Pompeii and Herculaneum Archaeological Parks Launch Summer Night Festivals

The Archaeological Park of Pompeii will host the second edition of the "Esopop" festival from 28 August to 26 September 2026. Six new theatrical productions inspired by the cult of Dionysus will be staged in sites such as Villa di Poppea, Villa dei Misteri, Villa Regina, Villa San Marco and the Archaeological Museum of Stabia. The program draws on the recent discovery of the Casa del Tiaso in Regio IX, a well‑preserved domus with a rare Dionysian mural, and is presented by park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel.

Meanwhile, the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum will hold its final "Venerdì di Ercolano" event on 7 August 2026 before the summer break. The ninth edition, themed "Love and War", features seven site‑specific performances and has already attracted 4,852 visitors, surpassing previous records. Director Federica Colaiacomo announced that the series will resume on 26 September 2026 for a special European Heritage Day evening.