Etna Cori Estate – International Choral Festival
Folklore, choral art, and popular tradition at the foot of Mount Etna
About Etna Cori Estate
The choral festival at the foot of Mount Etna
The Etna Cori Estate – International Choral Festival is a celebration of choral singing and popular tradition held every summer in Ragalna, a small town in the Province of Catania nestled within Etna Park on the southern slopes of the volcano. Founded in 2004 under the name RaCoEs (Ragalna Cori Estate), the festival has grown to become one of the most cherished choral events in Eastern Sicily, attracting choirs and vocal groups from all over Italy and abroad.
Folklore, voices, and popular culture
The festival's identity is rooted in the encounter between choral art and Sicilian folklore: alongside the choral competitions, the evenings bring the streets of the Etna village to life with music, dance, and traditional flavors. Since 2017, the artistic direction has been entrusted to the Associazione Corale Maris Stella, led by Lorenzo Di Guardo, an organization deeply rooted in the Ragalna area. Each edition gathers hundreds of choristers and transforms the town into an open-air stage.
The three souls of the event
- A Cappella Competition: Choirs challenge each other in polyphony, without instrumental accompaniment, to win the 'Etna Cori Estate' Trophy.
- Street Traditional Food: A grand celebration of artisanal food, music, and Sicilian traditions along the village streets, featuring both local and international folk groups.
- 'Ai Piedi del Vulcano' Showcase: The closing evening, hosted in the gardens of the Palmento Arena, an ancient rural wine press now serving as the town's cultural space.
A unique stage
The Palmento Arena, the heart of the festival, is an ancient rural settlement immersed in the greenery of the Etna slopes: its gardens offer a scenic backdrop for evening performances, with Mount Etna looming in the background. For those visiting Sicily in summer, Etna Cori Estate is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic village while combining great vocal music, conviviality, and the popular identity of this corner of the Sicily Region.
Etna Cori Estate — edition 2026
Etna Cori Estate 2026
The 2026 edition of the festival is spread over three evenings in Ragalna, from July 31 to August 2, featuring choral competitions, gastronomy, and folklore at the foot of Mount Etna. The program alternates between the polyphonic challenge of the A Cappella competition, the lively 'Street Traditional Food' event, and the evening showcase in the gardens of the Palmento Arena.
Programme Etna Cori Estate 2026
Friday, July 31 — A Cappella Competition
An evening dedicated to the polyphony competition: each choir presents up to 3 pieces for a maximum of 10 minutes, performed a cappella (only non-amplified percussion instruments are allowed). Up for grabs are the 'Etna Cori Estate' Trophy and a 500-euro prize, in addition to awards for originality and the best interpretation of popular music.
Saturday, August 1 — Street Traditional Food
- A celebration of artisanal food, music, and Sicilian traditions through the streets of the village.
- Performances by participating choral groups and international folk music groups.
Sunday, August 2 — 'Ai Piedi del Vulcano' Showcase
The closing choral showcase in the gardens of the Palmento Arena: each choir performs up to 2 pieces (maximum 8 minutes total), including one piece from the popular repertoire of their region of origin.
The complete list of choirs participating in the 2026 edition will be published by the organization on official channels in the weeks leading up to the event.
Highlights Etna Cori Estate 2026
Prices Etna Cori Estate 2026
Practical information — Etna Cori Estate
How to get there
Ragalna can be reached by car via the A18 Catania-Siracusa motorway or the SS121, heading towards the southern slopes of Etna; the village is about 25 km from Catania. The reference airport is Catania-Fontanarossa. The festival takes place between Piazza Cisterna (Street Traditional Food) and the Palmento Arena (competitions and evening showcase).
Admission
The festival's outdoor events are traditionally free to attend. For schedules and updates, please check the official website and the event's social media channels.
Tips
The evenings are held outdoors in August: bring a light jacket for the night. Ragalna offers agritourisms and accommodations at the foot of Mount Etna, ideal for combining the festival with a hike on the volcano.
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Where does it take place — Etna Cori Estate
Palmento Arena
Piazza Cisterna, 95030 Ragalna