Italy announces diverse 2026/2027 performing arts seasons

Various Italian cities and cultural institutions have announced their upcoming 2026/2027 performing arts seasons, spanning theatre, dance, jazz, and classical music.

In the jazz sector, the Padova Jazz Festival returns with a lineup featuring Kurt Elling, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Isaiah Collier. Meanwhile, the Bartolomeo Cristofori International Piano Festival in Padua will host artists such as Lucas Debargue and Thomas Adès.

Dance programming includes a masterclass by Eugenio Barba and Julia Varley in Ferrara, the debut of Milano Dance Week at the Teatro della Quattordicesima, and a dedicated ballet subscription season at Teatro Arcimboldi in Milan featuring productions like Don Quixote and The Nutcracker.

Theatre seasons are also expanding, with the Città del Teatro and Teatro Persio Flacco in Tuscany offering 125 events. In Turin, the Teatri Alfieri and Gioiello are focusing on musicals, while Bologna’s Teatro Celebrazioni and Bari’s Camerata are presenting diverse programs ranging from comedy and satire to symphonic tributes to artists like Raffaella Carrà and Lucio Dalla. Additionally, the Filarmonica Umbra in Terni has scheduled thirteen concerts, including a special appearance by composer Nicola Piovani.