Milan is (already) thinking about Christmas: the call for tenders for trees and lights has been published

Milan, July 6, 2025 – Music to the ears of lovers of winter and Christmas holidays. Even Palazzo Marino is (already) thinking about Christmas . Like every year at this time of year, the municipal administration has published a public notice to find technical sponsors to collaborate in creating and installing trees and lights not only in the center (but not only).

The notice is addressed to public and private entities, foundations, associations and operators of the Third Sector through sponsorships of an exclusively technical nature, without direct costs for the Administration. Applications can be for "Il Natale degli Alberi" and "Il Natale degli Alberi e impianti luce" (1st and 2nd area), consistent with the concept created by Marco Balich and donated to the Municipality by Fondazione Bracco. In this case the trees must be at least four meters tall , visible day and night, sustainable and have " high scenographic value" while the lights must have a low environmental impact and consistent with the urban context in which they will be positioned.

The third area for which applications are open is that of " Light Installations" (3rd area) with artistic lighting projects for central and neighborhood streets and commercial axes. The fourth is that of " Christmas of the Trees in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele" with proposals for the tree and the luminous vault of the Gallery, to be created in technical coordination and respecting the historical-artistic value of the space.

The area of ​​Piazza Duomo is excluded from the notice as it is part of other institutional initiatives. In the case of the first three areas, each project must concern two locations, one in the center and one outside the ring road of line 90/91. The area of ​​Piazza Duomo is excluded as it is the subject of specific institutional initiatives. "The projects - the Municipality explains - must be consistent with the principles of sustainability, inclusion and urban decorum , guarantee a proportionate return of image and, where possible, include social animation activities or charity initiatives".

In addition to the public notice, the Municipality of Milan has also allocated 70 thousand euros in contributions to cover 50% of the documented costs, up to a maximum amount of 3 thousand euros, for Street Associations, Trade Associations and Committees, able to design and implement with their own resources project proposals relating to Christmas light decorations, without resorting to sponsors, along the city's streets and commercial axes. The project must demonstrate artistic value and quality, as well as respect for the surrounding environment, coherence with the characteristics of the area where the installation is positioned and with the concept 'Christmas in Milan 2025'.

The lights can be installed starting from November 1st and must be dismantled by January 6th . "The light decorations created by associations and committees every year to embellish Christmas in Milan, together with sponsorships for the creation of trees and markets - observed the Councilor for Economic Development Alessia Cappello -, are a fundamental lever of support for the commercial fabric of the city that experiences its peak moment in those days of the year due to Christmas shopping".