estateCONTURSANA
Concerts, theatre, and author talks in the heart of the Sele Valley
About estateCONTURSANA
A summer festival spread across the thermal village
estateCONTURSANA is the umbrella event through which the Municipality of Contursi Terme, in the province of Salerno, gathers all the summer's highlights: concerts, theatre, dance, cinema under the stars, book presentations, neighborhood parties, and sports initiatives. It is not a single event, but a true shared calendar involving the municipal administration, the Pro Loco, local associations, and parishes, with a single common thread: bringing cultural life to the town's squares throughout the summer.
The heart of the festival lies in two iconic spots in the historic center. Piazza Garibaldi, in front of the town hall, hosts the major concerts and most crowded shows; Piazza San Vito, meanwhile, welcomes civic theatre, literary presentations, and reflective meetings in a more intimate setting. To these are added smaller but deeply cherished spaces, such as the Faber cultural center, Via Felice La Sala, Piazza Portiello, the Piana area, and the Contursi Terme thermal baths district.
The 2026 program, from July 18 to September 9
The 2026 edition opens on July 18 with Luca Bizzarri and his theatrical show inspired by the podcast «Non hanno un amico» in Piazza San Vito, and closes on September 9 with a lecture-performance by philosopher Umberto Galimberti dedicated to good and evil. In between, nearly two months of programming covering very diverse genres.
The end of July is entrusted to local associations, with «Grani in Festa» in the Piana area, the artistic residency of the Compagnia del Bianconiglio at Palazzo Arnone, the Grandparents' Festival, and the «ONGIL. Racconti di chi scorre» series, before the Soul Around Jazz Quartet concert on July 31.
August, the month of major concerts
August concentrates the most anticipated names, all in Piazza Garibaldi: Carl Brave on the 6th, Nomadi on the 7th, Enzo Avitabile on the 8th with the Bottari di Portico and the Black Tarantella Band, The Kolors on the 9th, and Francesca Michielin on the 11th. Alongside pop and singer-songwriter concerts, there is space for the local scene and jazz, with the Anima 4tet, Wanted Music Live, and Neapolitan saxophonist Marco Zurzolo.
The same week hosts two historic appointments of Contursi culture: the Voci Nuove Festival, now in its 31st edition and curated by the Pro Loco Contursi Terme, and the Contursi Terme Prize, in its 30th edition, which for nearly thirty years has honored figures from culture, entertainment, and civic engagement.
Theatre, books, and thought in Piazza San Vito
Those looking for a slower pace will find a spoken-word program in Piazza San Vito and the Faber spaces: Stefano Massini with his «Alphabet of Emotions», writer Maurizio De Giovanni, the Neapolitan comedy of Maurizio Casagrande with «La prova del nove», meetings with Giuseppe Conte and Umberto Galimberti, as well as presentations by local authors and the «Aperi-book» events organized by the Youth Forum.
Beyond the stage: parties, sports, and families
- Musical neighborhood evenings on Via Felice La Sala and the «U' Purtiell'» party in Piazza Portiello.
- The local Sant'Antonio festival at the thermal baths on August 18.
- «Cinema under the stars» in Piazza Garibaldi on August 23 and 24.
- The Gran Fondo Valle del Sele and the «Children's Village» at the end of August.
Contursi Terme, between thermal waters and the Sele Valley
Contursi Terme is one of the main thermal centers in Campania: its sulfurous and bicarbonate springs, harnessed along the Sele river, attract visitors every year in search of treatments and relaxation. The summer festival also stems from this vocation: to offer thermal guests, vacationers, and emigrants returning home in the summer one more reason to spend their evenings in the historic center. The result is a summer that unites the audience of major concerts with the more intimate one of books and civic theatre.
Information and admission
The events take place outdoors and, as per the festival's tradition, access is generally free and without reservation: for the Nomadi concert, for example, the organizers have confirmed free entry. The full program, with any updates and changes, is published on the Municipality of Contursi Terme website.
estateCONTURSANA — edition 2026
A summer lasting nearly two months
The 2026 calendar of estateCONTURSANA covers the entire season, from mid-July to early September, alternating squares and formats. Piazza Garibaldi is the concert stage; Piazza San Vito hosts theatre, meetings, and presentations; the Faber center, the districts, and the thermal area complete the festival's geography.
Main names
Italian music is represented by Carl Brave (August 6), Nomadi (August 7, 9:30 PM), Enzo Avitabile with the Bottari di Portico and the Black Tarantella Band (August 8), The Kolors (August 9), and Francesca Michielin (August 11). On the spoken-word side, highlights include Luca Bizzarri, Stefano Massini, Maurizio De Giovanni, Maurizio Casagrande, Giuseppe Conte, and Umberto Galimberti.
Festival traditions
The town's two historic appointments remain in place: the Voci Nuove Festival in its 31st edition, curated by the Pro Loco Contursi Terme and preceded by a masterclass at the Faber, and the Contursi Terme Prize in its 30th edition, in Piazza San Vito. The month closes with neighborhood parties, the Gran Fondo Valle del Sele, and the Children's Village.
Programme estateCONTURSANA 2026
July 2026
- Saturday, July 18 — Luca Bizzarri, «Non hanno un dubbio» (theatre show), Piazza San Vito, 9 PM
- July 23-26 — «Grani in Festa», Piana area (Chiana Association)
- From July 23 — Artistic residency of the Compagnia del Bianconiglio, Palazzo Arnone / Faber
- Sunday, July 26 — Grandparents' Festival, Piazza San Vito (Catholic Action)
- July 27-29 — «ONGIL. Racconti di chi scorre», Piazza San Vito
- Friday, July 31 — Soul Around Jazz Quartet in concert, Piazza San Vito
August 2026
- Saturday 1 — Dance recital, Piazza Garibaldi (Leone Academy)
- Sunday 2 — «Noi le cantiamo così», musical show, Piazza Garibaldi
- Monday 3 — «La pelle e il ventre del pianeta», Piazza San Vito (Amici del Sele) — Voci Nuove Masterclass, Faber, Via Taglianetti (Pro Loco)
- Tuesday 4 — Voci Nuove Festival, 31st edition, Piazza Garibaldi (Pro Loco Contursi Terme)
- Wednesday 5 — Concert by the Middle School orchestra and Anima 4tet concert, Piazza Garibaldi
- Thursday 6 — Contursi Terme Prize, 30th edition, Piazza San Vito — Carl Brave in concert, Piazza Garibaldi
- Friday 7 — Nomadi in concert, Piazza Garibaldi, 9:30 PM, followed by PJR DJ set
- Saturday 8 — Stefano Massini, «Alphabet of Emotions», Piazza San Vito — Enzo Avitabile in concert, Piazza Garibaldi
- Sunday 9 — The Kolors in concert, Piazza Garibaldi, followed by PJR DJ set
- Monday 10 — Maurizio Casagrande, «La prova del nove», Piazza Garibaldi — Maurizio De Giovanni, «Il tempo dell'orologiaio», Piazza San Vito
- Tuesday 11 — Francesca Michielin in concert, Piazza Garibaldi
- Wednesday 12 — Antonio Maienza presents «Agorà Contursana 1975, ricordi di gioventù», Piazza San Vito — Wanted Music Live, Piazza Garibaldi
- Thursday 13 — Marco Zurzolo, «Il suono della città », Piazza Garibaldi
- Sunday 16 — Musical evening with David Vuto, Via Felice La Sala
- Monday 17 — Musical evening with Carmine Lenza, Via Felice La Sala
- Tuesday 18 — Inauguration of Piazza PIP Termale and Sant'Antonio local festival at the baths, Contursi Terme baths
- Thursday 20 — «Aperi-book», Faber, historic center (Youth Forum)
- Friday 21 — Musical evening with Orazio and Sara, Via Felice La Sala
- Saturday 22 — Neighborhood party «U' Purtiell'», Piazza Portiello
- Sunday 23 and Monday 24 — «Cinema under the stars», Piazza Garibaldi
- Saturday 29 — Gran Fondo Valle del Sele, Piazza Garibaldi (Bike & Sport)
- Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 — «Children's Village», Piazza Garibaldi
September 2026
- Friday 4 — Meeting with Giuseppe Conte, «Una nuova primavera», Piazza San Vito
- Wednesday 9 — Umberto Galimberti, «Il bene e il male», Piazza San Vito
Program announced by the Municipality of Contursi Terme and subject to updates: times not indicated will be announced on official posters.
Highlights estateCONTURSANA 2026
- Nomadi in Piazza Garibaldi on August 7, 9:30 PM, free admission.
- The Kolors on August 9 and Francesca Michielin on August 11, also in Piazza Garibaldi.
- Enzo Avitabile with the Bottari di Portico and the Black Tarantella Band on August 8.
- The Contursi Terme Prize (30th edition) and the Voci Nuove Festival (31st edition).
- Civic theatre by Stefano Massini and the lecture-performance by Umberto Galimberti closing the festival on September 9.
Prices estateCONTURSANA 2026
Practical information — estateCONTURSANA
How to get there
By car: take the Contursi Terme exit on the A2 del Mediterraneo motorway (Salerno-Potenza link), just a few minutes from the town center. By train: the Contursi Terme station is on the Battipaglia-Potenza line, in the Bagni area, connected to the historic center by a short car or bus ride. Nearest airport: Salerno-Costa d'Amalfi, followed by Naples Capodichino.
Where it takes place
The main events are held in Piazza Garibaldi (concerts) and Piazza San Vito (theatre and meetings), both in the historic center. Other appointments take place at the Faber center on Via Taglianetti, on Via Felice La Sala, in Piazza Portiello, in the Piana area, and at the Contursi Terme thermal baths.
Tickets
The festival is promoted by the Municipality with local associations, and shows are usually free of charge, subject to availability. It is advisable to arrive early for the major concert nights in Piazza Garibaldi.
Tips
- The squares are outdoors: bring a light jacket for late summer evenings.
- Parking in the historic center is limited: it is better to leave the car in the outer areas and continue on foot.
- For accommodation, the Bagni area offers hotels and thermal facilities just a few kilometers from the town.
Contacts
Municipality of Contursi Terme, Piazza Garibaldi, 84024 Contursi Terme (SA) — tel. +39 0828 991013. Updated program at www.contursi.it.
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Where does it take place — estateCONTURSANA
Piazza Garibaldi e Piazza San Vito
Piazza Garibaldi, 84024 Contursi Terme