Arte Spaccata Festival
Three days of theatre, visual arts, and live music at the Ex Mercato in Torre Spaccata
About Arte Spaccata
An abandoned market turned cultural workshop
The Arte Spaccata Festival takes place every spring at the Ex Mercato di Torre Spaccata, in the eastern suburbs of Rome (Municipio VII), in the Lazio region. Once a long-abandoned local market, the structure has been reclaimed and returned to the neighborhood by Macedonia Teatro and the Associazione Culturale Calpurnia, who manage it year-round as a space for theatre production and social gathering. Mismatched chairs, a 19th-century upright piano, worn-in armchairs, and artwork hanging on the walls perfectly capture the spirit of the place: informal, artisanal, and deeply rooted in the local community.
The history of the festival
The first edition was held in November 2021, supported by a LazioCrea grant and the Lazio Region. Since then, the event has grown year after year, settling into the month of May and reaching its sixth edition in 2026. In just a few years, the festival has become one of the most followed showcases for Rome's emerging theatre scene, attracting audiences from outside the neighborhood to an area rarely featured on the capital's cultural circuits.
Teatro Spaccato: the competition for under-35s
The heart of the event is Teatro Spaccato, a short-play competition reserved for artists under 35, selected through an open call. Between six and fifteen short plays are admitted to the final phase and performed over the three evenings before a jury of external professionals. The prize is not monetary but consists of artistic residency hours—ranging from 50 to 120 hours of rehearsal time in the Ex Mercato spaces—a format that addresses the most practical need of young Roman companies: having a place to work.
More than just theatre
Alongside the competition, the program continues every night after 10 PM with diverse offerings: contemporary circus, electronic music, stand-up comedy, and live concerts. Throughout the festival, visitors can explore visual art exhibitions, while vintage and craft stalls, a food corner, and a bar complete the experience. It is a multidisciplinary format that makes for an enjoyable evening even for those without a specific interest in theatre.
Atmosphere and audience
- Free admission with an annual membership card (5 euros), following the tradition of Roman cultural clubs
- Doors open at 7 PM, competition plays start at 8 PM, second show at 10 PM
- A diverse audience, ranging from neighborhood residents to visitors from the city center
- After the shows, actors and spectators mingle over drinks and food, often sparking collaborations for the following year
Why it is worth visiting
In a city where cultural offerings are almost entirely concentrated within the Aurelian Walls, the Arte Spaccata Festival is one of the few events demonstrating that Rome's suburbs can produce culture rather than just consume it. For those curious about the direction of Italy's youngest theatre—the kind that lacks a permanent stage—this is the place to discover it fifteen minutes at a time, unfiltered and at almost zero cost.
Arte Spaccata — edition 2026
6th edition: three nights of open stage
From May 15 to 17, 2026, the Ex Mercato in Torre Spaccata hosted the sixth edition of the Arte Spaccata Festival, with doors opening every evening at 7 PM. The Teatro Spaccato competition showcased shorts selected via open call (deadline March 15, 2026), four per evening, evaluated by a jury of external professionals.
Program night by night
- Friday, May 15 — 8 PM: four competition shorts; 10 PM: NEOSYNC, circus and electronic music by Collettivo Flaan
- Saturday, May 16 — 8 PM: four competition shorts; 10 PM: Giorni da cane, stand-up comedy by Andrea Mammarella
- Sunday, May 17 — 8 PM: competition finale; 10 PM: Live che all'(Ex) Mercato mio padre comprò with TommieQubla and Gast
Exhibitions
Throughout the festival, visitors could view the exhibitions Tracce del Presente (screen prints), Estinzione, an installation by Mila Damato, and Emozioni metalliche by Ginob, along with vintage and craft stalls.
Winners
The first prize went to Collettivo Algo Ceiba for Pigalle, the second to Leonardo Alberto Lutrario (Masnada Quest) for Trova Margherita, and the third to Sotto la tenda for Le ultime parole famose. Among the most notable works was RumiNation by the duo Le Rane Bollite, focusing on mental rumination and insomnia.
Programme Arte Spaccata 2026
Friday, May 15, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Doors open, exhibitions and stalls
- 8:00 PM — Teatro Spaccato: four competition short plays
- 10:00 PM — NEOSYNC, circus and electronic music by Collettivo Flaan
Saturday, May 16, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Doors open, exhibitions and stalls
- 8:00 PM — Teatro Spaccato: four competition short plays
- 10:00 PM — Giorni da cane, stand-up comedy by Andrea Mammarella
Sunday, May 17, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Doors open, exhibitions and stalls
- 8:00 PM — Teatro Spaccato: competition finale
- 10:00 PM — Live che all'(Ex) Mercato mio padre comprò, with TommieQubla and Gast
Exhibitions open throughout the festival
- Tracce del Presente — screen prints
- Estinzione — installation by Mila Damato
- Emozioni metalliche — by Ginob
Highlights Arte Spaccata 2026
- Teatro Spaccato competition: short plays by artists under 35, with prizes in artistic residency hours (50 to 120 hours)
- Victory of Collettivo Algo Ceiba with Pigalle
- NEOSYNC by Collettivo Flaan, a fusion of contemporary circus and electronic music
- Stand-up comedy by Andrea Mammarella with Giorni da cane
- Three visual art exhibitions set up in the old market spaces
Prices Arte Spaccata 2026
Practical information — Arte Spaccata
How to get there
Ex Mercato Torrespaccata, Viale dei Romanisti 45 (entrance also from Via Filippo Tacconi 11), 00169 Rome. By metro: Line C, Torre Spaccata station, just a few minutes' walk away. Numerous bus lines serve Viale dei Romanisti. By car: take exit 19 of the Grande Raccordo Anulare; street parking is available in the surrounding streets.
Admission and rates
Free admission to all shows with an annual membership card for 5 euros, available directly at the entrance. On-site bar and food corner available.
Tips
The spaces are partially indoors and partially outdoors: bringing a sweater is recommended for May evenings. The competition hall has limited seating, so arriving by the 7 PM opening is advised. Contact: [email protected], tel. +39 339 7919309.
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Where does it take place — Arte Spaccata
Ex Mercato Torrespaccata
Viale dei Romanisti 45, 00169 Roma