Brindisi Performing Arts Festival
Traveling contemporary dance, theatre, and circus across the province of Brindisi
About BPA Festival
A widespread festival in the heart of Puglia
The Brindisi Performing Arts Festival, also known as BPA, is one of the most original live performance showcases in Puglia. Founded in 2020 on the initiative of AlphaZTL Compagnia d'Arte Dinamica and artistically directed by choreographer Vito Alfarano, the festival does not have a single home base but functions as a traveling event involving various municipalities in the province of Brindisi: in addition to the capital, past editions have hosted performances in Carovigno, Mesagne, San Pancrazio Salentino, Torre Santa Susanna, Erchie, and San Pietro Vernotico.
Performing arts and social inclusion
BPA combines artistic quality with a social mission: alongside performances open to the general public, the program enters spaces typically excluded from cultural life. The festival is divided into several sections: BPA Open for performances aimed at everyone, BPA Indoor with events at the Brindisi District Prison and the REMS in Carovigno, BPA Kids dedicated to children aged 4 to 13, BPA Young for high schools and universities, as well as Education and Art sections. In this way, dance and theatre reach inmates, patients, students, and families.
Dance, theatre, circus, and music
Vito Alfarano's direction gives the festival a strong choreographic imprint, but the lineup is multidisciplinary: it ranges from the contemporary circus of companies like MagdaClan to auteur theatre, and from international contemporary dance to live music. The festival has also developed an international vocation, with collaborations that have brought foreign companies to Puglia in recent years, from South Korea to Eastern Europe.
Two appointments per year
BPA is traditionally divided into two annual editions: a Summer Edition between summer and early autumn, and an Autumn Edition between October and November. This dual calendar allows the festival to accompany the public of the Brindisi province throughout much of the year, alternating outdoor performances in squares and castles with indoor shows in theatres, schools, and social-health facilities.
A project for the territory
More than just a showcase, Brindisi Performing Arts is a cultural project that enhances the historical and landscape heritage of the Municipality of Brindisi and the towns of its province, transforming squares and monuments into stages. Almost all events offer free admission, making the festival an accessible opportunity to discover the best of the contemporary performing scene in Puglia.
BPA Festival — edition 2026
BPA 2026: starting again with international dance
The new edition of the Brindisi Performing Arts Festival kicks off on Wednesday, July 1st, 2026, at 9:00 PM, in Piazza 'Nzegna in Carovigno, with an evening of contemporary dance bringing Italian companies and South Korea to Puglia. For 2026, the festival confirms its traveling and widespread nature, with events scheduled between summer and autumn in the municipalities of the province of Brindisi.
Artistic direction remains entrusted to choreographer Vito Alfarano, while organization is handled by AlphaZTL Compagnia d'Arte Dinamica, in collaboration with local entities and institutions. The full program of subsequent dates will be announced progressively on the festival's official channels.
Programme BPA Festival 2026
Opening night — July 1st, 2026, Carovigno
The 2026 showcase opens with TRIPLE BILL INTERNATIONAL, a triple contemporary dance proposal in Piazza 'Nzegna in Carovigno (free admission):
- Shut Up! — AlphaZTL Compagnia d'Arte Dinamica, choreography by Francesco Biasi;
- Eco di Silenzio — Compagnia Fabula Saltica, conceived by Cassandra Bianco and Antonella Albanese;
- AHOPSAN (The Nine Mountains) — Park Na Hoon Dance Company (South Korea), choreography by Na Hoon Park, in collaboration with the Busan Cultural Foundation.
The festival then continues with the BPA Open, BPA Indoor, BPA Kids, and BPA Young sections in the province's municipalities. Further dates and program titles will be announced during the season on the website and official social media.
Highlights BPA Festival 2026
- International debut with the Park Na Hoon Dance Company from South Korea
- Free opening night in Piazza 'Nzegna in Carovigno
- Artistic direction by Vito Alfarano (AlphaZTL)
- Widespread program between summer and autumn in the province of Brindisi
Prices BPA Festival 2026
Practical information — BPA Festival
Getting there
Brindisi is accessible by train via the Adriatic line and by plane through the Salento Airport. Performances take place in different municipalities of the province (Brindisi, Carovigno, Mesagne, San Pancrazio Salentino, Torre Santa Susanna): it is advisable to travel by car and check the location of each individual event.
Tickets
Most events in the BPA Open section are free to attend; some performances may require a ticket. The Indoor, Kids, and Young sections are reserved for specific audiences (inmates, hospitals, schools).
Information
The program, locations, and times are published on the official website brindisiperformingarts.com and on the festival's social media channels. For information: [email protected], tel. +39 347 8172498.
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