Castelbuono Jazz Festival
Eight days of world-class jazz with free admission in the heart of the Madonie, between the San Francesco Cloister and the village squares.
About Castelbuono Jazz
Jazz in the heart of the Madonie
The Castelbuono Jazz Festival is one of the most established musical events of the Sicilian summer. Founded in the late nineties, it brings the medieval village of Castelbuono, in the province of Palermo, to life every August in the heart of the Madonie mountains. Under the guidance of artistic director Angelo Butera, the festival has built a reputation that extends far beyond regional borders, drawing some of the most acclaimed names in Italian and international jazz to the town's narrow streets and squares.
A widespread stage with free admission
The formula that made the festival famous is that of the widespread, free concert: every evening, the music moves between different locations in the historic center, turning the entire village into a large open-air theater. The festival's three historic hubs are the monumental San Francesco Cloister, which hosts early evening concerts in an intimate and evocative setting; the central Piazza Castello, at the foot of the Ventimiglia Castle, for the main nightly events; and Piazza Margherita, which hosts "La notte jazz," the late-night segment of the festival dedicated to jam sessions and emerging talent.
Big names and tributes
Over the years, the Castelbuono Jazz Festival has hosted artists of the caliber of Fabrizio Bosso, Stefano Di Battista, Joe Lovano, Francesco Bearzatti, Salvatore Bonafede, and Walter Ricci, alternating between contemporary jazz, swing, tributes to Italian singer-songwriters, and projects dedicated to the great masters of the 20th century. Alongside the concerts, the festival offers masterclasses, conferences, and training sessions that make Castelbuono a place of growth for young Sicilian musicians.
A festival rooted in the territory
More than just a festival, the Castelbuono Jazz Festival is an opportunity to discover one of Sicily's most fascinating villages: the Ventimiglia Castle, the churches, the alleys, and the famous Madonie gastronomic tradition provide the backdrop for the musical evenings. Over the years, the festival has become a driver of cultural and tourist promotion for Castelbuono and the entire Madonie area, attracting jazz enthusiasts from all over the island and beyond.
Castelbuono Jazz — edition 2026
The 29th edition of the Castelbuono Jazz Festival takes place in Castelbuono (Palermo) from August 16 to 23, 2026, under the artistic direction of Angelo Butera. The central theme of this year is the centenary of the birth of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, two absolute icons of 20th-century jazz, celebrated throughout several evenings of the program.
The formula remains that of the widespread, free concert: every evening, three events mark the schedule, from the San Francesco Cloister (7:00 PM) to Piazza Castello (10:30 PM), and finally "La notte jazz" in Piazza Margherita (11:30 PM). The 2026 edition also extends some evenings to the nearby village of San Mauro Castelverde. The evenings are hosted by Mario Caminita and accompanied by masterclasses held by Giuliana Di Liberto, Claudio Giambruno, and Giacomo Tantillo.
Programme Castelbuono Jazz 2026
August 16
- 7:30 PM — San Francesco Cloister: "We love Miles" — Stefano Di Battista (sax), tribute to Miles Davis
- 10:30 PM — Piazza Castello: Lidiya Koycheva & Balkan Orkestra
August 17
- 7:00 PM — San Francesco Cloister: Ksenija Sidorova (accordion)
- 10:30 PM — Piazza Castello: "Brasil Fala Italiano" — Pamela Barone
August 18
- 7:00 PM — San Francesco Cloister: "Le Jazz à la Française" — Nicolas Folmer, Claudio Giambruno, Giuliana Di Liberto
- 10:30 PM — Piazza Castello: "Una ragione in più" — Salvo Correri (dedicated to Ornella Vanoni)
August 19
- 7:00 PM — San Francesco Cloister: Dual Flow Quartet (Roberto Gervasi, Giacomo Tantillo)
- 10:30 PM — Piazza Castello: "Clapton Story" — Nino Cericola (tribute to Eric Clapton)
August 20
- 7:00 PM — San Francesco Cloister: "George in my Mind" — Salvatore Bonafede (dedicated to George Gershwin)
- 10:30 PM — Piazza Castello: "Hollywood e Cinecittà" — Valeria Milazzo, Joe Costantino
August 21
- 7:00 PM — San Francesco Cloister: "Neapolis Mambo" — Walter Ricci
- 10:30 PM — Piazza Castello: "Born in Sicily" — Marcello Mandreucci (Rosa Balistreri centenary)
August 22
- 7:00 PM — San Francesco Cloister: "Routes" — Fabrizio Bosso
- 10:30 PM — Piazza Castello: Baciami Piccina Swing Band (tribute to Duke Ellington and Louis Prima)
August 23
- 7:00 PM — San Francesco Cloister: "Un Amore Supremo" — Francesco Bearzatti (John Coltrane centenary)
- 10:30 PM — Piazza Castello: Concert by students of the Claudio Lo Cascio Masterclass
Every night, starting around 11:30 PM, "La notte jazz" continues in Piazza Margherita. The evenings are hosted by Mario Caminita.
Highlights Castelbuono Jazz 2026
Prices Castelbuono Jazz 2026
Practical information — Castelbuono Jazz
How to get there
Castelbuono is located in the Madonie mountains, in the province of Palermo. By car, it can be reached via the A19 Palermo-Catania motorway, taking the Castelbuono-Pollina exit and continuing inland. By train, the reference station is Castelbuono, on the Palermo-Messina line, connected to the center by shuttle buses and taxis.
Admission and times
The festival concerts are free of charge. The evenings are divided into several parts: concerts at the San Francesco Cloister in the late afternoon, the main events in Piazza Castello late in the evening, and "La notte jazz" in Piazza Margherita deep into the night.
Tips
As it is a mountain village, evenings in summer can get cool: it is useful to bring a warmer layer. It is advisable to book accommodation in advance in Castelbuono or other towns in the Madonie. We recommend arriving early in the squares, which become very crowded during the peak evenings.
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Where does it take place — Castelbuono Jazz
Chiostro di San Francesco, Piazza Castello e Piazza Margherita