Festival dell'Appennino – tappa di Pretare di Arquata del Tronto

A widespread festival along the trails of the Central Apennines

The Festival dell'Appennino is a travelling review that for over fifteen years has enlivened the villages and mountains of the Central Apennines, combining guided excursions and live performances in a single day. The formula is simple and recognisable: in the morning, we walk together along a trail, immersed in the landscapes of the Sibillini and Laga Mountains; in the afternoon or evening, upon reaching the destination, a concert, a theatrical performance, or a contemporary circus show takes place. This is the essence of the event's historical subtitle, "Inclusivo di Natura" (Inclusive of Nature): culture and environment meeting far from the big stages.

The stop in Pretare di Arquata del Tronto

In 2026, the festival stops in Pretare, a small hamlet of the Municipality of Arquata del Tronto, in the province of Ascoli Piceno, at the foot of Monte Vettore. Two events are scheduled for the solstice weekend:

• Saturday, June 20th – screening of the short film "142 Secondi – Il Battito Della Terra" (142 Seconds – The Beat of the Earth), dedicated to the memory and rebirth of the earthquake-stricken areas.
• Sunday, June 21st – concert by the band Nobraino, known for their overwhelming and theatrical performances.

As in other stops, the artistic event is accompanied by an excursion in the surrounding area, designed to be accessible and suitable for a wide audience, and by moments to promote local products.

The 2026 edition: the tenth anniversary of the earthquake

The 17th edition runs from May 3rd to October 31st, 2026, with 31 events spread across 29 municipalities in four regions – Marche, Abruzzo, Lazio, and Umbria. The common theme this year is the motto "A due passi da te" (Just a stone's throw from you), a manifesto of proximity linked to an important anniversary: the tenth anniversary of the 2016 earthquake that profoundly marked the inland areas of the Central Apennines. The festival is promoted by BIM Tronto together with the Extraordinary Commissioner for Reconstruction, with artistic direction by Carlo Lanciotti.

Why it's worth it

The Festival dell'Appennino is not just a series of concerts: it is an invitation to slow, sustainable, and participatory tourism, capable of bringing audiences and attention to places often off the beaten track. For those visiting the Marche and the Sibillini Mountains, a stop like Pretare is the perfect opportunity to combine nature, music, and the memory of a community that continues to be reborn.