EmiliaviAperta

EmiliaviAperta, the festival that mixes people and cultures

EmiliaviAperta is the community event of the Municipality of Rubiera, in the province of Reggio Emilia, in Emilia-Romagna. More than just a calendar of events, it is a community project that focuses on the encounter between different cultures, generations, and people, with the stated goal of promoting integration, dialogue, and the overcoming of fears and prejudices. The festival animates the public spaces of the town over a few days — from the Herberia Theatre to Piazza Gramsci, up to the stage along the historic Via Emilia — involving citizens, schools, associations, and parishes in the area.

"Essere Umani": the theme of the 2026 edition

The 2026 edition is titled "Essere Umani" (Being Human) and represents the culmination of a long shared effort: thirteen workshops held in the preceding months, dedicated to weaving, multi-ethnic cuisine, theatre, dance, podcasts, and artistic activities. These paths have brought together Italians and foreigners, young people, families, and the elderly, transforming the experience of doing things together into a public narrative. The festival thus becomes the showcase for these relationships, returning to the community the sense of a year of common work.

The 2026 program

The 2026 event took place between April 16th and 19th with a widespread program:

• Preview at the Herberia Theatre with the presentation of the project and testimonials from workshop participants;
• Exhibition "Nuovi passi di libertà" (New Steps of Freedom), set up along the arcades of Rubiera, dedicated to combating stereotypes and gender-based violence, with video interviews and meetings;
• Evening performance by Franco Arminio at the Herberia Theatre, a voice of Italian poetry and "paesologia" (the study of villages);
• Gospel Concert on Sunday, April 19th (5:20 PM) on the stage at the crossroads of Via Emilia, by the Gospel and More ensemble directed by Laura Rebuttini;
• Contemporary circus show "La cabinetta dei fenomeni farlocchi" (The Cabinet of Bogus Phenomena) in Piazza Gramsci (6:10 PM), produced by DINAMICA and La K.A.P.R.A. with Elena Burani, Enrico Formaggi, and music by Nicolò Toschi.

A festival for the whole community

EmiliaviAperta is aimed at a broad, intergenerational audience: families, young people, schools, and the curious can find exhibitions, theatre, music, and circus arts all in one weekend. The choice to spread the events across the city's daily spaces — the piazza, the arcades, Via Emilia — is part of the festival's philosophy, which aims to make culture accessible and encounters spontaneous. All events are free admission, confirming the inclusive and participatory nature of the event, promoted by the Municipality of Rubiera with the involvement of local associations.