Festival delle Colline in Prato
Author music in the Sculpture Courtyard of the Lazzerini Library in Prato
About Festival delle Colline
A historic festival arriving in the heart of Prato
The Festival delle Colline is one of Tuscany's longest-running author music festivals. Born in the late seventies, it is promoted by the Municipality of Poggio a Caiano in collaboration with the municipalities of Prato and Carmignano, in the province of Prato. The artistic direction is led by Gianni Bianchi, while the organization is managed by laCoz srls. The festival has always focused on quality programming, capable of weaving together big names in Italian music, international projects, and emerging artists, always in dialogue with the venues that host them.
The Sculpture Courtyard of the Lazzerini Library
In Prato, the festival evenings take place in the Sculpture Courtyard of the Lazzerini Library, the outdoor space of the large civic library housed in the former Campolmi textile mill, an example of reclaimed industrial archaeology. It is an unusual and fascinating setting for listening to music: a courtyard enclosed by historic walls in the city center, where the intimate acoustics and evening atmosphere make every concert a personal experience. The program here typically features the festival's most contemporary and experimental offerings.
What makes the festival special
- Author-driven programming: singer-songwriter music, psychedelic folk, vintage pop, and international influences, carefully selected by the artistic direction.
- Unique venues: in Prato, the Sculpture Courtyard of the Lazzerini Library, in addition to the villas, churches, and fortresses of the Montalbano hilly territory.
- Intimate scale: cozy evenings, attentive listening, and an atmosphere far from large commercial festivals.
- Free and ticketed concerts: part of the program offers free admission, while other evenings feature affordable tickets.
Prato and its surroundings
An evening at the Festival delle Colline is also an opportunity to discover Prato, an often-underrated city of art: from the Cathedral with Donatello's pulpit and Filippo Lippi's frescoes to the Emperor's Castle, and the Luigi Pecci Center for Contemporary Art. The festival then extends into the Prato hills and the Montalbano area, among villages, parish churches, and the vineyards of the famous Carmignano DOCG wine. Music, history, and landscape blend in a festival that, edition after edition, has become an unmissable event in Tuscany's cultural summer.
Festival delle Colline — edition 2026
The 47th edition of the Festival delle Colline takes place from July 10 to 21, 2026, spread across Poggio a Caiano, Prato, and Carmignano, with five concerts in historic locations around Prato. In Prato, in the Sculpture Courtyard of the Lazzerini Library, the final two evenings take place: Sunday, July 19 with Lumiero and Tuesday, July 21 with Krano. The festival, promoted by the Municipality of Poggio a Caiano in collaboration with the municipalities of Prato and Carmignano, confirms its identity as an author music festival, capable of weaving together singer-songwriter music, reinterpretations, and contemporary projects in the most evocative places of the territory.
Programme Festival delle Colline 2026
Sunday, July 19, 2026 — Sculpture Courtyard, Lazzerini Library, Prato
- 21:30 — Lumiero, a project that weaves the past and future of Italian song: vintage pop with retro sounds, crossed by suggestions of chanson française and exoticism, presenting new tracks. Free admission.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 — Sculpture Courtyard, Lazzerini Library, Prato
- 21:30 — Krano closes the festival with his psychedelic folk. Fresh from his 2026 David di Donatello award for Best Original Song, written for the film Le città di pianura, he brings a refined and personal project to the stage. Opening act by K2, a young quartet blending rock, punk, and prog. 10 euro ticket.
The Prato evenings conclude the full festival program, which opens on July 10 with L'Albero at the Church of Santa Cristina in Pilli (Poggio a Caiano), continues with Lato B (July 14, Poggio a Caiano) and Gnut & D'Alessandro (July 17, Rocca di Carmignano).
Highlights Festival delle Colline 2026
In Prato, two author-driven events in the Sculpture Courtyard of the Lazzerini Library: Lumiero with his vintage pop blending chanson française and exoticism (July 19, free admission) and Krano, fresh winner of the 2026 David di Donatello for Best Original Song, who closes the festival with his psychedelic folk (July 21), preceded by the K2 opening act.
Prices Festival delle Colline 2026
Practical information — Festival delle Colline
How to get there
The Sculpture Courtyard is located inside the Lazzerini Library, at Via Puccetti 3 in Prato, a short distance from the historic center. By train: Prato Centrale or Prato Porta al Serraglio stations, both close to the center. By car: take the Prato Est or Prato Ovest exit from the A11 motorway, with parking available near the center. The city is also well-connected to Florence, about twenty minutes away by train.
Tickets
In Prato, some concerts offer free admission, while others require a small ticket fee (around 10 euros). Presales, reservations, and updated details are available via the official website festivaldellecolline.com and the festival's social media channels.
Tips
Seating in the courtyard is limited: we recommend arriving early or booking in advance. Bring a light sweater for the evening. Combine your visit with a trip to the Prato Cathedral and the Pecci Center for a weekend of music and art.
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Where does it take place — Festival delle Colline
Corte delle Sculture - Biblioteca Lazzerini
Via Puccetti 3, 59100 Prato