Estate al MAXXI L'Aquila

A summer festival in the MAXXI courtyard

Estate al MAXXI L'Aquila is the cultural program that brings the exedra courtyard of Palazzo Ardinghelli to life every year. As the L'Aquila branch of the National Museum of 21st Century Arts (MAXXI), it is located in the heart of the historic center of L'Aquila, the capital of the Abruzzo region. During the summer season, the courtyard of this Baroque palace—restored following the 2009 earthquake—becomes an open-air stage where music, cinema, and literature engage with contemporary art.

The courtyard and Ai Weiwei's installation

The heart of the festival is the exedra courtyard of Palazzo Ardinghelli, enveloped by the evocative veil of the Camouflage Nets series by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. This intimate space, nestled between Piazza Santa Maria Paganica and Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, provides a scenic and cozy backdrop for evening performances, immersing the audience in the atmosphere of L'Aquila's old town.

Three pillars: music, cinema, and author talks

The program is structured around three main themes:

• Music — concerts ranging from jazz to classical, featuring contemporary experimentation and fusion, often in collaboration with the "Alfredo Casella" State Conservatory of Music in L'Aquila.
• Cinema — thematic screenings organized in partnership with the L'Aquila Film Festival, focusing on topics such as coexistence, care, and sustainability.
• Author talks — presentations and conversations with writers, scholars, and key figures in Italian and European culture.

A local project

The festival is produced by MAXXI L'Aquila with the support of ALES - Arte Lavoro e Servizi S.p.A. and the patronage of the Municipality of L'Aquila, in collaboration with the city's leading cultural institutions: the University of L'Aquila, the "Alfredo Casella" Conservatory, and the L'Aquila Film Festival. All events are free of charge until capacity is reached; online booking is required for film screenings.

L'Aquila Italian Capital of Culture 2026

The festival is part of the L'Aquila Italian Capital of Culture 2026 program, which places the Abruzzo capital at the center of the national cultural scene for an entire year. Estate al MAXXI is one of the most anticipated events of the L'Aquila summer, uniting local audiences and visitors around a museum that has become a symbol of the city's rebirth.