following a two-year migration to green-powered data centers in Lombardy and Lazio.
“Sustainability is no longer a side project — it’s central to how we create, distribute, and discuss content,” said Pier Silvio Berlusconi, CEO of Mediaset, in a statement accompanying the launch of the “Per il Futuro” initiative. “Through Mediaset Infinity, we have the reach to inform, inspire, and mobilize millions of viewers around environmental action, especially during moments like Earth Day when public attention is at its peak.”
The Villaggio per la Terra too includes a youth-focused zone managed by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, which will host interactive sessions on Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’ and its call for ecological conversion. A special podcast series, “Tutto comincia da un sogno,” produced by Radio Vaticana, will be launched during the event, featuring interviews with young environmental activists from across Europe and Africa.
Educational institutions are encouraged to participate through guided school tours, with over 15,000 students from Lazio and surrounding regions pre-registered for visits between April 21 and April 23. The Ministry of Education has provided curriculum-aligned activity kits for teachers, covering topics such as carbon footprint calculation, sustainable food systems, and the role of media in shaping environmental awareness.
Public transportation to Villa Borghese will be enhanced during the event period, with ATAC, Rome’s public transit authority, offering free shuttle services from major metro stations including Spagna, Flaminio, and Piazza del Popolo. Bike-sharing companies Mobike and Lime have also pledged to waive fees for trips originating or ending within the Villa Borghese perimeter during the event hours.
As Earth Day 2026 approaches, the Villaggio per la Terra represents a growing trend of integrating cultural, educational, and corporate engagement into environmental advocacy. By combining public access with high-profile media partnerships, organizers aim to transform awareness into action, leveraging Italy’s rich cultural infrastructure to serve a global message of ecological responsibility.
The next major update on the Villaggio per la Terra will be the official post-event impact report, scheduled for release by the Ministry of Ecological Transition in May 2026. This document will detail visitor numbers, participant feedback, carbon footprint measurements, and recommendations for scaling the model to other Italian cities in future years.
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