A special edition, in the year that L’Aquila is the Italian Capital of Culture, which kicks off with a focus on international artistic excellence.

The 2026 edition will kick off on Saturday, July 4, with étoile Roberto Bolle and his“Roberto Bolle and Friends,”produced by ARTEDANZA SRL and brought to L’Aquila thanks to the effortsof the L’Etoile Association, led by Ornella Cerroni. It will then feature, one of the most anticipated events: Nicola Piovani’s “Missa pro Pace,” dedicated to L’Aquila, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the “Bonaventura Barattelli” Concert Society of L’Aquila, which will receive its world premiere on July 18.

The “Cantieri dell’Immaginario” Program: 42 events on the schedule

The mayor of L’Aquila, Pierluigi Biondi, together with artistic director Leonardo De Amicis, announced the program for *Cantieri dell’Immaginario*, promoted by the City of L’Aquila in collaboration with local cultural organizations funded by the National Fund for the Performing Arts (FNSV), and coordinated by the Teatro Stabile d’Abruzzo: Società Aquilana dei Concerti “Bonaventura Barattelli, ” the L’Étoile association, the E-Motion Group, Teatro dei 99, I Solisti Aquilani, the Abruzzese Symphony Orchestra, Teatro Zeta, and the Jazz all’Aquila Association. In addition, the festival features collaborations with the Gran Sasso National Laboratories, the “Alfredo Casella” Conservatory of L’Aquila, and the State Police Band.

Piovani, who was present at the press conference, had words of praise for L’Aquila and emphasized the need to reaffirm the power of peace and the folly of war through music—a universal concept that inspired the *Missa pro pace* itself.

On the program, from July 4 to August 6, is a month of performances comprising a total of 42 events that will transform L’Aquila into a vast, open-air stage, featuring leading figures from the Italian and international art scenes.

Among the headliners, in addition to Roberto Bolle and Nicola Piovani, are artists of the caliber of Giovanni Allevi, Gaetano Curreri, Mr. Rain, the comedy duo Tintoria, Giorgio Panariello, Enrico Montesano, and Rkomi.

A multidisciplinary exhibition exploring inclusion and the local community

Alongside the major events, the program reaffirms the festival’s multidisciplinary nature, with music, theater, dance, storytelling, and experimental art intertwining in an artistic journey stretching from the San Bernardino staircase to the San Filippo Theater. As was the case last year, the event —coordinated by the TSA for the ninth consecutive year— extends to the crater, with events also scheduled in the municipalities of Tione degli Abruzzi and Capitignano.

Special attention was once again given this year to the festival’s social impact, with initiatives designed to promote inclusion and accessibility. Among these, we would like to highlight the collaboration withthe National Deaf Association (ENS) for one of the scheduled performances, which will be fully accessible to deaf people thanks to the presence of Italian Sign Language (LIS) interpreters. This is a concrete sign of our commitment to making culture a truly shared resource open to everyone.

The Vision of Aquila: City of the Multiverse

“The 2026 edition of Cantieri dell’Immaginario will be electrifying for the entire region,” said Mayor Biondi. “Being the Italian Capital of Culture means taking on the responsibility of telling the nation and the world a story of rebirth and the future. Now more than ever, this festival fully embodies this spirit through performance, vision, participation, and community. The presence of internationally renowned artists and the quality of the cultural program attest to the progress made in recent years and L’Aquila’s ability to play a leading role in the contemporary cultural landscape.”

“A sign that reinforces L’Aquila’s central role in the national and international cultural landscape. The Cantieri thus become an open and inclusive space, capable of engaging with diverse audiences. A place that fosters connections between languages, sensibilities, and forms of expression. It is within this framework that the vision of L’Aquila as a ‘multiverse city’ is realized. Since 2018, together with local cultural institutions, the artistic direction has been building a shared and evolving path. Here, culture is accessible, participatory, and experienced as a collective endeavor and a common good,” concluded Maestro De Amicis.

I Cantieri dell’Immaginario from 2018 to the Present

Since 2018, I Cantieri dell’Immaginario has hosted hundreds of performances featuring more than 300 artists and attracting an ever-growing audience, making a significant contribution to the revitalization of the historic center and the development of a new cultural identity for the city. The 2026 edition marks a further leap in quality, establishing itself as a true event of national significance.

For more information about the events, visit the website: www.cantieriimmaginario.it