Arte in Festival – Confetto d'Oro Award
The theatre and music festival in the heart of Sulmona
About Arte in Festival
A popular theatre festival in the heart of Sulmona
Founded in 2016 by the Compagnia Teatrale Arianna, led by president and director Marisa Zurlo, Arte in Festival – Confetto d'Oro Award has become one of the most anticipated summer events in Sulmona, in the heart of the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo. Every July, the event brings amateur theatre under the stars to the evocative setting of the Cortile dell'Annunziata, one of the iconic landmarks of the historic Peligna centre, which serves as an open-air stage for the occasion.
The Confetto d'Oro Award
The festival's name draws on the city's most famous tradition: Sulmona is known throughout Italy as the city of confetti (sugared almonds), sweets celebrated since the Middle Ages. The Confetto d'Oro Award is presented at the end of the event to the best performances, direction, and shows that stood out during the evenings, evaluated through a true competition between the participating companies.
A program of theatre, music, and literature
The festival goes beyond theatre: over the years, the program has been enriched with live music, literary competitions, and cultural discussions. The evenings combine brilliant comedies in Italian and Abruzzese dialect, contemporary works, and variety shows, with the aim of showcasing the creativity of local amateur companies and fostering dialogue between different artistic languages.
- Where: Cortile dell'Annunziata, Sulmona (AQ)
- When: During the month of July, for about ten evenings
- Time: Evening shows, generally starting at 9:00 PM
- Entry: Free-will donation
- Organization: Compagnia Teatrale Arianna
The competing companies
The competition is brought to life by amateur companies from all over Abruzzo—from Avezzano to Pescara, from Bisenti to Sulmona—and the nearby Lazio region, performing classic and brilliant repertoire texts, often reworked in dialect. Traditionally, the host Compagnia Arianna closes the festival with a non-competitive performance.
A community event
With its free-will donation entry and popular appeal, Arte in Festival is much more than just a festival: it is a gathering point for the community of Sulmona and the entire Valle Peligna, capable of filling the Cortile dell'Annunziata night after night and confirming the vitality of Abruzzese amateur theatre.
Arte in Festival — edition 2026
Arte in Festival 2026: eleventh edition
From July 2 to 12, 2026, the Cortile dell'Annunziata in Sulmona hosts the eleventh edition of Arte in Festival – Confetto d'Oro Award, organized by the Compagnia Teatrale Arianna. The festival, presented during the "Prima Festival" on June 28, expands its scope to include live music, literature, and publishing, alongside the traditional theatre competition.
The nightly program
- July 2 – Opening night: Lupi Editore Literary Competition awards at Palazzo Tabassi (6:00 PM) and Stadio tribute concert "Fuori dallo Stadio" (9:00 PM)
- July 3 – Il sogno nel cassetto (Pomezia) in "È tutta colpa di Freud"
- July 5 – I Marsatori (Avezzano) in "Faccia nterra e cule pe l'aria"
- July 6 – Il Risveglio (Sulmona) with "Cani e gatti" by Eduardo Scarpetta
- July 7 – Associazione Proteo (Avezzano) in "Amate da morire"
- July 8 – Compagnia Bella di Bisenti with "L'urulogge di San Pasquale"
- July 9 – I Fuoriusciti (Avezzano) in "Tisore mi"
- July 10 – La Torre di Babele (Pescara) with "Ma che guerra c'è"
- July 11 – Insieme per caso (Rome) in "Sogno di una notte di mezza sbornìa"
- July 12 – Compagnia Arianna, non-competitive, with "I perfetti sconosciuti"
All shows begin at 9:00 PM, with free-will donation entry.
Programme Arte in Festival 2026
Highlights Arte in Festival 2026
Prices Arte in Festival 2026
Practical information — Arte in Festival
How to get there
By car: Sulmona can be reached via the A25 Torano-Pescara motorway, taking the Pratola Peligna-Sulmona exit. The Cortile dell'Annunziata is located in the historic centre.
By train: The Sulmona station is a major railway hub on the lines to Rome, Pescara, and L'Aquila.
Entry
Entry to all shows is by free-will donation. Performances generally begin at 9:00 PM.
Contacts
Information via the Compagnia Teatrale Arianna (tel. +39 349 4028539).
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Arte in Festival
Cortile dell'Annunziata