Italy's April 2026 Cultural Festivals: PARMA 360, Torino Jazz, Rome Science and More
April 2026 brings a wave of cultural festivals across Italy, spanning contemporary art, jazz, chamber music, sustainability, science, comics, and design. PARMA 360 Festival della Creatività Contemporanea celebrates its tenth edition from April 18 to June 2 in Parma, curated by Chiara Canali and Camilla Mineo, with the theme 'LUX. Visioni sulla Luce' across 22 locations and 70 exhibitions featuring over 200 artists. The Torino Jazz Festival, directed by Stefano Zenni, runs April 25 to May 2 with the theme 'The Sound of Surprise,' preceded by club previews from April 22–24. The Festival delle Scienze di Roma returns to Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone from April 15–19, focusing on 'CAOS E ARMONIA' with guests including Michelangelo Pistoletto and physicist Guido Tonelli. Genova delle Arti launches its first edition from April 17 to June 21, offering ten free events blending visual arts, music, and theater in hidden venues. Other highlights include the Symeoni Festival in Ferrara (April 17–18) dedicated to film posters, the Rencontres Musicales chamber music festival in Conegliano (April 28–May 3), the Expo della Sostenibilità across Piedmont and Aosta Valley (April 17–May 30), the Festival Nazionale del Podcast Scolastico in Locri (April 16–18), Fabbrica Design Week in Milan (April 21–26) with electronic music by Seth Troxler and Ben Klock, Castello di Rivoli's Public Program (April 18–June 20), and Elba Comics + Players in Porto Azzurro (April 24–26).
Key facts
- PARMA 360 Festival celebrates its tenth edition from April 18 to June 2, 2026, in Parma.
- The festival is curated by Chiara Canali and Camilla Mineo with theme 'LUX. Visioni sulla Luce'.
- PARMA 360 features 22 locations, 70 exhibitions, and over 200 artists.
- Torino Jazz Festival runs April 25 to May 2, 2026, directed by Stefano Zenni.
- The XIV edition's theme is 'The Sound of Surprise', quoting Whitney Balliett.
- Festival delle Scienze di Roma takes place April 15–19, 2026, at Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone.
- The XXI edition theme is 'CAOS E ARMONIA' with guests Michelangelo Pistoletto and Guido Tonelli.
- Genova delle Arti first edition runs April 17 to June 21, 2026, with ten free events.
- Symeoni Festival in Ferrara on April 17–18 is dedicated to film poster art and Sandro Simeoni.
- Rencontres Musicales in Conegliano is a new chamber music festival from April 28 to May 3.
- Expo della Sostenibilità fourth edition spans April 17 to May 30 across 12 cities in Piedmont and Aosta Valley.
- Festival Nazionale del Podcast Scolastico in Locri runs April 16–18, 2026.
- Fabbrica Design Week in Milan from April 21–26 includes performances by Seth Troxler and Ben Klock.
- Castello di Rivoli Public Program starts April 18 with XONG BOX LIVE by Xing.
- Elba Comics + Players returns to Porto Azzurro April 24–26 with a new Vintage Area.
Entities
Artists
- Chiara Canali
- Camilla Mineo
- Stefano Zenni
- Whitney Balliett
- Michelangelo Pistoletto
- Guido Tonelli
- Luca Siano
- Sandro Simeoni
- Michele Di Stefano
- Francesco Cavaliere
- Paolo Spaccamonti
- Ramon Moro
- Carl Theodor Dreyer
- Lele Sacchi
- Eric Galiani
- Seth Troxler
- Ben Klock
- Claudia Giraud
Institutions
- Artribune
- PARMA 360 Festival della Creatività Contemporanea
- Torino Jazz Festival
- Festival delle Scienze di Roma
- Fondazione Musica per Roma
- Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone
- Genova delle Arti
- Symeoni Festival
- Archivio Sandro Simeoni
- Rencontres Musicales
- Conegliano Classica
- Expo della Sostenibilità
- Wild Life Protection ETS
- Festival Nazionale del Podcast Scolastico
- Fabbrica Design Week
- Fabbrica del Vapore
- Castello di Rivoli
- Elba Comics + Players
- Visit Genoa
Locations
- Parma
- Italy
- Torino
- Turin
- Roma
- Rome
- Genova
- Genoa
- Ferrara
- Conegliano
- Treviso
- Locri
- Reggio Calabria
- Piemonte
- Piedmont
- Valle d'Aosta
- Aosta Valley
- Alba
- Milano
- Milan
- Rivoli
- Porto Azzurro
- Isola d'Elba
- Elba Island