Extemporamnia — International Extemporaneous Painting Festival
The international festival of extemporaneous painting in the heart of Teramo
About Extemporamnia
Extemporamnia: when Teramo becomes a canvas
Extemporamnia — International Extemporaneous Painting Festival is one of the most anticipated cultural highlights of the Teramo summer. Every year, the historic center of Teramo, the provincial capital of Abruzzo, is transformed into a vast open-air studio: easels, canvases, and paints take over Piazza Martiri della Libertà and the streets surrounding the Cathedral, as over a hundred painters from all over Italy and abroad bring their works to life before the public.
A festival created by Enzo Delle Monache
The event is conceived and curated by Enzo Delle Monache, president of the LibereMenti Cultural Association, and is dedicated to the memory of the Teramo painter G. Della Monica. Originally started as an extemporaneous painting contest, it has grown in just a few years into a true international festival, attracting established and emerging artists as well as thousands of visitors to the heart of the city.
Artistic sections
The competition is divided into several sections that showcase the event's richness:
- Extemporaneous works: paintings created live in the square throughout the day;
- Studio works: pieces submitted by artists and evaluated by a qualified jury, with cash prizes;
- Small-format works: a section dedicated to charity;
- Humorous caricature section: a space for satire and irony that tackles a current theme each year.
A different theme every year
For each edition, Extemporamnia selects a central theme to inspire the artists: from tributes to music to reflections on peace, the themes leave ample room for interpretive freedom, as the curator himself likes to emphasize. The event is not just a competition, but a collective celebration that brings contemporary art closer to a broad and diverse audience.
An event for the city
With its formula combining competition, exhibition, social gatherings, and a gala dinner that brings artists together, Extemporamnia has become a permanent fixture on the cultural calendar of Teramo and Abruzzo. Strolling among the easels as canvases come to life is an experience that engages both adults and children, confirming the role of painting as a popular and universal language.
Extemporamnia — edition 2026
Extemporamnia 2026: painting Peace
The 7th edition of Extemporamnia took place in Teramo on June 27 and 28, 2026. The theme chosen by curator Enzo Delle Monache was Peace, in honor of the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi: a cross-cutting theme that allowed artists great interpretive freedom.
The event opened on Saturday, June 27, with the traditional gala dinner, which brought together over a hundred painters for a convivial moment dedicated to art and culture. On Sunday, June 28, on a particularly hot day, the center of Teramo became an open-air gallery: it was the first edition where artists worked entirely in daylight.
Sections and awards
The competition was divided into the sections Extemporaneous Works (won by Umberto Mari), Studio Works (first prize to Luciano Uber Gatti), and Small-Format Works for charity (first place to Luigi Armando Gemmo). There was also the humorous caricature section, dedicated to the World Cup champions of all time as a symbol of communion and peace among peoples, with special awards like the Mondialexte '26 and honorable mentions for international artists.
Programme Extemporamnia 2026
Saturday, June 27, 2026
- Gala dinner with over a hundred painters (La Sosta Gustosa Restaurant, Campli)
Sunday, June 28, 2026 — Teramo, Piazza Martiri della Libertà
- Live extemporaneous painting with over 100 artists (entirely daytime format)
- Exhibition of works along the city center streets and around the Cathedral
- Studio Works section with cash prizes
- Small-format works section for charity
- Humorous caricature section dedicated to World Cup champions
- Final award ceremony for the various sections
Highlights Extemporamnia 2026
Prices Extemporamnia 2026
Practical information — Extemporamnia
How to get there
Extemporamnia takes place in the historic center of Teramo, in Piazza Martiri della Libertà and the streets around the Cathedral. By car, Teramo can be reached via the A24 motorway (Rome–Teramo), taking the Teramo exit. The Teramo train station is connected to the Abruzzo regional rail network.
Admission
Viewing the works in the square is free of charge. Participation in the competition is reserved for artists registered according to the procedures published by the organization.
Information
For the program, call for entries, and registration, please consult the official website and the festival's social media channels (Facebook and Instagram @extemporamnia).
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Extemporamnia
Piazza Martiri della Libertà
Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 64100 Teramo