Caracalla Festival (Teatro dell'Opera di Roma - summer season)
The summer season of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma: opera, dance, and major concerts under the sky of the Eternal City
About Caracalla Festival
An open-air opera festival in the archaeological heart of Rome
The Caracalla Festival is the summer season of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, one of the most iconic events in the cultural summer of the City of Rome and the entire Lazio region. Born in the 1930s among the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla, the festival has developed a world-renowned formula over the decades: major opera, ballet, and concert performances held outdoors on summer nights, with an ancient monument as a natural backdrop. It is an experience that combines musical appreciation with the discovery of Roman archaeological heritage, attracting thousands of Italian and international spectators every year.
Summer 2026: the historic move to the Circus Maximus
The 2026 edition marks an unprecedented transition. Because the Baths of Caracalla are undergoing major restoration and safety work, the summer season is moving for the first time to the Circus Maximus, the ancient chariot-racing arena located between the Aventine and Palatine hills. This change of venue is not merely logistical: the Circus Maximus offers a capacity of approximately 6,000 seats, nearly double that of the historical site, allowing for monumental stage designs. The program runs from June 29 to July 31, 2026, under the new artistic direction of Alessandro Galoppini, who took office in March 2026.
What's on the bill
The program alternates between different genres, following a consolidated vocation that pairs symphonic-operatic offerings with a series of major popular concerts.
- Opera: Aida by Giuseppe Verdi, the signature title of the Roman summer, presented in six performances throughout July with a set design conceived for the monumental scale of the Circus Maximus.
- Dance: the Roberto Bolle and Friends gala, a traditional festival highlight, and the ballet Romeo and Juliet, choreographed by John Cranko to music by Sergei Prokofiev, performed by the Teatro dell'Opera Ballet Company directed by Eleonora Abbagnato.
- Symphonic-choral: Carl Orff's Carmina Burana closes the festival on July 31.
- Film in Concert: Gladiator, the film by Ridley Scott, screened in its entirety with the soundtrack performed live by the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma.
- Concerts: the season also hosts names from Italian and international pop music, including Riccardo Cocciante, Edoardo Bennato, and Patti Smith.
The evening atmosphere
Attending a Caracalla Festival performance means entering an archaeological site after sunset, when the Roman heat subsides and stage lights illuminate the contours of the monuments. The audience is diverse: opera enthusiasts, families, and tourists discovering the operatic repertoire for the first time. The atmosphere is more informal than a traditional theater—no evening wear is required—and the open-air format makes a genre that can be intimidating to newcomers much more accessible. Performances typically begin at 9:00 PM, once the sun has set.
The Roman context
The Caracalla Festival is more than just a schedule of events: it is how Rome gives its monuments back to the public, transforming them into living spaces rather than mere sites to visit. In 2026, this vocation is expressed in the largest and most ancient location possible, the Circus Maximus, where mass entertainment was centered for centuries. For those visiting the capital in summer, it is the perfect opportunity to combine a day exploring the Roman Forum, the Palatine, and the Aventine with an evening of great music just steps away from where they walked.
Good to know
The festival takes place in the Municipio I of Rome, in the Lazio region, and remains one of the flagship events of the regional summer calendar. Dates and titles are subject to change: it is always advisable to check the updated program on the official Teatro dell'Opera di Roma website before planning your trip.
Caracalla Festival — edition 2026
Caracalla Festival 2026 at the Circus Maximus
The 2026 edition of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma's summer season takes place from June 29 to July 31 in the setting of the Circus Maximus, the venue chosen for the restoration period of the Baths of Caracalla. The change of location brings a significant increase in capacity—approximately 6,000 seats—and the opportunity to create monumental-scale stage designs in dialogue with one of antiquity's largest performance spaces.
The program, presented on March 10, 2026, alongside the appointment of the new artistic director Alessandro Galoppini, intertwines opera, dance, symphonic-choral music, film in concert, and pop music. Performances begin at 9:00 PM, with the exception of Carmina Burana at 9:30 PM. Ticket sales opened on March 13, 2026.
Programme Caracalla Festival 2026
Opening
- June 29 — Francesco. Un santo scomodo, a lecture-performance based on the book by historian Alessandro Barbero
Film in Concert
- July 3 and 4 — Gladiator in Concert: full screening of the Ridley Scott film with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma live, featuring Lisa Gerrard
Opera
- July 12, 15, 18, 22, 26, and 28 — Aida by Giuseppe Verdi, in the production by Davide Livermore. The title role is shared by Elena Stikhina (12, 26, 28), Yolanda Auyanet (15, 18), and Aleksandra Kurzak (22); Amneris is played by Angela Meade (12, 22, 26) alternating with Valentina Pernozzoli (15, 18, 28); Radamès is Luciano Ganci (12, 22, 28) alternating with Ivan Magrì (15, 18); Amonasro is Ernesto Petti (12, 15, 18, 26, 28) and Ludovic Tézier (22)
Dance
- July 14 — Roberto Bolle and Friends: gala with étoile Roberto Bolle and international dance stars, featuring classical and contemporary repertoire
- July 24 and 25 — Romeo and Juliet, music by Sergei Prokofiev, choreography by John Cranko, with the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma Ballet Company directed by Eleonora Abbagnato
Concerts
- July 6 — Riccardo Cocciante
- July 20 — Edoardo Bennato
- July 27 — Patti Smith
Closing
- July 31 (9:30 PM) — Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, with video contributions by the Anagoor collective
All performances begin at 9:00 PM unless otherwise indicated. Program subject to change: always check the official Teatro dell'Opera di Roma website.
Highlights Caracalla Festival 2026
- The historic move to the Circus Maximus: for the first time, the summer season leaves the Baths of Caracalla, currently under restoration, for the ancient arena between the Aventine and Palatine hills.
- Verdi's Aida in six performances, conceived for the monumental scale of the new venue.
- Roberto Bolle and Friends, the most anticipated dance gala of the Roman summer.
- Gladiator in Concert with Lisa Gerrard live, just steps from the locations where the film is set.
- Carmina Burana by Carl Orff for the closing night, with video contributions by the Anagoor collective.
- Capacity increased to approximately 6,000 seats, nearly double that of the historical site.
Prices Caracalla Festival 2026
Practical information — Caracalla Festival
Getting there
The Circus Maximus is located on Via del Circo Massimo, in the Municipio I of Rome, between the Aventine and Palatine hills. By metro: Line B, Circo Massimo stop, just a few minutes' walk away. By bus: lines 23, 81, 160, 280, 628. From Roma Termini station, the Circo Massimo stop can be reached via Metro B in about ten minutes. Parking in the area is very limited: public transport is highly recommended.
Tickets
Prices range from approximately 15 to 170 euros depending on the performance and seating sector. Tickets are available at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma box office (Piazza Beniamino Gigli) and online at operaroma.it and ticketone.it. For high-demand shows like Aida and the Roberto Bolle gala, booking well in advance is recommended.
Practical tips
Performances almost always begin at 9:00 PM (Carmina Burana at 9:30 PM). It is best to arrive at least half an hour early for security checks and to find your seat. As it is an open-air arena, it is advisable to bring a light jacket for the second half of the evening. Rome offers a wide range of accommodation in the Aventino, Testaccio, and San Saba districts, all within walking distance of the Circus Maximus.
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Where does it take place — Caracalla Festival
Circo Massimo (edizione 2026) / Terme di Caracalla
Via del Circo Massimo, 00153 Roma