Boccaevento Festival

The Boccaevento Festival in Santa Teresa di Riva

The Boccaevento Festival is a key event in the rich summer calendar of Santa Teresa di Riva, a town on the Ionian Riviera in the province of Messina, in the heart of northeastern Sicily. The event is officially included in the 2026 Summer program promoted by the municipal administration, a schedule that accompanies citizens and visitors for over two months with dozens of events featuring music, entertainment, and folk traditions.

The Boccavento District

The festival takes its name from the Boccavento district (also spelled Boccaevento), one of the neighborhoods that define the identity of Santa Teresa di Riva. The name is linked to the town's seafront, where one of the modern steel sculptures by artist Nino Ucchino, titled "Il Boccavento," stands out. Boccavento is also one of the historic districts that compete in the Palio Madonna del Carmelo, the traditional civic contest that has seen the town's neighborhoods—including Barracca, Sparagonà, Ciumaredda, Sacra Famiglia, Centro, Misserio, and Bucalo—face off since 1994 during the July patronal feast.

A District and Community Celebration

The tradition linked to Boccavento is rooted in the neighborhood festivals that have enlivened social life in Santa Teresa for years: as early as 2019, the "Boccavento Festival" drew significant participation with cultural and artistic initiatives and community gatherings, such as the "Boccavento - The Poet Facing the Sea" poetry competition promoted by the Caffè d'Arte association. The Boccaevento Festival follows in this tradition as a popular celebration that unites the district community and the entire town.

Santa Teresa di Riva, Pearl of the Ionian Riviera

Overlooking the Ionian Sea and an ideal starting point for reaching inland villages like Savoca and Casalvecchio Siculo, Santa Teresa di Riva is one of the most popular seaside resorts on the Messina coast. During the summer, the town center, squares, and seafront transform into a widespread stage: from major free concerts to Sicilian cabaret, and local district events like the Boccaevento Festival, they all showcase the most authentic and popular side of Sicily in celebration.

Dates for the 2026 Edition

The 2026 edition of the Boccaevento Festival is scheduled for June 26, 2026, as part of the Santa Teresa di Riva 2026 Summer program. The detailed program for the evening—including artists, times, and specific locations—is defined and released by the organizers in the weeks leading up to the event.