Discover the program for the summer of 2026 at Villa Medici in Rome!
The Villa Medici – The French Academy in Rome is a prestigious museum and cultural institution located near Villa Borghese. Like every summer, this year it is ready to host numerous events, with a rich program that includes art exhibitions, landscape architecture interventions, and film festivals. With its 18 hectares of gardens, fountains, and sculptures, Villa Medici remains an oasis of artistic expression that evokes the French countryside, despite being situated in one of the most central areas of Rome.
Let’s take a look at the artistic programming of Villa Medici from May to September 2026
The Festival des Cabanes at Villa Medici was created to offer architects, artists, and researchers the opportunity to “take over” the site’s historic gardens, designed by Ferdinando de’ Medici at the end of the 16th century. For the fifth consecutive year, six original “cabin” creations will be showcased throughout the summer in the heart of the Villa Medici gardens. These cabins are specially designed for the festival by international groups of architects, builders, and students: Bento Architecture, ECAL, the University of Art and Design Lausanne, Foundation Huttopia, NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, PRÌA and VELIA, and Salazarsequeromedina. All summer long, the cabins will host various educational workshops, readings, and yoga classes.
Opening times: Monday to Sunday (closed on Tuesday) from 10:00am to 7:00pm (last entry at 6:30pm)
Oracle beyond the sea | 19 June – 7 September 2026
From June 19 to September 7, 2026, Villa Medici presents Oracles Beyond the Sea, the collective exhibition marking the end of the sixteen fellows’ year-long residency at the French Academy in Rome. Curated by Roberto Pontecorvo and Imma Tralli of Marea Art Project, with Camille Coschieri as associate curator, the show takes its title from Oracles from the Sea (1998) by Palestinian artist Vera Tamari.
The exhibition brings together works spanning visual and performing arts, music, literature, architecture, curating, and art theory. Created in the privacy of the studios, the projects now move into the historic spaces of Villa Medici to meet the public. Some appear as finished pieces, others as ongoing processes, held in a constant tension between the poetic and the political.
Opening times: Monday to Sunday (closed on Tuesday) from 10:00am to 7:00pm (last entry at 6:30pm)
Created in 2021, the Villa Medici Film Festival offers an international selection of films that explore the connections between cinema and contemporary art. For the sixth consecutive year, the festival aims to present pioneering works with diverse profiles that challenge, disrupt, transform, or re-enchant our relationship with images.
The Villa Medici Film Festival is divided into three sections: the International Competition, consisting of fourteen recent films of various genres and formats, the parallel program Focus, featuring non-competitive films by artists, masterclasses, and exceptional encounters, and the Piazzale screenings, which gather the audience for outdoor screenings of new films, including premieres and restored classics.
This year’s festival is dedicated to the memory of Lili Hinstin (1977–2026), a woman of the cinema, festival programmer and artistic director, who began her career at Villa Medici as a film programmer from 2005 to 2010, before helping to create the Film Festival, serving as a member of its Selection and Organizing Committee until her passing.
Welcome to a gastronomic journey like no other! When in Rome, it’s not just about the iconic landmarks and ancient history; it’s also an opportunity to savor the delectable flavors that the region has to offer. As the sun-drenched days of summer arrive, so do the lively food festivals and traditional “sagre” that fill the air with mouthwatering aromas and a contagious festive spirit.
The sagra is an Italian festival, organized in some towns, or regions, and is always linked to a local tradition or food celebrated in the course of the event. These events provide an authentic and immersive experience into the heart of Italian culinary traditions, celebrating local produce, regional specialties, and age-old recipes that have been handed down through generations. Most of these festivals take place in charming villages just outside the city, making them the perfect excuse for a day trip from Rome.
This is our list of Sagre in the Lazio area in 2026.
Festa Cozze e Pecorino Mussels and pecorino cheese July 23 – August 2 Fiumicino (RM)
Sagra della Ciccia Mixed grilled meat July 31 – August 2 Canale Monterano (RM)
Sagra dei Cecapreti e della Bufaletta Cecapreti pasta and buffalo meat August 1 Villa Santo Stefano (FR)
Fettuccine alla Trebulana Fettuccine pasta “alla Trebulana” August 1-2 Monteleone Sabino (RI)
Sagra delle Fettuccine con i Funghi Porcini Fettuccine pasta with porcini mushrooms August 2 Ascrea (RI)
Sagra del Vino di Monticelli Monticelli wine August 6-7 Esperia (FR)
Cantine in festa Wine Feast August 7-8 Anticoli Corrado (RM)
Sagra delle Pappardelle Pappardelle pasta August 7-9 Canale Monterano (RM)
Sagra della Pizza Fritta Nerolese Nerolese Fried Pizza August 8-9 Nerola (RM)
Sagra della Lumaca Snails August 11-16 Graffignano (VT)
Sagra delle Fettuccine con i Funghi Porcini Fettuccine pasta with porcini mushrooms August 12-13 Casaprota (RI)
Sagra delle Strengozze Strengozze pasta August 20-23 Cantalice (RI)
Sagra della Tellina Tellina clam August 21-30 Ostia (RM)
Sagra dell’Agnello Lamb August 21-31 Rocca Priora (RM)
Sagra della Nocciola Hazelnut August 21-23 & 28 – September 1 Caprarola (VT)
Rajche August 23-25 Subiaco (RM)
Sagra del Pizzutello Pizzutello grapes August 29-31 Tivoli (RM)
Sagra degli Spaghetti alla Amatriciana August 30 – September 1 Amatrice (RI)
Sagra del fagiolo Bean August 29 – September 1 Sutri (VT)
Fiera mondiale del Peperoncino World Chili Pepper Fair August 28 – September 6 Rieti
Discovering the best things to do in Rome in September
Rome in September is perhaps at its best! The city has survived the boiling peaks of August, Romans have returned from holidays with renewed energy, and local life is ready to get back on track, in a post-summer, but still sunny, fresh, and extremely pleasant atmosphere! In this article we have gathered some of the best events in September 2026 in Rome, such as exhibitions, festivals, concerts and other things to do. Take your pick and enjoy.
Exhibitions this September in Rome
September in Rome is the perfect time to dive into the city’s vibrant art scene and explore a variety of exhibitions.
The month’s big opening is at Palazzo Bonaparte, where a major retrospective on Vassily Kandinsky opens on September 15. Twenty-five years after the last monographic show dedicated to the Russian master of abstraction in Rome, it’s already one of the most anticipated exhibitions of the season, and advance tickets are on sale.
At the Ara Pacis, Robert Mapplethorpe and Humanity as Art offers a powerful journey through the work of one of the most influential and provocative photographers of the 20th century, exploring the body, form and beauty through his unmistakable black-and-white lens.
Over at the Musei Capitolini, don’t miss the major retrospective dedicated to Diego Rivera, one of the giants of Mexican muralism, a rare chance to see his work in Rome.
The Galleria Borghese continues to impress with Metamorphosis. Ovid and the Arts, gathering over 80 masterpieces from Correggio to Rodin in a journey through Ovid’s myths of transformation, staged in the very rooms his poem once inspired.
Finally, fashion lovers shouldn’t miss After. Steps Through Work. Fendi / Karl Lagerfeld 1985 at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, a faithful restaging of the legendary 1985 exhibition celebrating the collaboration between Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld, conceived by Maria Grazia Chiuri for the maison’s centenary.
As summer comes to a close, Rome’s live music scene stays lively throughout September. The month brings a variety of musical events for all tastes, featuring both established and emerging artists from Italy and abroad, in individual shows as well as festivals such as Romaeuropa and Dissonanze. The line-ups are well worth exploring — check out who’s playing!
Short Theatre is Rome’s international festival dedicated to contemporary creation and the performing arts, back for its 21st edition with over 65 events by some 40 companies and artists from around the world. Through performances, installations, talks, workshops, concerts and DJ sets, the festival maps today’s artistic geographies across the Global South and East. The heart of the event is La Pelanda at the Mattatoio in Testaccio, with an opening night among the greenhouses of Rome’s Botanical Garden and additional programming at Teatro India, Teatro Vittoria, Cinema Troisi, MACRO and the Museum of Civilizations.
Mattatoio, Botanical Garden, Teatro India, Teatro Vittoria, MACRO, Cinema Troisi, MUCIV – Museum of Civilizations discover moreShort Theatre 2026
Until 5 September | Village Celimontana
Village Celimontana continues to bring live music to one of Rome’s most beautiful summer settings. Now in its tenth edition, the festival runs until September 5 at Villa Celimontana, with more than 100 free concerts throughout the season. Expect a rich programme of jazz, swing, manouche, rock’n’roll, Brazilian rhythms, dance nights and family-friendly events.
Rome’s biggest wine and food event returns to Piazza di Siena, in the heart of Villa Borghese, from September 7 to 13 for its 23rd edition. Over seven evenings, visitors can taste their way through 3,200 labels from 800 Italian wineries, alongside a rich program of masterclasses, guided tastings, show cooking and exclusive chef’s dinners. Highlights include the Wine Top Tasting masterclasses, the Casa Barolo tastings dedicated to the great wines of Langa, the Temporary Restaurants, and the Pizza d’Autore dinners with Italy’s top pizza masters, culminating in the finals of La Città della Pizza contest on September 13.
Piazza di Siena, Villa Borghese discover moreVinoforum 2026
8 September – 15 November | Romaeuropa Festival
This year, the jam-packed line-up of Romaeuropa Festival is set to delight, inspire and entertain all ages. A dazzling array of music, theatre, dance, digital arts and creation for children will be showcased at different venues throughout the city. The 41st edition of the Romaeuropa Festival is one of the richest ever: the programme includes 100 shows with 240 performances and the participation of around 1000 artists from all over the world.
Dissonanze returns to Rome on September 12–13 with “New Chapter”, opening a bold new era for one of Italy’s most visionary festivals after last year’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Two days of live sets, DJ sets, and performances at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, closing the Roma Summer Fest season with a line-up that blends club culture, experimentation, and avant-garde soundscapes. From house to techno, ambient to performance art, the event features artists like Björk (DJ set), Peggy Gou, Floating Points, and many more, reconfirming Dissonanze as a landmark of contemporary electronic culture.
Line-up:
Day 1 (September 12): Björk (DJ set), Peggy Gou, Derrick Carter, Honey Dijon, Kelly Lee Owens (DJ set), Ron Trent, Tony Humphries, Aline Umber (DJ set), CARISTA, Dante, Duddha, ISAbella, Nubiyan Twist, Paranoid London (live), Ruthven, Sugar Free, Ti Es, Yu Su.
Designed by Renzo Piano, the Cavea, the Auditorium’s stunning open-air amphitheater, is home to the Fondazione Musica per Roma’s summer festival: the Roma Summer Fest. Just a few feet from the stage, audiences can experience outstanding live music under the stars, enhanced by the venue’s exceptional acoustics. One of the most anticipated events of the Roman summer, the festival brings some of the biggest names from the Italian and international music scenes to the capital for a series of unmissable concerts.
Line-up: in September, the Auditorium will host Hermanos Gutiérrez (September 2), Sal Da Vinci (3), Fiorella Mannoia (4-5), Il Tre (6), Levante (7), Tony Boy (8), Judas Priest (9), I Cani (10-11), Marisa Monte (11, Sala Santa Cecilia), Dissonanze festival with Björk and Peggy Gou (12-13)
This September, the Roma Bar Show returns — the event that brings together all the key players of the beverage industry and the vibrant world of Italian mixology. Two days dedicated to spirits, cocktails, tasting experiences, and masterclasses with top international bartenders. From industry professionals to cocktail lovers, Roma Bar Show is the place to discover trends, innovations, and the art of great drinking.
From the 16th through the 20th of September 2026, Villa Medici will once again be transformed into a space dedicated to the celebration of cinema in all its forms. Now in its sixth edition, the festival offers over forty screenings across three screens, including an open-air one set up in front of the villa’s historic façade, presenting pioneering works that challenge, disrupt, transform, or re-enchant our relationship with images. The program is divided into three sections: the international competition, featuring twelve recent films of various genres and lengths; the Focus program, dedicated to out-of-competition works and special meetings with directors; and the Piazzale evenings, with outdoor screenings of premieres and restored classics.
From September 18th to 21st, the sixth edition of Roma Baccalà will take place, a cultural and gastronomic event dedicated to salted cod and stockfish. This year again, Roma Baccalà will be held at Parco Schuster, a large green space adjacent to the majestic Basilica of San Paolo Fuori Le Mura. Visitors will be able to taste over 40 different preparations of salted cod and attend engaging workshops and numerous showcookings. Admission is free.
“Materia Prima” (Raw Material) is the theme of the fourth edition of Rome Future Week, taking place from September 21st to 27th. The theme invites participants to reflect on what makes transformation possible — knowledge, skills, relationships, care, creativity, and the ability to imagine the future. Rather than a single-stage event, the festival unfolds as a widespread program across venues throughout the city and its surroundings, with over 400 events spanning AI, art, startups, and social innovation, making it one of the largest open events dedicated to innovation and the future.
Programme and highlights of Romaeuropa Festival 2026
The 41st edition of the Romaeuropa Festival is shaping up to be one of its richest yet: 100 shows featuring 1,000 artists from around the world, bringing REF2026 to life with a programme of music, theatre, dance, digital arts and productions for children.
Once again directed by Fabrizio Grifasi, this year’s edition offers more than two months of performances across numerous venues in the capital, an invitation to listen and to see artistic creation as something still alive and necessary.
This edition brings a wealth of major international names. Flemish choreographer Michiel Vandevelde, together with the BRYGGEN-Bruges Strings ensemble, takes to the stage at Teatro Argentina with The Four Seasons Changed, a staged concert that translates into space Max Richter’s reworking of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Sasha Waltz returns to dance with Bach Cello Suites Dance, set to the Cello Suites by J.S. Bach performed by cellist Anastasia Kobekina.
There’s also French choreographer Boris Charmatz, back at the Festival with Muette, an intimate and radical solo, and Britain’s Ben Duke, who reinvents Hamlet as a contemporary anti-hero in a show that weaves together dance, theatre, stand-up and irony to question the meaning of life. Franco-Algerian Nacera Belaza returns too, forming an intense duo with Valérie Dréville in a performance where gesture meets space.
At Teatro Costanzi, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen presents a programme of works by Jan Martens, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Christos Papadopoulos, three names who have appeared at the Festival many times. Papadopoulos himself directs Greek dancer Georgios Kotsifakis in Landless, continuing his personal exploration of rhythm, repetition and the transformation of movement. Also from Greece, choreographer Katerina Andreou joins Carte Blanche, Norway’s national dance company, bringing fourteen performers together in How Romantic.
Some of the dance programme is designed to reach every generation and audience: Le Pas du Monde by the remarkable Collectif XY, at Teatro Olimpico, speaks to all ages with its shifting landscapes, while Morocco’s Groupe Acrobatique de Tanger returns under the direction of Raphaëlle Boitel with a new creation in which acrobatic power meets a formal, poetic language. From South Korea, Eun-Me Ahn blends ritual, new circus, pop culture, eccentricity and colour in her Post-Orientalist Express.
Jaha Koo, Haribo kimchi PH. bea borgers
Also from South Korea, director Jaha Koo, winner of the International Ibsen Award, presents Haribo Kimchi: a real street-food stall fills the stage, turning the making of the traditional Korean fermented cabbage into an autobiographical and symbolic gesture.
Memory takes centre stage for India’s Pankaj Tiwari and Portuguese director Tiago Rodrigues too. The first, with The Harvest of Broken Promises, tells of the transformation of Indian agriculture under the influence of global agribusiness; the second fills the stage with the memory of his father in No Yogurt for the Dead, a tribute built around the unfinished notes he left behind.
ITALIAN DANCE AND THEATRE
GiorginaPi, Lemnos
One of the directors who has most deeply shaped the Festival’s history returns to Romaeuropa: Romeo Castellucci, with his new creation Faust. Fatto, non detto, a radical theatrical experience that probes the figure of the artist, suspended between condemnation and redemption, reality and vision.
At Teatro Vascello, Marta Cuscunà makes her national premiere with her latest production, La Medium, the true story of Hersilie Rouy, daughter of the illusionist Charles Rouy, confined to an asylum for fourteen years, in a world that weaves together illusionism and gives voice to “invisible women”. Director Giorgina Pi reworks the figure of Philoctetes from a female perspective in Lemnos, intertwining myth and the present.
Marta Cuscunà @Alessandro Ruzzier
Also at Teatro Vascello, Pietro Giannini presents his new work STARMAN – The True Story of Leon Skum, a concrete yet visionary portrait that questions the myth of technology in the age of Elon Musk. Giacomo Bisordi, with Fabrizio Sinisi, brings the novel Il Prodigio to the stage with actors Chiara Ferrara, Gabriele Portoghese and Federica Rosellini, while Ubu Prize winner Marco D’Agostin, alongside dancer Marta Ciappina, gathers in Catalogo a moving mosaic of farewells, in which a dancer’s final performance becomes a choral score on leave-taking, shaped through the eyes of choreographers and directors such as Silvia Gribaudi, Francesca Pennini / CollettivO CineticO, Sotterraneo and Emio Greco / Pieter C. Scholten.
At the Mattatoio, the cycle HEIMAT – Homeland/Foreigner unfolds, created with the “Silvio d’Amico” National Academy of Dramatic Art: five days of performance in which Fabiana Iacozzilli, Thom Luz, Ersan Mondtag, Leonardo Lidi and Leonardo Manzan direct the same performers from the Academy’s second-level acting course, using a shared stage device to build a plural reflection on identity and belonging.
Still in Testaccio, the female body and its representation are at the heart of CAN CAN, a show born from the meeting of director Giovanni Ortoleva, winner of the National Critics’ Prize, and actress Irene Mantova. Director Piero Maccarinelli presents a reading of L’ora dei predatori by Giuliano da Empoli with Elisabetta Pozzi and Tullio Solenghi, followed by a talk on the book’s themes.
MUSIC
Vinicio Capossela, Renato tuffo
Music has a major place in the Festival’s programme, moving between experimentation, pop and contemporary composition: Osmium, the project born from the meeting of cellist Hildur Guðnadóttir and James Ginzburg; a concert by Kangding Ray, presenting his new AV live show Superfluid; and the award-winning percussion ensemble Third Coast Percussion in dialogue with composer, performer and electronic musician Jlin.
For the first time at the Festival, Vinicio Capossela appears too, presenting with Pierpaolo Capovilla And Death Shall Have No Dominion, a ballad opera loosely drawn from the life of Renato Striglia and the work of Dylan Thomas.
There are several tributes marking the anniversaries of the great 20th-century masters: for Steve Reich’s ninetieth birthday, a homage from Blow Up Percussion with performances of works such as Pendulum Music, Drumming and Come Out; while for the centenary of Hans Werner Henze’s birth, Romaeuropa presents Voices, in partnership with the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, a powerful civic and poetic work entrusted to the New European Ensemble conducted by Carlo Boccadoro.
In the Sala Santa Cecilia of the Auditorium, pianists Maki Namekawa and Thomas Enhco go head to head interpreting one of the most celebrated piano works of the 20th century, Keith Jarrett’s The Köln Concert, while The Avex Ensemble performs a special film-concert dedicated to the iconic Blade Runner soundtrack by Vangelis.
KIDS
The REF Kids & Family section offers three weekends of free shows and activities in music, theatre and new circus, curated by Stefania Lo Giudice. The spaces of La Pelanda are transformed into an area for children and families, with a programme of performances and a playground of games and hands-on activities.
Highlights range from Flanders’ ZONZO, bringing jazz to the youngest audiences, to a focus on the Catalan scene with the magic show Maginarium by Pau Segalés and Copiar by Animal Religion, which invites children from the audience on stage. From the Netherlands, de Dansers offer a joyful journey through the body with A Small Anatomy, while Japan’s Kenji Shinohe brings manga culture to a teenage audience with Action Briquette Z – Manga, Beat & Dance.
Closing
100Cellos, Enrico Melozzi
The grand finale on 15 November promises to be a true musical marathon, a great collective ritual of listening in which musicians take over the main hall of the Auditorium Parco della Musica in a closing event that moves across repertoires, audiences and moods. Twelve hours of concerts, with an afternoon that anticipates the celebrations for Philip Glass’s ninetieth birthday (January 2027) through a complete performance of the Études by Vanessa Wagner and of Águas da Amazônia by Third Coast Percussion, with the start and end of the day in the Sala Santa Cecilia devoted entirely to Enrico Melozzi’s Classical Rave Party.
The morning is dedicated to 100 Cellos with Giovanni Sollima; the evening to the Orchestra Notturna Clandestina, with special guests including Alessandro Baricco, Gloria Campaner, Elsa Lila, Anastasio and Fasma, breaking down the boundaries between academia and real life, between concert and celebration.
Venues and Tickets
The Romaeuropa Festival 2026 takes place across various spaces in the city, from historic theatres to museums and cultural institutions. The 2026 venues are:
American Academy in Rome, Via Angelo Masina 5
Auditorium Conciliazione, Via della Conciliazione 4
Auditorium Parco della Musica, Via Pietro de Coubertin 30
Tickets can be purchased online at romaeuropa.net through Vivaticket. For information and assistance, the box office is available on +39 06 4555 3050, also on WhatsApp, Monday to Friday (10am-1pm / 2pm-6pm).
The traditional celebration of the Marian miracle returns on 5 August
On August 5 Rome hosts a captivating event that defies the summer heat both symbolically and practically – the celebration of the Madonna della Neve (Our Lady of the Snows). This cherished occasion involves the recreation of an extraordinary miraculous snowfall outside the magnificent Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore.
The Legend of La Madonna della Neve
According to ancient legend, in the 4th century, a devout Roman couple sought divine guidance on donating their possessions to the Church. In response to their fervent prayers, the Virgin Mary appeared to them in a vision on the night between August 4th and 5th, 358 AD. She revealed that a miraculous event would occur, guiding them to the precise location for the construction of a new church.
That very night, an astonishing snowfall covered a hill in the Esquiline district. Word of this celestial event reached Pope Liberius, who went to the snowy site and traced the outline of the planned church. With the generous contribution of the devoted couple, the church was built, solidifying the legend of the miraculous snowfall.
Though historical evidence supporting the legend is scarce, the event is celebrated annually with unwavering devotion. As the snow gently descends from the sky, Rome relives this extraordinary story, continuing a tradition that has captivated hearts for centuries.
An Enchanting Spectacle Awaits You in Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore
The eagerly awaited 2026 edition of this magical spectacle, supported by the City, the Vatican, and the Ministry of Culture, will take place on Wednesday, August 5th in Piazza di S. Maria Maggiore. This year’s celebration is dedicated to Pope Leo XIV, to the memory of Pope Francis and to the hope for peace in the world.
During the day, the “Miracle of the Snow” is re-enacted inside the basilica with a cascade of white petals falling from above, a symbolic snowfall marking the ancient legend.
The first re-enactment takes place in the morning, during the singing of the Gloria at the 10:00 AM Solemn Mass, presided over by Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Archpriest of the Basilica.
The second is held at 5:00 PM, during the singing of the Magnificat at Vespers, presided over by Archbishop Luis Manuel Alí Herrera.
In the evening, the square comes alive with the spectacular artificial snowfall, accompanied by lights, music and the Carabinieri band. Now in its 42nd edition, the show runs from 9:00 PM to midnight and draws thousands of Romans and visitors every year.
After its presentation at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Galleria Borghese in Rome presents METAMORPHOSIS. Ovid and the Arts, on view until 20 September. Curated by Francesca Cappelletti and Frits Scholten, the exhibition is held in collaboration with the Dutch museum.
The imaginative power of Ovid’s Metamorphoses comes to life through more than 80 masterpieces on loan from major international institutions. Works by Correggio, Michelangelo, Titian, Rubens, Poussin, Gérôme, Rodin and Brancusi engage with the vision of one of antiquity’s greatest poets, in gallery rooms that were themselves inspired by his text.
Starting from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the exhibition explores change and transformation as a key to reading the cosmos, matter and the human condition, in a vision built on the fluid boundaries between the human, the natural and the divine.
At its heart lies the idea of metamorphosis as a generative principle, one that runs through and redefines the cosmos, matter and the body. Through famous myths and often tragic tales, the Metamorphoses gave artists an inexhaustible repertoire of images and conflicts for centuries, giving visual form to passion, desire, cunning, violence, deception and the possibility of redemption.
Inside the exhibition
Through its many masterpieces, among them Apollo and Daphne and The Rape of Proserpina by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the exhibition reaffirms the enduring relevance of myth and its central role in shaping the European imagination, highlighting the visual and conceptual force of Ovid’s stories.
It opens with the section Chaos and Creation, where metamorphosis is tied to the passage from formless matter to ordered space, seen through the work of artists such as Louis Finson, Herri met de Bles, Auguste Rodin and Constantin Brâncuși. The same theme, in a different key, returns in the section devoted to the myth of Pygmalion, where it is the artist’s creative power that gives shape to the invisible, as in the works of Jean-Léon Gérôme and Auguste Rodin.
From birth to death: the theme of the underworld and the return from darkness takes shape around the symbolic pivot of Bernini’s Rape of Proserpina, with works such as Orpheus and Eurydice recounting the experience of those who crossed the realm of the dead while still alive.
Still, the central thread remains transformation itself: from woman to spider, as with Arachne, the starting point for a display of paintings, tapestries and textiles; from human being to stone, as in the tale of Perseus and Medusa, seen through works by Rubens, Sebastiano Ricci and Antonio Tempesta.
A final section is given over to the loves of Jupiter, with works dedicated to Leda and the Swan and to Danaë. Here it is the force of love, desire and passion that sets transformation in motion, at times almost spectacular, as in the shower of gold falling into Danaë’s lap, magnificently rendered in the work by Correggio on display.
The result is a symbolic and sensory reading of change, evoking the tension between order and transformation, the fluidity of identity and the dynamic relationship between body and nature. In this dialogue between myth and art, metamorphosis emerges not only as physical transformation but as an aesthetic and philosophical category, one that questions the relationships between time, space, matter and form.
Now those same halls host a monumental exhibition: After – Steps Through Work. Fendi / Karl Lagerfeld 1985, on view from 10 July to 25 October 2026.
The Greatest Fashion Partnership
What’s on display retraces the longest creative partnership in fashion history, between Karl Lagerfeld and the Fendi family. Hired in 1965 by the five Fendi sisters to reinvent the family’s traditional fur and leather house, Lagerfeld revolutionised the very idea of luxury outerwear, a collaboration that lasted until his death in 2019.
This is not a typical parade of red-carpet gowns. Instead, it faithfully rebuilds the pioneering 1985 show, originally curated by Ida Panicelli with an installation conceived by Lagerfeld himself, one of the first times fashion entered an Italian museum. It subverts expectations of the “finished product,” offering an intimate look at how Lagerfeld actually worked: how his raw sketches and the iconic double-F motif stepped off the page and came to life in the hands of master artisans.
Inside the Creative Process
Drawing on the Fendi and GNAMC archives, the exhibition brings together around 180 original drawings, 22 paper patterns, 50 sample boards, preparatory canvases and 25 furs, tracing every stage from idea to finished garment. The sketches reveal how Lagerfeld’s hand evolved over time, from soft, naturalistic female forms to bold, expressive marker lines. Look closely at the margins and you’ll find handwritten notes, references and even French words transcribed into Italian, a quiet reminder of the bilingual, real-time dialogue with a Roman atelier.
The show guides visitors through the architecture of couture, from paper patterns and canvas prototypes (toiles) to archival footage of Fendi’s deep Roman roots, including Jacques de Bascher’s 1977 film Histoire d’Eau. At its centre, a cluster of coats suspended in mid-air recreates Lagerfeld’s 1985 “Theatre” installation, once famously called the “dance of the furs.” The exhibition closes with a selection of the vast 1985 press coverage, a rare chance to trace how fashion found its place inside the museum.
For anyone drawn to the enduring legacy of Lagerfeld’s genius inside one of Italy’s most storied fashion houses, this is a must-see. Set on Viale delle Belle Arti, a short walk from the Borghese Gallery, it’s one of several major shows in the city this summer. Planning your visit between now and October? See our guide to Rome in August for more to pair with it.
As autumn settles in, Rome’s concert season moves indoors and gets busier than ever. October brings a packed calendar of live music across the city’s best venues, from the Auditorium Parco della Musica to the Palazzo dello Sport and Atlantico Live: Italian pop icons, international acts and rising rap stars.
Here are the best concerts in Rome in October 2026.
One of Italy’s most visionary songwriters brings his theatrical universe of ballads, literature and folklore to the Teatro Olimpico for two nights, within the Romaeuropa Festival.
Italy’s longest-running band celebrates 60 years of history across two nights at the Palazzo dello Sport: a multigenerational celebration from start to finish.
A rare chance to see one of Italy’s greatest singer-songwriters up close: an intimate theatre residency at the Sala Umberto, four nights of poetry and song.
Even though Romans tend to flee to their summer escapes during August (especially on Ferragosto), Rome has some pretty cool events to keep you entertained during the hottest month of the year. Check out the best events in Rome this August 2026.
If you have a passion for art, Rome in August 2026 has a rich lineup of exhibitions to explore. Museums are also one of the best ways to beat the heat: air-conditioned halls, world-class art, and no queues compared to the rest of the year.
At the Musei Capitolini, don’t miss the major retrospective dedicated to Diego Rivera, one of the giants of Mexican muralism, while the Ara Pacis Museum hosts “Robert Mapplethorpe and Humanity as Art“, a powerful journey through the work of one of photography’s most influential figures. Photography lovers should also head to the Museo di Roma in Trastevere for “Rome after Dusk“, Hervé Gloaguen’s luminous portrait of the city at night.
Villa Medici offers two unmissable summer appointments: the Festival des Cabanes, with architectural installations throughout its historic gardens, and Oracles Beyond the Seas, the Villa Medici Fellows’ exhibition. Ancient history takes the spotlight at the Colosseum with “Troy and Rome. Myths, Legends, Stories of the Ancient Mediterranean”, which explores the links between Troy, Aeneas and the foundation of Rome.
Fashion lovers shouldn’t miss “After. Steps Through Work. Fendi / Karl Lagerfeld 1985” at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, a faithful restaging of the legendary 1985 exhibition celebrating the collaboration between Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld, conceived by Maria Grazia Chiuri for the maison’s 100th anniversary.
And if you’re looking for free art, Palazzo Bonaparte has you covered with two exhibitions running until 23 August, both with free admission: “Novecento italiano. Opere dalla Collezione Generali”, a journey through 20th-century Italian art featuring Gustav Klimt’s “The Three Ages of Woman” as a special guest, and “Marco Tamburro. Caravaggio Forever”, where over forty contemporary works enter into dialogue with the vision of the Baroque master.
August might not be as packed with concerts as June and July, but you can still catch a few good shows, especially at the beginning and end of the month. Check them out and pick your favourite!
Village Celimontana continues to bring live music to one of Rome’s most beautiful summer settings. Now in its tenth edition, the festival runs until September 5 at Villa Celimontana, with more than 100 free concerts throughout the season. Expect a rich programme of jazz, swing, manouche, rock’n’roll, Brazilian rhythms, dance nights and family-friendly events.
For those who miss wintry nights in the height of summer, fret not: La Madonna della Neve has got you covered. Each year, between 8pm-12am on 5th of August, Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore transforms into a snowy wonderland filled with music, dance and light shows. This event, which draws thousands of visitors annually, originated from a dream. According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to Pope Liberius (352–366 AD) on the night of August 4th and told him that a location in Rome would be marked by snowfall. The next morning, snow was found covering the site where the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore now stands. Even if you are not religiously inclined, this event that takes place in front of the imposing Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is not one to miss.
Even in August, Summertime at Casa del Jazz keeps the music going, though only through the 7th. Produced by Fondazione Musica per Roma, the festival brings Italian and international stars, jazz legends, big bands, acclaimed pianists, and genre-crossing experiments to the open-air stage set in the gardens of Villa Osio, on Viale di Porta Ardeatina. It’s the perfect chance to catch live music under the Roman sky in one of the city’s most charming green settings.
August Line-up: Enrico Rava (1 August), Enzo Avitabile (3 August), Cory Henry (4 August), Jalen Ngonda (5 August), Matteo Mancuso – Route96 Tour (6 August), Peppe Servillo & Solis String Quartet (7 August).
Seeing the Colosseum by day is one thing; exploring it under the moonlight, after the crowds have gone, is a different experience altogether. The Colosseum’s night tours are back: every Tuesday and Thursday, a 60-minute guided visit takes you through the arena floor, the underground chambers where gladiators and wild animals once waited, and the first tier of the amphitheater. With cooler evening temperatures and a fraction of the daytime visitors, it’s one of the most atmospheric ways to experience Ancient Rome in August. Advance booking is essential, as spots fill up quickly.
On Tuesday, August 12, the archaeological area of the Circus Maximus will once again host Il Cosmo al Circo Massimo, with a special event dedicated to families and children.
The event will take place on the eve of the Night of San Lorenzo, traditionally associated with the famous shooting stars.
Gates open at 9:00 PM, with the show starting at 9:30 PM: an evening under the stars featuring a digital telescope, live astronomical puppetry by Gabriele Catanzaro, and a guided observation of the night sky.
The show will also be projected on a large screen and onto the Torre della Moletta. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket to sit comfortably on the grass.
The incredible architectural space of the Auditorium will host the Fondazione Musica per Roma – Roma Summer Fest. This is one of the most important music events of the Roman summer, each year hosting many artists from the national and international music scene who return to the capital for a series of unmissable concerts.
After the mid-August break, concerts resume in the Cavea on August 24 with Djo, the musical project of Stranger Things star Joe Keery (already sold out), followed by Tony Pitony (August 29) and American indie rock legends Wilco (August 31). The most original event of the month is Cosmo’s “La Fonte” Matinée Tour on August 30: a one-of-a-kind sunrise concert starting at 7am, turning the early morning into an immersive sonic journey.
Experience the enchantment of open-air cinema in Rome this August. From piazzas like Piazza Vittorio to cultural venues like the Casa del Cinema, various locations offer outdoor movie screenings. Immerse yourself in the magic of cinema under the stars and enjoy a diverse range of films.
Notti di Cinema a Piazza Vittorio – Piazza Vittorio, Esquilino – until 20 September
Casa del Cinema Summer Arena – Casa del Cinema, Villa Borghese – until 6 September
Arena Villa Lazzaroni – Via Appia Nuova, 522 – until 6 September
Festival del Cinema di San Lorenzo – Piazza del Parco Caduti del 19 Luglio 1943 1 – until 10 August
Notti di Cinema a Parco Tevere Marconi – Lungotevere di Pietra Papa – until 29 August
Villa Medici Film Festival – Villa Medici – 16-20 September
Get into the vibrant atmosphere of the riverside at the Lungo il Tevere summer festival along the Tiber, celebrating art, food, and nightlife. Enjoy free shows, cool shops, delicious cuisines, and cultural delights from July until late August.
If you’re up for a short day trip from Rome, August is the perfect time to explore the many sagre (local food festivals) taking place across the Lazio region. These traditional celebrations are all about seasonal produce, regional recipes, and community spirit, from sagre dedicated to porcini mushrooms, snails, and lamb to ones celebrating hazelnuts, wine, fried pizza, and even the world-famous Amatriciana. Expect charming hilltop towns, live music, open-air dinners, and authentic food experiences off the beaten path.
Rome’s riverside theatre becomes an open air cultural village from 14 to 31 July, with over 40 events and more than 50 artists
There’s a corner of Rome where summer tastes like a dream. From 14 to 31 July 2026, India Città Aperta returns for its second edition: the summer festival of Teatro di Roma, created with Dominio Pubblico, transforms the spaces of Teatro India, from the outdoor Arena to the stage nestled in the greenery of the Canneto, into a buzzing cultural village in the shadow of the Gazometro, the iconic gas holder of the Ostiense district.
The thread running through this edition is the dream: an oneiric dimension inspired by the poetics of Pier Paolo Pasolini, unfolding across more than 40 events with over 50 artists spanning theatre, dance, music, publishing, installations and projects for younger audiences. Best of all, most events are free to attend, while ticketed shows have a flat price of just 10 euros.
The opening night
The festival kicks off on Tuesday 14 July with a free opening party: Roman rapper and songwriter Piotta brings his Si riparano ricordi tour to the Arena, preceded on the Canneto stage by cartoonist and musician Davide Toffolo with Giulio D’Antona and their live drawn performance about legendary publisher Giangiacomo Feltrinelli.
Theatre highlights
The hottest ticket is on 16 July, when acclaimed actor Elio Germano and composer Teho Teardo present Il sogno di una cosa, based on Pasolini’s novel. Also worth marking in your calendar: spoken word star Lorenzo Maragoni with Tipico maschio italiano (17 July), Chiara Becchimanzi‘s Eroina (19 July) and comedian Paola Minaccioni‘s semi-serious reflection on happiness, La vita è bella? No, è un tipo (25 July).
Music, dance and a night at the opera
The music programme revolves around NeroIndia. Siamo fatti di canzoni, a series curated by Studionero and Giulia Ananìa featuring some of the finest voices of the new Italian songwriting scene: Emma Nolde (17 July), Giovanni Truppi (25 July) and Matteo Alieno (30 July). On 24 July, the Instant Composing Society led by Rodrigo D’Erasmo blends improvised live music and film, with actress Isabella Ragonese as special guest.
New this year is a section dedicated to contemporary dance, featuring Stefania Tansini‘s L’ombelico dei limbi (22 July) and the jump rope fuelled energy of HIT OUT by Parini Secondo (26 July). On 28 July the Arena even turns lyrical with ONIRICON, staged by the young artists of the Rome Opera House’s “Fabbrica” programme.
Families, talks and the grand finale
There’s plenty for kids and families too, from the historic Podrecca marionettes (21 to 24 July) to Antonio Catalano’s poetic installations. The talks calendar is packed: book presentations curated by Feltrinelli, which also runs the festival bookstore, a conversation between film director Mario Martone and writer Nicola Lagioia (23 July), plus events with Rome Future Week and the city’s liveliest cultural magazines. The festival closes on 31 July with the BeiRicordi Show, Rome’s beloved showcase for emerging performers.
Ten days of contemporary creation across Rome, from 3 to 12 September
From 3 to 12 September 2026, Rome hosts the 21st edition of Short Theatre, the international festival dedicated to contemporary creation and the performing arts. Over ten days, more than 65 events by some 40 companies and artists from Italy, Spain, France, Poland, Hungary, Algeria, Libya, Eritrea, Cameroon, Rwanda, Mexico and China take over the city. Expect a program that blends art, critical thought and politics, mapping today’s artistic geographies across the Global South and East.
The festival’s home base is La Pelanda at the Mattatoio, the former slaughterhouse turned arts hub in Testaccio, with events also at Teatro India, where the festival was born twenty years ago, Teatro Vittoria, Cinema Troisi, the MACRO – Museum of Contemporary Art and the MUCIV – Museum of Civilizations
The opening night at Rome’s Botanical Garden
ST26 opens on 3 September (6-10 pm) in one of the city’s most enchanting settings: the Botanical Garden of Rome in Trastevere, with a continuous flow of performances, sound rituals and site-specific interventions among the greenhouses, including Hungarian choreographer Eszter Salamon‘s celebrated Dance for Nothing (revisited), based on John Cage’s Lecture on Nothing, and the sound ritual Naturale sconosciuto by poet Mariangela Gualtieri at dusk.
Highlights of the program
Among the must-sees: Alberto Cortès‘ El corazón de Ester, a performance that will be staged only 50 times worldwide, two of them at ST26 (4-5 September, Teatro Vittoria); Chiara Bersani‘s Michel. The animals I am, which reimagines Swan Lake through three performers with disabilities; François Chaignaud & Aymeric Hainaux‘s Mirlitons, where opera singing battles beatbox (8-9 September); the Italian premiere of L’Echo by French-Algerian choreographer Nacera Belaza with actress Valérie Dréville, co-presented with Romaeuropa Festival (10-11 September, Teatro India); and Muna Mussie‘s Cinema Impero, a three-part journey through Italy’s colonial archives staged at Cinema Troisi, MUCIV and MACRO. Closing the festival on 12 September, Claudia Castellucci‘s dance piece L’Infinito Carnale.
Throughout the festival, DJs and live acts — from queer scene icon HABIBITCH to Chinese experimental artist otay:onii — soundtrack the evenings at La Pelanda, alongside free talks and workshops open to all.
Summer is coming to an end, but the season of live concerts in Rome continues. Discover the section featuring the best concerts and festivals happening in September in Rome.
The Swiss-Ecuadorian guitar duo brings its hypnotic, cinematic desert sound to the Auditorium’s Cavea, instrumental music that feels like a spaghetti western under the stars. Their only Italian date.
September 2
Auditorium Parco della Musica (Via Pietro de Coubertin, 30)
One of Italy’s most beloved voices pays tribute to two giants of Italian songwriting, Fabrizio De André and Ivano Fossati, marking 30 years of the masterpiece album Anime Salve.
September 4-5
Auditorium Parco della Musica (Viale Pietro de Coubertin, 30)
The Sicilian singer-songwriter’s intense, poetic pop has made her one of the defining voices of contemporary Italian music. Expect a night of lyrics that cut deep and melodies that stay with you.
September 7
Auditorium Parco della Musica (Viale Pietro de Coubertin, 30)
A rare chance to see one of Brazil’s greatest voices live: the queen of MPB stops in Rome for the only Italian date of her PHONICA world tour, in the Sala Santa Cecilia.
September 11
Auditorium Parco della Musica (Viale Pietro de Coubertin, 30)
The grand finale of the Jova Summer Party: Italy’s ultimate showman turns the Circus Maximus into a giant open-air celebration, with music from early afternoon and guest DJs Benny Benassi (Sept 12) and Afrojack (Sept 13). Sept 12 is sold out, last tickets available for Sept 13.
Rome’s legendary electronic music festival returns with a stellar lineup topped by Björk and Peggy Gou. Two full days of sound and visual arts starting at noon in the Auditorium’s hanging gardens.
September 12-13
Auditorium Parco della Musica (Viale Pietro de Coubertin, 30)
The Malian singer, guitarist and actress blends Wassoulou tradition with jazz, funk and Afro-pop — one of the most powerful voices in contemporary African music.
September 15
Auditorium Parco della Musica (Viale Pietro de Coubertin, 30)
One of the greatest voices in Italian pop closes her record-breaking “G – Last Call” tour with a Rome homecoming, mixing new songs from her gold-certified album G with three decades of hits.
If you’re looking for something to do after a day of museum-hopping and cobblestone strolling, make your way down to Lungo il Tevere and spend your evening by the river
Every summer, the banks of the Tiber River transform into one of Rome’s most beloved gathering places. Lungo il Tevere Roma, now in its 24th edition, is the open-air festival that takes over the stretch between Ponte Sublicio and Ponte Sisto from 5 June to 24 August 2026, bringing with it restaurants, bars, markets, live music, exhibitions, and a packed calendar of cultural events that draws an expected two million visitors each season.
Whether you’re looking for a late dinner, a post-sunset cocktail, or simply a place to wander with good company, this is where Rome spends its summer nights.
The festival runs every evening from 7pm to 2am across 80 nights of continuous programming. This year’s edition includes 60 commercial stands, 15 food and drink outlets, 3 dedicated cultural areas, and over 200 artistic performances across the full run.
On the food side, expect everything from Roman street food classics to international kitchens, wine bars, craft beer, and cocktail stands set directly on the riverbank. The market area covers handmade jewellery, artisanal products, textiles, books, and accessories from local and regional producers.
Entertainment this year includes live screenings for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, foosball tables, and various games and installations scattered along the walkway, enough to fill an evening even if you arrive with no particular plan.
With four entrances at Ponte Cestio, Garibaldi, Sisto, and Sublicio, and numerous ways to experience the walk, Lungo il tevere is the place to be on a gorgeous Roman evening. You do not want to miss this modern summer staple of Rome.
Rome’s most futuristic cultural celebration, Videocittà – The Festival of Vision and Digital Culture, is back
From 10 to 12 July 2026, Videocittà – The Festival of Vision and Digital Culture – returns to Rome’s Gazometro for its ninth edition.
Light installations, immersive and interactive experiences, VR, video art, A/V live shows, DJ sets, talks and performances will once again animate the Gazometro di Roma, one of Europe’s largest urban industrial archaeology sites.
After previous editions dedicated to the Moon, Earth, Galaxy and Sun, Videocittà 2026 focuses on water: the origin of life, an essential resource and a universal symbol connecting cultures, landscapes and imaginaries. Across installations, performances and talks, the festival explores water’s ecological, political and cultural value.
Among this year’s highlights is the arrival of German composer, musician and producer Apparat. His iconic track Black Water will become part of In Lympha, a major immersive installation conceived and produced by Eni in collaboration with Videocittà, hosted at Opificio 41 throughout the festival. Apparat will also perform a special DJ set on Saturday 11 July on the Main Stage, moving between electronic, ambient and experimental sounds.
UNDA is another major new feature: a site-specific light installation produced by Eni for Videocittà and created by Visioni Parallele and Niulab, with executive production by Eventitaliani. For the first time, the Gazometro G4 becomes an artwork visible exclusively from the outside, transforming into a luminous urban landmark inspired by the movement of water.
The central structure among the three smaller gasometers, known as G2, becomes a space where images, technology and live performance meet. Oceans, rivers and rain from around the world shape Water: always the same, always different, an immersive installation combining the work of Giuseppe La Spada, the sounds of Francesca Heart and the movement research of Brazilian performer Amanda Lana.
Chinese artist Cao Yuxi also makes his festival debut with the Italian premiere of Nature’s Computility, an enveloping immersive waterfall that uses algorithms to translate the flow of water into high-resolution dynamic visualisations.
Audio-Visual Music
The audio-visual music section turns water into a sound and visual experience, with a Main Stage conceived as a hybrid between installation and performance space. On 10 July, the programme opens with Sara Persico and Mika Oki, winners of the Videocittà Awards 2025 for AV performance, followed by an audiovisual DJ set by Mace with Sugo Design.
On 11 July, Nziria presents Syysma, followed by Populous live with visuals by Furio Ganz. The evening closes with Apparat.
On 12 July, the Main Stage hosts Voices From The Lake, the project by Donato Dozzy and Neel, alongside Liminal State with FREEFALL, a live AV improvisation where sound, music, light and generative visuals unfold in real time.
Virtual reality experiences
At the Anfiteatro, Videocittà presents the world premiere of In Pinus, an Italian VR experience dedicated to the stone pine, produced by Impersive for Videocittà in collaboration with the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano as part of the European project CO-VISION.
On the first floor of G3, audiences will discover L’acqua in virtual reality, a selection of four VR experiences presented in their Italian premiere by Diversion: Jellyfish, Biolum, Plastisapiens and The world came flooding in. The section also includes Sweet end of the world!, a VR documentary by Stefano Conca Bonizzoni selected from the Rai Cinema VR library.
Video art
Curated by Damiana Leoni and Rä di Martino, the Video Art section presents works by leading international artists on 10 July, including Shahzia Sikander, FLATFORM, Cecilia Bengolea and Monira Al Qadiri, all exploring water through different visual and narrative languages.
On 11 July, internationally renowned artist Adrian Paci presents, in dialogue with the curators, the works Turn on, Di queste luci si servirà la notte and The Column, a powerful reflection on labour, cultural identity and the dialogue between East and West.
The Tiber, a vital presence in Rome, is at the centre of Tommaso Cherubini’s new digital artwork Invisible Ecologies: Tevere, presented as a world premiere. Confluence, produced by Signal as part of CO-VISION, focuses instead on one of Europe’s largest floodplain forests.
Interactive works also take over the garden with Particle Catharsis by Giuseppe La Spada and Maelstrom by Lake Heckaman, curated by Luca Martinelli and powered by RNMW. Meanwhile, OS Ocean Suite, created by CMCC with Nova System Academy and Planetaria, transforms climate data into an immersive sound experience.
The festival’s programme of talks opens on 10 July with a meeting on water scarcity, intense rainfall, prevention, adaptation and “sponge neighbourhoods”, introduced by Giulio Boccaletti, Scientific Director of CMCC.
On 11 July, the discussion turns to the lessons of ancient Rome, from baths and fountains to the role of water in the history of the Caput Mundi. On 12 July, the focus shifts to seas and oceans in a changing world, exploring geopolitics, navigation, energy, underwater resources, communications and security.
The programme continues with three informal AQUA talks, where new media scholar Simone Arcagni meets artists, creators and thinkers including N.A.I.P., Valentina Tanni, Siamounmagazine, Eki, Valerio Ferrara, Elisabetta Modena, Vino, Matilde De Feo and Federico Ferrazza.
Videocittà also hosts the IGPDecaux Graphic Award, revealing three winning works that reinterpret Rome as the “Eternal City” through the new frontiers of artificial intelligence.
Agorà returns
On 9 and 10 July, Agorà returns as Videocittà’s professional programme, coordinated by Guido Pietro Airoldi. Dedicated to the internationalisation of Italy’s creative technologies, immersive audiovisual, digital art and contemporary cultural industries, it brings together operators, buyers, curators, institutions, festivals, studios and companies.
Arte al Gazometro
During Videocittà, the third edition of Arte al Gazometro opens with “Riflessi”, a widespread exhibition of installations and site-specific works by national and international artists. Curated by Marco Capasso in collaboration with the galleries Il Sole, Orma and Eidos, the exhibition explores water as an active force of transformation.
Tickets for Videocittà 2026
For its 2026 edition, Videocittà introduces a new accessibility policy, aiming to make the festival and its artistic, immersive and performative experiences even more open and inclusive.
Tickets will be available at the following prices:
Daily Ticket: €20
3-Day Full Pass: €50
Free entry for children under 12
Entrance is from Via del Commercio 9/11. Doors and ticket office open to the public from 7pm.
Rome,the eternal city, is always a fantastic destination, but the summer months bring an extra dose of excitement! It’s hot, it’s sexy, and there’s so much to explore and enjoy. In this article, we’ve got some awesome suggestions for the best events in July 2026 in Rome, such as exhibitions, summer festivals, and other cool activities happening in Rome this July.
Exhibitions this July in Rome
If you are an art lover, July is a great month to explore Rome’s museums and galleries.
Photography lovers should not miss Robert Doisneau’s poetic images of Paris at the Museo del Genio, nor the powerful Robert Mapplethorpe exhibition at the Ara Pacis Museum. At Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Mario Schifano takes centre stage with a major exhibition dedicated to one of the most influential figures of post-war Italian art.
Villa Medici offers two unmissable summer appointments: the Festival des Cabanes, with architectural installations throughout its historic gardens, and Oracles Beyond the Seas, the Villa Medici Fellows’ exhibition. Ancient history takes the spotlight at the Colosseum with Troy and Rome. Myths, Legends, Stories of the Ancient Mediterranean, which explores the links between Troy, Aeneas and the foundation of Rome.
Finally, Galleria Borghese opens Metamorfosi, a new exhibition that dialogues with the museum’s extraordinary collection and its timeless themes of transformation and myth.
The month of July is when the Olympic Stadium gets filled with music, with big concerts planned and it is also the month of summer festivals, taking place all over the city. Many artists from a variety of musical traditions and backgrounds will be performing on various stages. Check them out and pick your favourite!
Twelve evenings of free live music dedicated to contemporary jazz: the Esquilino Jazz Festival returns to Horti Magici in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II from July 1 to 12, 2026. Every night, from 9pm to 11pm, audiences can enjoy open-air concerts surrounded by the greenery of the Piazza Vittorio Gardens, in the charming Art Nouveau setting of Horti Magici. Highlights of the 2026 edition include British saxophonist Trevor Watts with Jamie Harris, Pino Jodice’s Tribute to Morricone in Jazz with special guest Gianni Oddi, as well as performances by Pasquale Innarella, Fabrizio Mocata and Stefano Rossini.
Giardini Nicola Calipari, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II discover more Esquilino Jazz Festival
2 – 29 July | Accademia di Santa Cecilia at Basilica di Massenzio
This summer, the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia returns to the Basilica of Maxentius after 47 years, bringing a month of open-air concerts to one of Rome’s most spectacular archaeological settings. From 2 to 29 July, the programme will fill the Roman Forum with music under the stars, ranging from Čajkovskij, Verdi, Mozart, Vivaldi and Gershwin to the cinematic scores of Alexandre Desplat, including music from Harry Potter, The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Shape of Water. Designed around a new temporary installation by Alvisi Kirimoto, the season combines classical music, film soundtracks, dance and opera in a setting that makes this one of Rome’s most evocative cultural events of the summer.
July line-up: Čajkovskij Gala (2 July), The Four Seasons with Mourad Merzouki (4 July), Alexandre Desplat film scores (9 July), Verdi tribute (15 July), Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with Stefano Bollani (17 July), Chopin night (21 July), Mozart’s Requiem (24 July), Handel and Vivaldi with Concerto Köln (29 July).
2 July – 4 October | L’Angelo e la Luna: Summer Performances at Castel Sant’Angelo
L’Angelo e la Luna 2026 returns to Castel Sant’Angelo from July 2 to October 4, 2026, turning the museum into an atmospheric evening stage. The programme features 15 shows and 41 performances across dance, theatre, music, performance and contemporary circus, with Italian and international artists. Events will take place in different areas of the castle, including courtyards, historic halls, bastions and panoramic terraces. Admission is included in the museum ticket by selecting the “museum + performance” option
The Rally di Roma Capitale returns from 3 to 5 July 2026 for its 14th edition, bringing three days of motorsport, adrenaline and spectacle to Rome and the Lazio region. This special edition will serve as a preview of Rome’s entry into the official WRC calendar in 2027, marking a historic milestone for the event. Highlights include the photo opportunity at Piazza di Spagna on 2 July, the opening ceremony and special stage at the Colosseum on 3 July, and the final ceremony in Via della Conciliazione, against the backdrop of St. Peter’s Basilica, on 5 July.
4-5, 10-11, 18 July | Ostia Antica Teatro Festival
In July, the Teatro Ostia Antica Festival continues in the evocative setting of the Roman Theatre of Ostia with three highlights blending classical myth, contemporary theatre and dance: Lysistrata by Aristophanes on July 4 and 5, Requiem(s) by Angelin Preljocaj on July 10 and 11, and Alcestis by Euripides, directed by Filippo Dini, on July 18.
Fendi returns to Rome this July for one of the most anticipated fashion events of the summer. On July 9, 2026, the Roman maison will present its Fall/Winter 2026–2027 Haute Couture collection at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, marking Maria Grazia Chiuri’s first Couture show for the house. The event also coincides with the opening of After. Fendi / Karl Lagerfeld 1985, an exhibition dedicated to the long creative relationship between Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld, open to the public from July 10 to October 25, 2026.
10-12 July | Videocittà The Festival of Vision and Digital Culture
From July 10 to 12, the iconic Gazometro in Ostiense will once again come alive with innovation and creativity, thanks to Videocittà. The festival transforms the space into a vibrant hub of immersive installations, audiovisual performances, virtual reality and digital art.
This year’s programme brings together major Italian and international names including Apparat, Mace, Donato Dozzy and Neel’s Voices From The Lake, Populous, Nziria, Cao Yuxi, Giuseppe La Spada, Adrian Paci and Tommaso Cherubini, inviting audiences on a journey through audio-visual and digital creativity, with screenings, performances, DJ sets, talks, video mappings and video art.
The Rock in Rome Festival began in 2009 and fifteen years later it has become one of the main international rock festivals in Italy. The event is a must for any rock music lover, with two months of programming starting in mid-June until the end of July at the huge Ippodromo delle Capannelle. For thousands of rock fans, this is THE unmissable event of the year in Rome!
July Line-up: Emma (2 July), Mumford & Sons with CAAMP (7 July), Mannarino (10 July), OneRepublic (12 July), Litfiba (16 July), Luchè (17 July), Bluvertigo (18 July).
Starting on 13 June, Italian and foreign stars, jazz-rock legends, great orchestras, leading pianists, contaminations and new trends… the summer season of the Casa del Jazz, produced by the Fondazione Musica per Roma, offers once again this year a program full of novelties and surprises. More than 40 concerts and performances will take place on the open-air stage set up in the park of Villa Osio on Viale di Porta Ardeatina.
July Line-up: Anouar Brahem (2 July), Cécile McLorin Salvant (4 July), Nate Smith (6 July), Kurt Rosenwinkel (8 July), Fred Hersch Trio feat. Drew Gress & Peter Erskine (9 July), Kris Davis Trio (10 July), Dee Dee Bridgewater (13 July), Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chris Potter, Larry Grenadier & Eric Harland (14 July), Hiromi’s Sonicwonder (15 July), Bill Frisell Trio & Greg Tardy (16 July), Fabrizio Bosso & CDJO Casa del Jazz Orchestra (17 July), MonoNeon (18 July), Billy Cobham (21 July), L’Antidote (22 July), Paolo Fresu, David Linx & Gustavo Beytelmann (24 July), Samara Joy (27 July), Fantastic Negrito (29 July), Temple Jazz Orchestra diretta da Terell Stafford, special guest Barbara Parisi (30 July).
Until 31 July | Teatro dell’Opera at Circo Massimo
This July, the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma brings its summer season to the Circo Massimo, after moving from the Baths of Caracalla due to restoration works. The programme includes opera, ballet, cinema, symphonic music and special performances under the Roman night sky. Highlights include The Gladiator in Concert on July 3 and 4, Riccardo Cocciante on July 6, Aida on July 12, 15, 18, 22, 26 and 28, Roberto Bolle and Friends on July 14, Edoardo Bennato on July 20, Romeo e Giulietta on July 24 and 25, Patti Smith on July 27, and Carmina Burana on July 31.
July Line-up: The Gladiator in Concert, Riccardo Cocciante, Aida, Roberto Bolle and Friends, Edoardo Benneato, West Side Story, Roberto Bolle and Friends, Romeo and Juliet, Patti Smith, Carmina Burana
The incredible architectural space of the Auditorium will host the Fondazione Musica per Roma – Roma Summer Fest. This is one of the most important music events of the Roman summer, each year hosting many artists from the national and international music scene who return to the capital for a series of unmissable concerts.
July Line-up: Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton (1 July), John Legend (2 July), Ambrogio Sparagna (4 July), Pat Metheny Side Eye III + (5 July), Anastacia (6 July), Europe (7 July), Goran Bregović (8 July), Bresh (10 July), Dogstar (11 July), Subsonica (12 July), Marilyn Manson (14 July), Diana Krall (15 July), Johnny Marr (17 July), Jacob Collier (18 July), Fra Quintale (19 July), Marcus Miller (20 July), Kool & The Gang (21 July), Gregory Porter (25 July), Alice Sings Battiato (26 July), Capo Plaza (29 July), Elio e le Storie Tese (31 July).
Village Celimontana continues to bring live music to one of Rome’s most beautiful summer settings. Now in its tenth edition, the festival runs until September 5 at Villa Celimontana, with more than 100 free concerts throughout the season. Expect a rich programme of jazz, swing, manouche, rock’n’roll, Brazilian rhythms, dance nights and family-friendly events.
Get into the vibrant atmosphere of the riverside at the Lungo il Tevere summer festival along the Tiber, celebrating art, food, and nightlife. Enjoy free shows, cool shops, delicious cuisines, and cultural delights from July until late August.
Rome’s summer nights are made for open-air cinema. In July, the city’s piazzas, archaeological sites, gardens and cultural venues turn into outdoor movie theatres, offering everything from cult classics and auteur films to French cinema, contemporary Italian works and special screenings under the stars. Here are some of the main open-air cinema events to keep on your radar this month:
Nouvelle Vague sul Tevere – Casa del Cinema, Villa Borghese – 2-6 July
Il Cinema in Piazza – Piazza San Cosimato, Parco della Cervelletta and Monte Ciocci – until 12 July
Quo Vadis? – Cinema in the Heart of Rome – Temple of Venus and Roma – 7-16 July
Effetto Notte – Arena Archeologica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme – 17-26 July
Notti di Cinema a Piazza Vittorio – Piazza Vittorio, Esquilino – 18 June- 20 September
Casa del Cinema Summer Arena – Casa del Cinema, Villa Borghese – throughout July
Contemporary circus, dance, theatre and music return to Castel Sant’Angelo from July 2 to October 4, 2026
One of Rome’s most atmospheric summer cultural events returns to Castel Sant’Angelo with a new edition of L’Angelo e la Luna, the evening festival curated by Anna Selvi and promoted by the Istituto Pantheon e Castel Sant’Angelo – Direzione Musei nazionali della città di Roma.
From July 2 to October 4, 2026, the historic fortress will host a rich programme of 15 performances and 41 repeats, bringing together Italian and international artists across contemporary circus, dance, theatre, performance and live music. The festival will unfold through the many evocative spaces of Castel Sant’Angelo, transforming its courtyards, halls, bastions and terraces into open-air stages after dark.
The 2026 edition opens on July 2 with a concert by Baba Yaga, one of the most interesting emerging names on the international music scene. The band will present its latest album, Grenzenlos, with an energetic and virtuoso sound that blends Balkan rhythms, klezmer melodies, swing and gypsy jazz.
Dance will play a central role in this year’s programme. On July 16 at 9pm, the Courtyard of Alexander VI will host Cuor di Coniglio, a dance performance for adults and children aged 6 and up. Conceived as a modern fairy tale, the show explores fragility, courage and the importance of self-acceptance.
On July 23 at 9pm, Segni. Excursus will bring together contemporary music and dance in a performance curated by Michelangelo Lupone and Ricky Bonavita, also taking place in the Courtyard of Alexander VI.
On August 5 and 6, audiences can experience Promenade, an itinerant dance and theatre performance for adults and children aged 8 and up, with two performances each evening at 7pm and 9.45pm. Also on August 5 at 8.30pm, the Courtyard of Alexander VI will host Partita, created and performed by Ambra Senatore and Jonathan Kingsley Seilman, where dance and music interact in a continuous dialogue.
On September 2, with performances at 7pm and 9.30pm, dancers and choreographers Riva & Repele will present an evening of dance and music in the Courtyard of Alexander VI.
Contemporary circus at Castel Sant’Angelo
One of the highlights of the festival will be Il Castello degli Angeli ostinati, a site-specific itinerant circus performance created by circus playwright Giacomo Costantini.
Taking place on July 28, 29 and 30, and August 1 and 2, with performances at 7.30pm and 9.30pm, the show will lead audiences through a double route inside Castel Sant’Angelo, moving across the Courtyard of the Theatre, the Sala Paolina, the Courtyard of the Angel, the Library and the panoramic terrace.
Music
Music will also feature in the programme with two special events. On August 12 at 9pm, 100 Miles. The Journey Continues will present a project of original compositions inspired by the artistic vision and innovative spirit of Miles Davis.
On August 26, with performances at 7pm and 9.30pm in the beautiful Sala Paolina, Gennaro Lauro will perform Mondo.
Theatre and performance
The theatre programme opens on July 10 at 9pm with L’anima del mondo per Adriano imperatore, nostro contemporaneo, staged in the Courtyard of Alexander VI.
On September 9 at 9pm, the Bastion of San Matteo will host Every Brilliant Thing, winner of the 2022 Franco Enriquez National Award.
On September 16, with performances at 7pm and 9.30pm, AeReA will take over the Courtyard of Alexander VI with a performance centred on the symbolic and spectacular art of flag-waving.
On September 23, the programme features a double bill: Io, a cult theatre piece created in 1998 by artists later awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale, and Pitecus, a sharp and surreal portrait of a chaotic microcosm of characters.
The festival closes on October 4 at 9pm with Francesco, l’angelo degli ultimi, a moving recital in the Courtyard of Alexander VI dedicated to the life and stories of one of the most beloved saints.
Info and tickets
Admission to the performances is subject to availability and is included in the museum ticket by selecting the “museum + performance” option at the time of purchase.
Tickets can be purchased through the Musei Italiani App, online via CoopCulture, or directly at the Castel Sant’Angelo ticket office.
20th Century Mexico Meets Rome in Villa Caffarelli’s Newest Exhibit
From June 9 to December 13, 2026, the Capitoline Museums’ Villa Caffarelli hosts Diego Rivera and the Construction of Modern Art in Mexico City in the 20th Century, the first exhibition in Italy dedicated to Diego Rivera, one of Mexico’s most celebrated painters and muralists.
The exhibition brings together more than 140 works, including 30 by Rivera, alongside masterpieces by some of the most important Mexican artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, such as Frida Kahlo, José María Velasco, José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, María Izquierdo, Rufino Tamayo, Roberto Montenegro, Dr. Atl and Saturnino Herrán.
Through paintings, photographs and videos, the show explores the development of modern Mexican art and the creation of a visual language that combined tradition, avant-garde experimentation and a strong sense of national identity. Rivera’s work is placed at the centre of a broader artistic movement that helped define Mexico’s image in the 20th century.
Rather than focusing only on Rivera’s famous murals, the exhibition also highlights his cubist, modernist and more experimental phases. Among the most notable works on display are his cubist pieces View of Toledo and Sailor at Breakfast, as well as The Painter’s Studio. His role in the Mexican muralist movement is explored throughout the exhibition, although there are no actual murals by Rivera on display.
The other artists featured in the show reflect the richness and diversity of modern Mexican art. Their works range from modernism, cubism and abstraction to surrealism, post-impressionism and realism. Some paintings depict landscapes of Mexico and Europe, others focus on still lifes, indigenous women at the market, social themes and symbolic visions. Together, they reveal a country in transformation, where art became a way to reflect on identity, history, social change and modern life.
The exhibition also includes two still lifes by Frida Kahlo, a life-sized portrait of Rivera by Alexandre Zinoviev, and Juan O’Gorman’s surreal Project for the Monument of the Birth of Venus. Photographs, including images of Rivera taken by Tina Modotti, and video material further enrich the visitor experience.
Structured around four thematic sections, the exhibition traces Rivera’s academic training, his dialogue with the European avant-garde, the Mexican cultural renaissance after the Revolution, and the legacy of Mexican modern art beyond social realism.
Diego Rivera and the Construction of Modern Art in Mexico City in the 20th Century is a must-see for art lovers in Rome. It offers a rare opportunity to discover the colours, tensions and creative force of modern Mexico through the work of Rivera and the artists who helped shape one of the most powerful artistic traditions of the 20th century.
Nothing says summer in the Eternal City like a movie under the stars (preferably with a gelato in hand). This month, piazzas, and lush villas transform into open-air cinemas, showing everything from classic flicks, to kid-friendly favorites.
Read on for our top picks of outdoor flicks in the city.
Cinema in Piazza 2026
From May 28th to July 12th, Rome’s piazzas are once again being transformed into a movie theater, as the free outside movie festival, “Il Cinema in Piazza,” has returned to Rome for its 11th year. Just like last year, it will be hosted in four locations: Piazza San Cosimato (May 28 – July 12), Monte Ciocci (June 6 – July 12), Casale della Cervelletta (June 4 – July 12) and Cinema Troisi. The eleventh edition of the festival offers a very rich program; special attention devoted to screenings in the original language (with Italian subtitles) honors the culture of the films by maintaining their authenticity, while simultaneously catering to the diverse tourists and residents living in Rome.
Till July 12, 2026
Piazza San Cosimato; Monte Ciocci; Casale della Cervelletta in Tor Sapienza; Cinema Troisi
Summer programming returns to the Casa del Cinema, curated by the Fondazione Cinema per Roma. The Ettore Scola Theatre, the large open-air arena immersed in the Villa Borghese Park, will host numerous free screenings.
Four film series are scheduled for June. Alongside the tribute to Ettore Scola, “Marilyn 100”, marking the centenary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth, returns, together with a selection of films celebrating Mel Brooks’ 100th birthday.
Starting on June 14, “Via Terra” will also begin: a cinematic journey featuring directors such as Gianni Amelio, Dennis Hopper, David Lynch, Dino Risi and Ridley Scott.
Then, from July 2 to 6, the fifth edition of “Nouvelle Vague sul Tevere” will take place, with French films and special events celebrating the partnership between Rome and Paris.
The 14th edition of “Under the Stars of Austria,” a festival dedicated to the best of contemporary Austrian cinema, awaits you in the beautiful garden of the Austrian Cultural Forum. Four screenings over two weeks to present you with the latest in Austrian cinema, along with talks with directors. Reservations mandatory via email.
The Program:
June 16: Mother’s baby
June 18: The loneliest man in town
June 23: Veni, vidi, vici
June 24: Ingeborg Bachmann– Journey into the desert
From June 18 to September 20, the 26th edition of Notti di Cinema a Piazza Vittorio returns to Piazza Vittorio, in the Esquilino district.
Every evening at 9:30pm, the season’s major films will be screened on the historic outdoor screen, offering a carefully curated selection of cinematic works. This year’s programme will once again be enriched by numerous meetings with leading figures from contemporary Italian cinema, guiding audiences through the films presented.
From July 2 to 6, Casa del Cinema will host the fifth edition of Nouvelle Vague sul Tevere, a festival dedicated to French cinema and the cultural dialogue between Rome and Paris. The event is twinned with the Parisian festival Dolcevita-sur-Seine, strengthening the cultural exchange between the two capitals. The programme features screenings, special guests and encounters in the open-air setting of the Ettore Scola Theatre. The festival opens on Thursday, July 2 with Jacques Demy’s Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, in the presence of French singer Clara Luciani.
The program:
July 2: The Young Girls of Rochefort, by Jacques Demy, with a special appearance by Clara Luciani.
July 3: The Red Balloon, by Albert Lamorisse, presented to the public by director Valentine Cadic
July 4: Vénus Beauté (Institut), by Tonie Marshall
July 5:Les Immortelles, by Caroline Deruas
July 6:Les Quatre Cents Coups, François Truffau’s first feature film
All screenings of “Nouvelle Vague sul Tevere” will be introduced by Aureliano Tonet, culture and entertainment correspondent for the newspaper Le Monde.
From July 1 to 22, the fifth edition of Roma Cinema Arena awaits you at Parco degli Acquedotti. Every evening, 22 free-entry screenings will take place. Guests at this year’s edition include Andrea and Brando De Sica, Francesca Comencini, Andrea Segre and Isabella Ferrari.
Cinema alle Mura, promoted by the Comitato Mura Latine, was born from the desire to create a moment of community sharing, using an inclusive space nestled in the unique setting of the Aurelian Walls. Bring your blankets and cushions, and enjoy the films seated or lying on the grass!
From July 7 to 16, the fifth edition of QUO VADIS? – Cinema in the Heart of Rome returns to the Temple of Venus and Roma, with entrance from Piazza del Colosseo. Promoted by the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia and the Colosseum Archaeological Park, this year’s edition is titled “Dying of Laughter: Horror Classics Between Fear and Parody.”
The programme features ten horror classics with grotesque twists, many of which have become true cult films over the years. The screenings will be introduced by various figures from the world of culture.
July 7: Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau (1922, 94′)
July 8:The Fearless Vampire Killers by Roman Polanski (1966, 107′)
July 9: L’orribile segreto del dr. Hichcock by Riccardo Freda (1962, 88′)
July 10: Histoires extraordinaires by Roger Vadim, Louis Malle, Federico Fellini (1968, 121′)
July 11: Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht by Werner Herzog (1979, 107′)
July 12:Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks (Frankenstein Junior, 1974, 105′)
July 13: Frankenstein di James Whale (1931, 71′)
July 14: Opera by Dario Argento (1987,107′, presented by the director)
July 15: Freaks by Tod Browning (1932, 64′)
July 16: La caduta di Troia by Giovanni Pastrone and Luigi Romano Borgnetto (1911, 33′)
From July 17 to 26, the Arena Archeologica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme will once again host Effetto Notte, the free initiative by the CSC – Cineteca Nazionale.
The ten-night programme is summed up by this year’s title: “The Future is Woman: Female Perspectives in Cinema Between Freedom and Innovation.” The edition will feature films and short films directed by women, including several former students of the CSC – National Film School.
July 17-26
Area Archeologica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Piazza di S. Croce in Gerusalemme
The sixth edition of the Villa Medici Film Festival returns from September 16 to 20, 2026, with almost 40 screenings taking place both indoors and outdoors at Villa Medici.
From May 20 to September 28, 2026, Villa Medici is hosting the fifth edition of the Festival des Cabanes.
Set in the Renaissance gardens of Villa Medici, near the Spanish Steps, the fifth edition of the Festival des Cabanes runs from May 20 to September 28, 2026. The festival transforms the grounds of the French Academy in Rome into a laboratory for architectural experimentation, presenting six temporary cabins made from wood, metal and recycled materials.
Designed by architects, artists and designers, the installations explore sustainable construction, non-invasive architecture and new ways of connecting built spaces with the surrounding landscape.
The concept behind the cabane serves as a creative starting point, prompting architects, designers, artists, and landscape architects to ask important questions: How can we build in ways that are gentle on the environment?What might sustainable living look like in the future?
For those visiting Rome this summer, Festival des Cabanes offers a refreshing and thought-provoking break from traditional sightseeing. It’s a chance to see how contemporary creative minds are reimagining space, right in the heart of one of the city’s most iconic cultural landmarks.
Bento Architecture has created a suspended dome made from wood and mycelium, offering visitors shade and coolness while reinterpreting the archetype of the Roman dome.
ECAL, the University of Art and Design Lausanne, has created a trompe-l’œil façade using ceramic tiles, giving the illusion of a complete house within the garden.
Foundation Huttopia raised a sustainable tent-like cabin designed for sustainable housing and based on similar structures used by the Cree Nation in Quebec.
NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti has reused materials from the 2025 exhibition to create chairs and seating areas for the Villa Medici gardens.
PRÌA and VELIA have arranged terracotta vessels around a travertine base to create a natural cooling system beneath the garden’s trees, offering visitors a shaded place to sit.
Finally, Salazarsequeromedina presents a simple wooden pavilion with an awning, designed as a refuge for birds and a shaded space where visitors can pause and contemplate.
The Festival des Cabanes 2026 is open from May 20 to September 28. Tickets cost €10 at full price and €8 for visitors aged 18–24. Admission is free for visitors under 18, eligible members and visitors with disabilities.
As part of the Festival des Cabanes, Villa Medici will host Nuit des Cabanes – Living Tomorrow on June 25 from 5pm to midnight. The evening will feature more than twenty events across the gardens, including workshops, performances, readings, tastings, concerts and DJ sets.
The programme explores sustainability, climate-conscious solutions and new ways of reconnecting with nature through music, dance, talks and participatory activities.
A separate €5 pass is required. Some activities also require advance booking at no additional cost, while the remaining events are accessible to pass holders subject to availability.
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