Chianti Festival (featuring Bruscello Storico — Dante all'Inferno)

A summer of performances among the villages of the Sienese Chianti

The Chianti Festival is the major summer showcase for theatre, music, and live arts, taking place from June 19 to August 5, 2026, across the villages of the Sienese Chianti, in the province of Siena, Tuscany. Produced by the Fondazione Toscana Spettacolo onlus in partnership with the municipalities of Castelnuovo Berardenga (lead partner), Castellina in Chianti, and Gaiole in Chianti, the festival brings acclaimed comedy, renowned theatrical voices, musical tributes, and contemporary circus to open-air stages, blending performance with the unique identity of the territory.

Villa Chigi Saracini, the heart of the festival

The 2026 edition is marked by the return of Villa Chigi Saracini in Castelnuovo Berardenga to the community: its monumental garden is once again open to the public and serves as the festival's opening stage. It is here that, from June 19 to 21, the Bruscello Storico will present its new production, «Dante all'Inferno», bringing this ancient form of popular theatre in ottava rima back to its birthplace.

The programme in Castelnuovo Berardenga

Beyond Villa Chigi Saracini, the festival also enlivens Piazza Marconi and the hamlet of Montaperti in Castelnuovo Berardenga. Key highlights include:

• June 19-21 — Bruscello Storico «Dante all'Inferno», Villa Chigi Saracini, 9:15 PM
• June 24 — Giobbe Covatta in «70. Riassunto delle puntate precedenti», Villa Chigi Saracini, 9:15 PM
• June 30 — «Caro amico ti scrivo», a tribute to Lucio Dalla, Piazza Marconi, 9:15 PM
• July 16 — «All in Flames», contemporary circus, Montaperti
• July 18 — Elio Germano and Teho Teardo in «Il sogno di una cosa» (based on Pasolini), Villa Chigi Saracini, 6:00 PM

Events in Castellina and Gaiole in Chianti

The festival extends to neighbouring villages with concerts, brass bands, theatre, and comedy. In Castellina in Chianti, at Piazza del Comune, highlights include «Sonata per tubi» (July 20) and a concert by the Rino Gaetano Band (July 26). In Gaiole in Chianti and its hamlets — Vertine, Monti, San Sano, Rietine — the schedule features brass bands, the Scirockati, Musica da Ripostiglio with «Avere ragione...», and comedy shows by Stefano Santomauro and AlValenti.

Bruscello, popular theatre in ottava rima

The identity core of the festival in Castelnuovo Berardenga, the Bruscello Storico is a tradition of popular sung theatre in ottava rima, preserved by the Cantiere Bruscello association. Each year, the company stages a major classic adaptation: following «Il Guerrin Meschino» (2024) and «Il Drago» (2025), 2026 features «Dante all'Inferno», with text by Matteo Marsan, directed by Johara Breda and Gioconda Dragoni, and accompanied by live music conducted by Silvia Tognazzi.

Live performance and tradition

Between historic villas, village squares, and ancient Chianti hamlets, the Chianti Festival combines big names from the national scene with performance styles rooted in local culture. It is a proposal that, in the heart of the Tuscan summer, makes the landscape of Chianti wine and its medieval villages the natural backdrop for theatre, music, and celebration.