DAB Festival – DanzaABari
Bari's contemporary dance festival at the Teatro Piccinni
About DAB – DanzaABari
Bari: A Capital of Contemporary Dance
DAB – DanzaABari is the annual festival that, between late May and early June, turns the Apulian capital into a national hub for contemporary dance. Promoted by the Municipality of Bari in collaboration with Puglia Culture – Circuito Teatrale della Puglia, the festival has its beating heart at the Teatro Comunale Piccinni, while also venturing beyond traditional venues to bring movement into the city's squares and urban spaces.
A Program of Renowned Names and Experimentation
The strength of DAB lies in the quality of its curation: each edition features regional exclusives, national premieres, and special events, alternating established names in Italian and European choreography with the freshest voices of the emerging scene. International étoile dancers, renowned ensembles, and research-based companies share the same stage, offering the audience a broad perspective on today's contemporary dance trends.
Alongside evening performances, the festival offers a rich program of side activities: masterclasses, artist meet-and-greets, and outreach moments designed to make dance accessible even to those who do not attend regularly. It is a festival that does not just showcase, but invites understanding and participation.
Dance Beyond the Stage
One of DAB's hallmarks is its desire to take dance out of the theaters and directly to the people. Spontaneous urban events animate the squares and city spaces of Bari's center, turning everyday locations into performance stages and engaging even casual passersby.
A Landmark Event in Puglia
Integrated into the cultural programming supported by the Municipality of Bari and Puglia Culture, DAB – DanzaABari has established itself as one of the most anticipated events for dance lovers in Puglia. Its ability to combine accessibility with artistic research, big names with young talent, makes it a unique festival in the Southern Italian landscape, capable of engaging with major European choreographic networks while remaining deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Bari and its Metropolitan City.
DAB – DanzaABari — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of DAB – DanzaABari, titled "Everybody Dance!", took place from May 24 to June 7, 2026, at the Teatro Comunale Piccinni and in Bari's urban spaces. The theme focused on the body as a space for knowledge, traversal, and transformation, questioning the dynamics of the contemporary European scene.
The program brought together seven main performances, a national premiere, several regional exclusives, and a special event scattered across the city's squares, alternating established choreographic names with young emerging talents. The festival was promoted by the Municipality of Bari with Puglia Culture – Circuito Teatrale della Puglia.
Programme DAB – DanzaABari 2026
May 24 — Teatro Piccinni, 8:30 PM
- HUMANOS — with Vito Leone Cassano and Alberto Mocellin, blending dance and aerial acrobatics.
May 25 — Teatro Piccinni, 8:30 PM
- SHARED PULSE — Equilibrio Dinamico Ensemble & Verve, national premiere.
May 26 — Teatro Piccinni, 8:30 PM
- VIVALDIANA — Spellbound Contemporary Ballet, choreography by Mauro Astolfi (regional exclusive).
May 28 — Teatro Piccinni, 8:30 PM
- SULLA LEGGEREZZA — Virgilio Sieni (regional exclusive).
May 30-31 — Scattered urban events
- LE CLASSIQUE C'EST CHIC! — Anna Basti / Chiasma. May 30 at Largo Giannella (6:00 PM) and May 31 at Piazza del Ferrarese (11:00 AM).
June 5 — Teatro Piccinni, 8:30 PM
- SCONFINAMENTI — with Rodrigo D'Erasmo and Nicola Galli (regional exclusive).
June 7 — Teatro Piccinni, 8:30 PM
- ASTEROIDE — Marco D'Agostin, closing performance (regional exclusive).
Highlights DAB – DanzaABari 2026
Prices DAB – DanzaABari 2026
Practical information — DAB – DanzaABari
Location
The festival's heart is the Teatro Comunale Piccinni, located on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II in the center of Bari. Some events are held in urban spaces and city squares (such as Largo Giannella and Piazza del Ferrarese).
Hours
Evening performances at the Teatro Piccinni generally begin at 8:30 PM. The scattered urban events follow dedicated daytime schedules.
Tickets
Tickets are available at the Teatro Piccinni box office (Tue-Sat 10 AM–1 PM and 5 PM–8 PM), online at vivaticket.com, and at Vivaticket retailers. Reservations can be made via email at [email protected] or by calling the Teatro Piccinni. Packages, season tickets, and reduced-price tickets are available for dance students, dance high schools, and DAMS students.
Getting There
The Teatro Piccinni is located in the center of Bari, easily reachable on foot from the central station. Bari is connected by the Karol Wojtyła Airport and the A14 motorway.
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Where does it take place — DAB – DanzaABari
Teatro Comunale Piccinni
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 84, 70122 Bari