Corinfesta – The Voice of Places

A choral festival in the heart of Rome

For over twenty years, Corinfesta has been one of the most significant events dedicated to choral singing in Rome and the Lazio region. The festival is promoted by A.R.C.L. – Associazione Regionale Cori del Lazio, the organization that unites and coordinates amateur choral groups in the region, and takes place every year during the Festa della Musica, the international event born in France in 1982 and promoted in Italy by the Ministry of Culture.

The City of Rome, and in particular Municipio Roma I Centro, supports the initiative in the belief that such events strengthen the bond between citizens, the territory, and cultural heritage. In the Lazio region, where the amateur choral tradition is particularly vibrant across the Castelli Romani, Agro Pontino, Tuscia, and the capital's districts, Corinfesta represents the moment when this network of choirs leaves its rehearsal rooms to perform for the general public.

The 2026 edition: "The Voice of Places"

The 22nd edition, held on Sunday, June 21, 2026, chose the title "The Voice of Places": a theme that focuses on the relationship between music and the spaces that host it. Performances took place simultaneously in two courtyards of extraordinary historical and artistic value in Rome's historic centre: the Courtyard of Palazzo Altemps and the Courtyard of Palazzo Braschi, both just a short walk from Piazza Navona.

Starting at 4:35 PM, numerous choral groups from Rome and across Lazio took turns, offering highly diverse repertoires—sacred and secular music, classical polyphony, folk songs, a cappella pieces, and pop arrangements—capable of interacting with the acoustics and the natural scenery of the Renaissance porticoes. Admission was free for the entire duration of the event.

Two courtyards, two atmospheres

• Palazzo Altemps (Piazza di Sant'Apollinare 46) — home to a section of the National Roman Museum, featuring one of the most elegant 16th-century porticoed courtyards in the city.
• Palazzo Braschi (Piazza San Pantaleo 10) — home to the Museum of Rome, overlooking Piazza Navona, whose courtyard has hosted A.R.C.L. choral festivals for many years.

The dual-venue format allows the public to move freely on foot between the two palaces in just a few minutes, creating their own listening path through the historic centre.

Choral singing as a community practice

What makes Corinfesta different from a standard concert series is the nature of the performers: not touring professionals, but amateur choirs, youth vocal groups, parish ensembles, and polyphonic groups that rehearse in their own towns and neighbourhoods throughout the year. Stepping onto an improvised stage in a monumental Roman courtyard is, for many of these groups, the most important appointment of the season.

For the visitor, the result is a surprisingly varied listening experience within a few hours: one can move from a Renaissance motet to a Lazio folk song, from a gospel piece to an a cappella pop medley, with the chance to discover a widespread musical reality that rarely finds visibility in major circuits.

Other A.R.C.L. initiatives

Corinfesta is part of a broader association calendar, which includes the "Concerti alla Pace" at the church of Santa Maria della Pace, the Regional Choral Competition, the Rome Choral Gala, and local festivals such as "Terrapontina in… canto." Those who attend Corinfesta and wish to learn more can follow the association's full program on the website lazioincoro.it.