Circello Summer Festival

Two months of events in the Sannio village

The Circello Summer Festival is the event series that defines the warmest months of the year in Circello, a town in the upper Sannio area of the province of Benevento, in Campania. The calendar, curated by the municipal administration, features live music, performances, evenings dedicated to local flavors, trekking and excursions, folk traditions, and activities designed for families and children. The 2026 schedule spans a wide period, from July 5th to August 30th: two months during which the village in the Tammaro Valley changes its pace, extends its evenings, and fills with visitors arriving from across the province.

The festival venues

Events are not concentrated in a single location but spread throughout the town, utilizing its most recognizable spaces:

• Parco San Vito — the green area at the edge of the town, which hosts the major free concerts in early August and the most popular evening events;
• Via Roma — the main thoroughfare of the village, where parades, itinerant performances, and outdoor setups take place;
• Medieval Castle — the iconic monument of Circello, serving as a backdrop for cultural initiatives and evening appointments;
• and other picturesque locations in the town, chosen by the organizers for each specific event.

The major free concert in early August

This is the most anticipated moment of the festival and a true local tradition: every year in early August, the stage at Parco San Vito hosts a nationally acclaimed artist with free admission. Over the years, names such as Giusy Ferreri, Anna Tatangelo, and The Kolors have performed, with the latter drawing thousands of spectators in the summer of 2025, turning the village into a massive open-air stage. For 2026, the lineup announced a live performance by Noemi, scheduled for August 3rd at Parco San Vito; however, the event was cancelled following the accident the artist experienced on stage on July 19th in San Salvo, and was not rescheduled.

History, memory, and re-enactments

Alongside music, the Circello summer dedicates ample space to local identity. In 2025, the historic center hosted the re-enactment of the 1496 Battle of Circello, the military episode between Angevin and Aragonese troops recounted by Francesco Guicciardini in his History of Italy: two days featuring medieval camps, period tents, historical games, a food and wine trail, and, on Sunday evening, the historical pageant and simulated battle staged by over 150 participants, including historical groups, artists, and volunteers. Also in August 2025, the first results of archaeological investigations regarding the Ligures Baebiani settlement—a population deported by the Romans to this part of Sannio around 180 BC—were presented to the public. This work was conducted by the universities of Berlin and Hamburg in collaboration with the German Archaeological Institute, the Municipality, and the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape for the provinces of Caserta and Benevento.

The Medieval Castle

The castle that dominates the village was built in the 10th century as a defensive structure and, according to local historical reconstruction, once boasted seven defensive walls. Restored by the Duke of Somma in 1528, it gradually transformed into a residential palace and remained with the Somma family until the 1950s, when it passed to the Municipality. Today, it is one of the key venues marking the summer calendar, alongside the town's historic churches.

Flavors of the upper Sannio

The food and wine component is an integral part of the Circello summer: evenings featuring local products, traditional peasant cuisine, and Sannio wines accompany many events. During the same period, on August 22nd and 23rd, 2026, the La Fattoria agritourism hosted the fifth edition of the AgriHamburger Party, two evenings starting at 8:00 PM dedicated to Marchigiana I.G.P. beef raised by the Mastrocola family, complete with live music and DJ sets.

Why it's worth the trip

The Circello Summer Festival is a prime example of how a small town in the Campanian hinterland can build a long and varied program, capable of combining a concert for thousands of spectators with a sunset stroll, a historical re-enactment, and a village fair. For those visiting the province of Benevento in July and August, it is an opportunity to discover an authentic village, the Tammaro Valley, and a tradition of hospitality that remains a community affair, involving the municipal administration, associations, and volunteers.