Castelli in Aria - Street Artists Festival
The village of Villette becomes an open-air theater featuring circus, dance, and street arts in Val Vigezzo
About Castelli in Aria
A mountain village turned into a stage
At an altitude of 807 meters, in the heart of Val Vigezzo (the famous "valley of painters"), the small town of Villette in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola hosts one of the most poetic events in Piedmont every year: Castelli in Aria - Street Artists Festival. For three days, the squares, gardens, streets, and the churchyard become stages, while the village comes alive with acrobats, jugglers, dancers, and storytellers from all over Italy and abroad.
The history of the festival
Founded in 2015 by the Pro Loco Villette, the festival has grown edition after edition to become a highly anticipated event for thousands of visitors. Initially conceived for tourism, it has gradually highlighted the cultural and social values of street art: taking performance out of theaters, making it accessible to everyone, and returning it to the community. Today, Castelli in Aria is one of the most vibrant street theater events in the Ossola region.
What to expect
The program weaves together different genres and languages, designed to thrill both adults and children:
- Contemporary circus and acrobatic arts, from the Cyr wheel to the trapeze
- Aerial dance, contemporary dance, and Sufi dance
- Physical theater, storytelling, clowning, and puppetry
- Live music, including concerts, aperitifs, and local bands
- Artistic installations, exhibitions, and creative workshops for families and children
More than just shows
Alongside the performances, the festival offers artistic workshops for families and children, the wooden play trail with mazes nicknamed "Ul Balin", and a rich selection of street food prepared by Pro Loco volunteers featuring traditional Vigezzo flavors. All this in a festive atmosphere that involves the entire village.
A weekend in the valley of painters
Experiencing Castelli in Aria also means discovering Villette and Val Vigezzo, with its frescoed houses, sundials painted on facades, and alpine panoramas. The village is also accessible via the scenic Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway, the panoramic train connecting Domodossola to Locarno: an experience that combines art, nature, and tradition between Piedmont and Switzerland.
Castelli in Aria — edition 2026
Castelli in Aria 2026 — 11th edition
From June 19 to 21, 2026, Villette hosts the eleventh edition of the street artists festival. For three days, the Val Vigezzo village transforms into an open-air theater with contemporary dance, acrobatics, physical theater, circus, storytelling, and live music performances, spread across the main square, the Giardino dei Colori, the churchyard, the Castello, and the San Rocco district. There will also be artistic installations, workshops for children, and street food managed by Pro Loco volunteers.
Programme Castelli in Aria 2026
Friday, June 19
- 21:00 — Main Square: "Il solito, grazie", contemporary dance and dance-theater (Atelier Arti Performative, Domodossola)
Saturday, June 20
- 10:00-20:00 — San Rocco: live music and aperitifs (Delta Vibe)
- 15:30 — Square: "Happiness", comic acrobatic duo (Rasoterra Circo del Monferrato)
- 16:30 — Giardino dei Colori: "Avrò cura di più", physical theater (Compagnia dei Piccoli, Cremona)
- 17:45 — Via Ai Monti: "La battaglia dei cuscini" (Compagnia Il Melarancio, Cuneo)
- 20:30 — Churchyard: "A Beautiful Day", clowns and acrobats (Ditta Polletti, Turin)
- 21:30 — Square: "Creme&Brulè", dance and fire (Compagnia Creme Brulè Show, Rome)
Sunday, June 21
- 7:30 — Giardino dei Colori: Summer Solstice concert
- 11:00 — Museum: "Aria acqua terra fuoco" (Ariom Teatro, Switzerland)
- 12:00-14:00 — San Rocco: live music (Lilhium band)
- 14:00 — Castello: "Venghino signori, venghino!", storyteller Matteo Curatella (repeats at 15:00 and 16:00)
- 14:00-17:00 — "Con la testa tra le nuvole", roving stilt-walkers
- 17:00 — Square: "Rizoma" (Los Filonautas, Argentina)
All weekend: artistic installations, children's workshops, the wooden play trail "Ul Balin", and street food by Pro Loco Villette.
Highlights Castelli in Aria 2026
Prices Castelli in Aria 2026
Practical information — Castelli in Aria
How to get there
Villette is located in Val Vigezzo, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (Piedmont). By car: from Domodossola, take the SS337 road of Val Vigezzo. By train: the scenic Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway connects Domodossola to Locarno and crosses the valley with numerous stops.
Admission
Admission to the festival is free. Street performances take place in the squares, gardens, and along the village streets.
Tips
Wear comfortable shoes to move between the different locations in the village and bring a jacket for the evening, given the altitude. Take advantage of the refreshment points and street food organized by the Pro Loco.
Information
Pro Loco Villette — tel. +39 371 642 6846 — [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Castelli in Aria
Borgo di Villette