Arco Slow
A landscape to inhabit: the city slows down to rethink its spaces
About Arco Slow
A weekend to rethink the city
Arco Slow was born in Arco, in the heart of the Garda Trentino region (Province of Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige), as a day dedicated to sustainable mobility. It has quickly established itself as one of the most popular civic events in the Upper Garda area. The idea is simple yet powerful: stop cars in the historic center and return the streets to their inhabitants, to show—even if only for a few hours—what kind of city we could have if we put people, the environment, and the community at the center.
Who organizes it
The event is promoted by the Smart Social Cooperative, chaired by Francesco Picello, which manages the inter-municipal youth center Cantiere 26 in Prabi di Arco. The event is supported by the Municipality of Arco and involves a vast network of local associations, schools, committees, and organizations: from the Trentino Climate Network to the SAT of Arco, from the Michele Scarponi Foundation to numerous Pro Loco associations, cooperatives, and volunteer groups.
What happens at Arco Slow
The format alternates between moments of reflection and practical activities. On one hand, there are conferences and round tables with experts in urban planning, mobility, and regional policy; on the other, a Sunday of car-free streets where dozens of local organizations enliven the squares and streets with:
- creative and sustainable workshops for all ages;
- street games, board games, sports, and free physical activities (slackline, skateboarding, capoeira, dance);
- stands dedicated to reuse, recycling, soft mobility, and energy communities;
- live music, performances, and shows;
- tastings of local products and gastronomic offerings.
A landscape to inhabit
The common thread of recent editions is the theme of inhabiting, understood not just as a home, but as relationships, the use of space, rights, and daily challenges. Arco Slow invites citizens and institutions to imagine a more sustainable future for the Busa and the Upper Garda area together, in line with the values of the international Cittaslow network. It is a free, open, family-friendly event that combines the outdoor vocation of the Garda Trentino region with a serious reflection on the city of the future.
Arco Slow — edition 2026
For its second edition, from March 28 to 29, 2026, Arco Slow has grown into a full weekend dedicated to slowness, reflection, social interaction, and play, under the title A landscape to inhabit. The event, promoted by the Smart Social Cooperative with the patronage of the Municipality of Arco, focused on the themes of living, the quality of public space, and sustainability, alternating between in-depth discussions and practical activities. The Upper Garda region mobilized with associations, schools, and committees to rethink the future of the city together, in line with the values of the Cittaslow International network.
Programme Arco Slow 2026
Saturday, March 28 — Cantiere 26
- 15:30 — Conference A landscape to inhabit. Actors, practices, and visions for the Upper Garda, with presentations, parallel sessions, and discussion moments.
- 20:30 — Live Podcast "Città" by Will Media with Paolo Bovio and guest Gabriele Rabaiotti (architect, expert in regional policies, former housing councilor for the Municipality of Milan). The episode was subsequently published on the "Città" Spotify feed.
Sunday, March 29 — car-free historic center (10:00-18:00)
Via Marconi, via Garberie, via Cesare Battisti, viale delle Palme, and the Ex Tennis Park were closed to traffic and transformed into a large shared space, with about fifty local organizations participating:
- creative and sustainable workshops;
- games and sports, bike mobility, free trials of physical activities;
- music and dance, performances, and street artists;
- science and nature, energy communities, sustainable mobility;
- solidarity exchanges, creative reuse, and community meetings.
Highlights Arco Slow 2026
Prices Arco Slow 2026
Practical information — Arco Slow
How to get there
Arco is located in the Trentino Upper Garda, a few kilometers from Riva del Garda. By car: take the A22 Brenner motorway, exit at Rovereto Sud, then follow the SS240 towards Garda. By train: arrive at Rovereto station, then take the local bus to Arco. During the Sunday of the event, the historic center is closed to traffic: it is advisable to leave your car in the peripheral parking lots and reach via Marconi, via Garberie, viale delle Palme, and the Ex Tennis Park on foot or by bike.
Admission
Access to the festival is free. Gastronomic offerings (lunch, dinner, aperitifs) have menus and price lists available at the cash desks and stands. Some workshops require registration.
Contacts
Detailed program and updates are available on the official website cooperativasmart.it/arcoslow, on Instagram @arco.slow, and on the channels of the Smart Social Cooperative.
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Where does it take place — Arco Slow
Centro storico di Arco
Viale delle Palme, 38062 Arco