Emilia Romagna Festival — Forlì Great Music
International great music in the most beautiful places of Forlì
About ERF Forlì
The Emilia Romagna Festival in Forlì
The Emilia Romagna Festival (ERF) is one of the longest-running and most prestigious music festivals in Emilia-Romagna: founded in 2000, it hosts dozens of concerts every summer in the region's castles, abbeys, cloisters, and historic gardens. The capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena has been one of the main hubs of the program for years, so much so that it deserves a dedicated section, "Forlì Grande Musica" (Forlì Great Music), which transforms the monuments of the historic center into open-air and indoor concert halls.
2026 Edition: "Classic is Contemporary"
In 2026, the festival celebrates its 26th edition, from July 1st to September 12th, with the motto "Classic is Contemporary": over 56 concerts and more than 600 artists from around the world, under the artistic direction of Massimo Mercelli. The common thread is the dialogue between seemingly distant languages, from Baroque to contemporary jazz, including major Italian premieres.
Forlì's Venues
In Forlì, the concerts take place in some of the city's most evocative spaces: the imposing Abbey of San Mercuriale in Piazza Aurelio Saffi, a symbol of the capital; the Cathedral of Forlì (Cathedral of Santa Croce); Caterina's Fortress (Rocca di Ravaldino, linked to the figure of Caterina Sforza); and the intimate Sala Sangiorgi of the Masini Foundation. An urban geography that combines musical listening with the discovery of Forlì's artistic heritage.
Between Great Performers and New Languages
The festival's hallmark is the coexistence of established soloists, young talents, and multidisciplinary projects. Among the guests for the 2026 edition are names like cellist Ettore Pagano (Lifetime Achievement Award), soprano Angelika Rzewuska, the Cameristi della Scala, the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra, as well as artists with strong popular appeal such as Noa, Elio, Simona Molinari, Raphael Gualazzi, and Sergio Cammariere, performing in various regional venues.
A Festival for the Entire Region
Despite its strong Forlì identity, ERF remains a regional event that spans four provinces and about twenty cities in Emilia-Romagna. In Forlì, it represents one of the most anticipated summer cultural events, capable of bringing the great international repertoire within easy reach of the city center's daily life.
ERF Forlì — edition 2026
In 2026, the Forlì section of the Emilia Romagna Festival is part of the broader regional festival (July 1st – September 12th, over 56 concerts and 600 artists) with events that highlight the monuments of Forlì's historic center. The artistic direction is by Massimo Mercelli.
The concerts in Forlì range from chamber music to major international symphonic works, including multimedia projects, confirming the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena as one of the central hubs of the event.
Programme ERF Forlì 2026
Thursday, July 23 — Sala Sangiorgi, Masini Foundation
- 9:00 PM — GRAINS OF… SOUND: piano and sand art in its Italian premiere. Featuring Erica Abelardo (sand artist) and Jacopo Petrucci (piano), conceived and produced by Ruben Zahra, in collaboration with the Malta International Arts Festival. Program includes Musorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" and Ravel's "Gaspard de la Nuit," with live sand animation.
Sunday, August 23 — Cathedral of Forlì
- 9:00 PM — Wuxi Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daye Lin. Program includes works by Haydn and Brahms, and the Italian premiere of Li Shaosheng's symphonic suite "Flying Apsaras."
Friday, September 4 — Abbey of San Mercuriale
- 9:00 PM — Brassissimo: Bavarian Brass Sextet — Ensemble Classique, a program for brass instruments featuring both great repertoire and timbral brilliance.
Further festival events may be hosted in Forlì at Caterina's Fortress. The complete schedule and any updates are published on the official website.
Highlights ERF Forlì 2026
Prices ERF Forlì 2026
Practical information — ERF Forlì
Where
The concerts in Forlì are held in several venues in the historic center: Abbey of San Mercuriale (Piazza Aurelio Saffi 17), Cathedral of Forlì, Caterina's Fortress (Ravaldino), and Sala Sangiorgi of the Masini Foundation.
How to Get Here
By train: Forlì station on the Bologna–Rimini line, a few minutes from the center. By car: Forlì exit from the A14 motorway. By plane: Bologna and Rimini airports nearby.
Tickets
Prices are deliberately affordable: many concerts start from around €10, with reductions for under-27s (around €5) and symbolic tickets for children up to 10 years old (around €1). Some events have free admission until capacity is reached. Online sales via Vivaticket and the official website.
Information
Tel. +39 0542 25747 — [email protected] — emiliaromagnafestival.it
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Where does it take place — ERF Forlì
Abbazia di San Mercuriale
Piazza Aurelio Saffi 17, 47121 Forlì