Festival dei Popoli
Music, voices, and cultures from around the world in the heart of Sicily
About Festival dei Popoli
A festival of cultural exchange
The Festival dei Popoli is a musical and cultural event held in Centuripe, a charming village in the province of Enna, in the heart of Sicily. Conceived and directed by Carmelo Cacciola, the festival was founded in 2025 with the goal of making Centuripe a place for meeting, dialogue, and discovery between diverse cultures, united by the universal language of music.
Festival venues
The festival brings some of the village's most fascinating sites to life: the recently restored Teatro della Dogana, the central Piazza Duomo, and the former Church of the Purgatory, an intimate space dedicated to workshops and meetings. Centuripe, famous for its star-shaped layout and rich Hellenistic-Roman archaeological heritage, provides a unique backdrop where the voices of the world engage with the town's millenary history.
World music and culture
The Festival dei Popoli offers an international lineup showcasing authentic musical traditions deeply rooted in their respective cultures. The stage features ensembles and artists from every continent—from Sardinia to Greece, Argentina to Iraq, and Brazil to Sicily—in a sonic mosaic that celebrates the identity of peoples and their ability to tell their stories through song and traditional instruments.
Workshops and participation
Alongside the evening performances, the festival offers practical workshops in singing, theater, and performing arts, designed to bring the audience closer to the work of the guest artists. This participatory dimension makes the event an immersive experience, where spectators of all ages can discover the techniques and languages of different traditions firsthand.
A free event open to all
Admission is free and no booking is required: a choice that reflects the inclusive spirit of the festival, supported by the Municipality of Centuripe and local partners. For those visiting the Sicilian hinterland in the spring, the Festival dei Popoli is a precious opportunity to combine music, culture, and the discovery of one of the most characteristic villages in the province of Enna.
Festival dei Popoli — edition 2026
Festival dei Popoli 2026 — "The Voice"
The 2nd edition of the Festival dei Popoli was held in Centuripe from May 8 to 10, 2026, dedicated to the theme "The Voice". Artistic director Carmelo Cacciola identified the voice as a primordial instrument capable of crossing borders and narrating the identities of peoples.
The program brought to the stage of the Teatro della Dogana the Tenores di Oniferi with their Sardinian polyphony, the Greek Theodoro Melissinopoulos, the Argentine Daniela Cesario, the Iraqi Shanya Yousif, and the Sicilian Libero Reina. On Sunday, May 10, in Piazza Duomo, a special off-program event featured Samba de Camargo from Brazil.
The event, with free admission, also offered workshops in singing and theater led by Daniela Cesario and Gaspare Balsamo in the former Church of the Purgatory.
Programme Festival dei Popoli 2026
Friday, May 8
- 5:00 PM — Singing workshop with Daniela Cesario (former Church of the Purgatory)
- 9:00 PM — Tenores di Oniferi, Sardinia (Teatro della Dogana)
- 10:15 PM — Theodoro Melissinopoulos, Greece (Teatro della Dogana)
Saturday, May 9
- 10:00 AM — Theater workshop with Gaspare Balsamo (former Church of the Purgatory)
- 9:00 PM — Daniela Cesario, Argentina (Teatro della Dogana)
- 10:00 PM — Shanya Yousif, Iraq (Teatro della Dogana)
- 11:00 PM — Libero Reina, Sicily (Teatro della Dogana)
Sunday, May 10
- 9:00 PM — Samba de Camargo, Brazil, special off-festival event (Piazza Duomo)
Highlights Festival dei Popoli 2026
- 2026 Theme: "The Voice"
- Sardinian polyphony by Tenores di Oniferi
- Artists from Greece, Argentina, Iraq, Brazil, and Sicily
- Singing and theater workshops open to the public
- Free admission in three evocative historic center locations
Prices Festival dei Popoli 2026
Practical information — Festival dei Popoli
Getting there
Centuripe can be reached by car via the A19 Palermo-Catania motorway (Catenanuova exit) or the SS121, approximately one hour from Catania and its airport. Performances are held at the Teatro della Dogana, Piazza Duomo, and the former Church of the Purgatory, all located in the historic center.
Admission
Admission to all events is free, and no reservations are required.
Information
Tourist Office of the Municipality of Centuripe: tel. +39 0935 919405.
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Where does it take place — Festival dei Popoli
Teatro della Dogana