Dominio Pubblico – Youth Fest
The multidisciplinary festival for artists under 25 at Teatro India in Rome
About Youth Fest
Dominio Pubblico – Youth Fest: Rome's emerging scene
In the heart of Rome, between the Ostiense district and the banks of the Tiber overlooking the Marconi area, Teatro India hosts one of the most original cultural experiences in Italy every summer: the Dominio Pubblico – Youth Fest. Launched in 2014 as a project by the Dominio Pubblico association, the festival has grown into a national benchmark for under-25 creativity, engaging over a thousand young spectators, artists, and cultural professionals over the past decade.
Curated by the youth, for the youth
The true signature of the Youth Fest is the Participatory Artistic Direction (DAP): a group of young people strictly under 25 who, supported by artistic director Tiziano Panici, undergo an annual training program to personally select shows, manage communications, and oversee the festival's organization. It is a model of participation that hands the keys of the cultural machine back to the younger generation, fostering a new wave of independent promoters.
Six days, many disciplines
The program spans all live and visual arts: theater, contemporary dance, performing arts, emerging music, short films, visual arts, comics, and digital arts. Each day concludes with a concert ranging from indie to pop-rock, while the theater's foyer and spaces host exhibitions, readings, book presentations, and installations. The format combines shows selected through a national open call, co-productions with other independent entities, and opportunities for dialogue between artists and the public.
A springboard for the art of tomorrow
The Youth Fest is more than just a showcase: many artists who have passed through Teatro India have gone on to win awards and recognition in the professional circuit. The festival engages with national events dedicated to dramaturgy and emerging dance, offering concrete visibility to those taking their first steps. For the Roman public and the Lazio community, it is an opportunity to preview the languages and themes that will define the scene in the coming years, all in an informal and accessible atmosphere.
Teatro India: The home of the festival
Housed in a former industrial factory, Teatro India is one of the city's most evocative venues for contemporary experimentation. Its halls, outdoor arena, and spacious foyers are perfectly suited to the multidisciplinary nature of the Youth Fest, providing a setting that is both urban and theatrical, just steps away from the industrial archaeology of the Ostiense Gazometer.
Youth Fest — edition 2026
Youth Fest 2026 – «Sorgenti», 13th edition
From June 23 to 28, 2026, Teatro India in Rome hosted the thirteenth edition of Dominio Pubblico – Youth Fest, titled «Sorgenti»: a metaphor for the fissure from which new artistic life can spring, a glow capable of illuminating emerging talents in search of visibility. Over 100 young artists under 25 and more than 25 events animated six days of multidisciplinary programming, curated by the U25 Participatory Artistic Direction (DAP).
The program, day by day
- June 23 – Inauguration with the visual arts exhibition «Coordinate dello Sguardo» (curated by UP Urban Factory) in the Sala Oceano Foyer, the presentation of the collective comic «La Fine del (Mio) Mondo», the show «Microteatro. Whispering Twenties» by Bei Ricordi Teatro, and a concert by tigernap.
- June 24 – «Correnti», a short film festival, and a pop-rock live set by Gyoza.
- June 25 – Performances «One Sunday Morning» and «Contatto», the show «Come Essere una Persona Migliore», and music by singer-songwriter Livrea.
- June 26 – The performative reading «Seg Men Tar Si – Dis-integrazione dell'Umano» by Chiara Arrigoni, «Salmoni», the dance piece «Instructions Unclear» by Fabio Bergaglio, and a concert by AI Girlfriend.
- June 27 – Dance solos «Lumii» and «Konpira Fune Fune», the performing arts pieces «Dog Sees God in the Mirror» and «Venice Vanishing», and the multidisciplinary show «Io Sono Invisibile» by Complesso Polar in the Arena.
- June 28 – The interactive digital performance «User Confession», the dance study showcase «Primi Tempi», the international show «Age is a Feeling» by Haley McGee, and a DJ set by Sueth Greco.
A festival that trains and launches
In 2026, the Youth Fest once again confirmed its role as a springboard for the emerging Roman and national scene, hosting award-winning artists and finalists of major accolades dedicated to dramaturgy and dance. An event that reaffirms the role of Teatro India and the city of Rome as a laboratory for new under-25 creativity.
Programme Youth Fest 2026
Highlights Youth Fest 2026
Prices Youth Fest 2026
Practical information — Youth Fest
Location
Teatro India, Lungotevere Vittorio Gassman 1, Rome (Marconi–Ostiense area).
How to get there
By Metro: Line B, Marconi or Basilica San Paolo stop, followed by a short walk. By train: Roma Ostiense station (regional lines and Leonardo Express). By car: Exit from Via del Mare / Via Ostiense; parking available in the vicinity.
Tickets
Paid admission with affordable ticket prices; some events, exhibitions, and presentations are free. Information and pre-sales are available on the official website: dominio-pubblico-teatro.it.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Youth Fest
Teatro India
Lungotevere Vittorio Gassman, 1, 00146 Roma