Milan, 18 May 2026 – A free-entry weekend to celebrate its fourth anniversary. STEP FuturAbility District, the technology and educational space dedicated to the future located in Piazza Olivetti 1 in Milan, will welcome visitors on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May with extended opening hours from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, offering guided tours and interactive workshops for families. Free admission must be booked on the website steptothefuture.it.
STEP FuturAbility District offers an interactive journey dedicated to digital transformation and emerging technologies, ranging from augmented reality to the Internet of Things, from cloud computing to 5G and AI. Guiding visitors through the experience is Forward, a virtual character accompanying guests across the main installations: FUTURE JOBS, the area exploring the future of work and emerging professions; SAM, the generative AI installation that answers visitors’ questions about technology and the future in real time; DIGITAL YOU, which helps visitors create their future digital self through an avatar; and FUTURE TRENDS, an augmented reality experience showcasing the key future trends driven by digital transformation.
In addition to free access to the interactive “museum of the future”, STEP FuturAbility District has also organised special experiences combining technology and entertainment to celebrate its fourth anniversary. On Sunday 24 May, two free workshops dedicated to children and teenagers aged 8 to 16 and their families will take place. At 11:15 AM, “My First Podcast – Birthday Special” will introduce young participants to the world of audio production, from writing and recording to editing. Participants will have the opportunity to experiment with podcasting tools and formats. In the afternoon, at 3:15 PM, “Fourth Birthday Magic” will offer a creative activity where participants can create an illuminated postcard using electrical circuits, LEDs and conductive wire. The workshop combines drawing and technology, and participants will be able to take home their creations at the end of the experience.
“STEP FuturAbility District is a vibrant and constantly evolving space where scientific outreach meets technological innovation,” said Cristina Paciello, Head of STEP FuturAbility District. “Through increasingly engaging interactive activities and installations, we offer visitors the opportunity to understand how technologies are rapidly transforming key sectors of society – from mobility to healthcare, from industry to education and the jobs of the future – while equipping them with the skills and tools needed to become active participants, and not just spectators, in the digital transformation. This is exemplified by FUTURE JOBS, the interactive installation that allows visitors to explore emerging professions, discover the skills required for them and identify the most suitable educational pathways. Our goal is to make the future more accessible and understandable, enabling everyone to consciously engage with the changes we are already witnessing,” Paciello concluded.
STEP FuturAbility District in numbers
Since its inauguration at the end of May 2022, STEP FuturAbility District has welcomed more than 100,000 visitors, establishing itself as a key hub for digital culture and innovation outreach. More than 75,000 people have taken part in the immersive experience, including 22,000 students. Over the past four years, STEP has organised 164 scientific outreach workshops, including events from the technology-themed film series “Tech, si gira!” supported by NTT DATA, as well as 184 free Sunday workshops as part of the special Sunday@STEP programme supported by Accenture and dedicated to families.
STEP FuturAbility District is supported by a Scientific Committee composed of leading representatives from academia, institutions and business, who contribute to shaping STEP’s educational and outreach approach and significantly support the project’s development.
The initiative also benefits from the patronage of the Municipality of Milan and the scientific collaboration of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Politecnico di Milano Observatories, STEP’s institutional partners.
STEP’s journey is also made possible thanks to the support of numerous partner companies that share its values and objectives, contributing to the spread of innovation culture across industry, the workplace and education. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) participates as Knowledge Partner, Autostrade per l’Italia as Innovation Infrastructure Partner, Bracco as Scientific Partner, CairoRCS Media as Media Partner, IMCD as Technology Innovation Lab Partner, Trenord and FNM as Mobility Partners, Oppo and NTT DATA as Technological Partners, and Wallife as Insurance Partner.
STEP FuturAbility District represents Fastweb + Vodafone’s commitment to promoting the digitalisation of the country by making essential digital skills accessible and offering citizens the opportunity to explore and understand emerging technologies.