Festival of Lights

A festival that illuminates the present

The Festival of Lights is a showcase dedicated to theatre, music, and the performing arts, held in Piana degli Albanesi, in the heart of the Metropolitan City of Palermo, Sicily. Conceived and directed by Salvatore Cannova and Alfonso Gianluca Gucciardo, the festival was born with the intent to "illuminate" the present time in its deepest sense, revealing art within its creative process and offering the public an immersive and shared experience.

An Arbëreshë village as a stage

The event is rooted in a place with a unique identity: Piana degli Albanesi is the most important Arbëreshë centre in Sicily, founded at the end of the 15th century by Albanian communities who still preserve their language, Greek-Byzantine rite, and centuries-old traditions. Festival events are spread across symbolic locations in the town, such as the Cinema Vicari, the Cathedral of San Demetrio Megalomartire, and the MUSARB Museum, intertwining contemporary art with historical heritage.

Shows, music, and the spoken word

The festival programme alternates between different artistic languages: original theatre performances, choral concerts in the evocative setting of the Cathedral, book presentations, and moments of cultural reflection. The focus is placed equally on the quality of the offerings and the dialogue with the local area and its community.

Free theatre workshops

The beating heart of the festival are the free theatre workshops open to the public, which allow spectators to observe professional performers at work with their masters, witnessing the study, research, and artistic creation involved. It is a rare opportunity to step "behind the scenes" of the creative process, led by experienced artists and trainers.

Organisation and collaborations

The festival is promoted by I.R.C.O.P.A. (International Research Center and Observatory of Performing Arts) in collaboration with the Municipality of Piana degli Albanesi and various local cultural entities, including Fenice Teatri, the PAS - Performing Arts School, the Pro Loco, and the Bashkë cultural association. All events are free and open to the public, in keeping with the festival's mission to make art accessible to everyone.