FestivaLiszt
The piano festival of Grottammare dedicated to Franz Liszt
About FestivaLiszt
A festival born in the footsteps of Franz Liszt
FestivaLiszt is the classical music festival that enlivens Grottammare every summer, an elegant seaside resort in the province of Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region. The festival owes its name and identity to Franz Liszt, the famous Hungarian composer and pianist who stayed in Grottammare in the summer of 1868: during that period, he used to visit the Church of Santa Lucia to pray with his spiritual guide, Don Antonio Solfanelli. It was in this church, with its perfect acoustics and strong historical value, that the first edition of the event came to life in 2003.
The Church of Santa Lucia, the heart of the festival
After several seasons hosted in other city venues, FestivaLiszt has returned to the Church of Santa Lucia, a symbolic place of the bond between Grottammare and the great musician. The intimate naves and the acoustic quality of the building offer the audience an intimate and enveloping listening experience, ideal for the piano and chamber repertoire that characterizes the festival. Alongside the evening concerts, one of the most beloved events is the dawn concert on the beach, in front of the Kursaal: a evocative appointment that opens the festival with music meeting the sunrise over the Adriatic.
Great performers and young talents
Promoted by the Gioventù Musicale d'Italia (Italian Musical Youth) and directed by the young musician Giuseppe Federico Paci, FestivaLiszt has built a high-profile program over the years, capable of alternating established pianists and new promises of international concert performance. Past seasons have seen performers such as Pierre Réach, Lorenzo Di Bella, Arsenii Moon, and numerous piano competition winners on stage, with a particular focus on emerging talents.
Music and territory
The festival extends beyond the borders of Grottammare, also involving the nearby Teatro Mercantini in Ripatransone, creating a dialogue between the coast and the Piceno hinterland. As part of the rich summer program of the Municipality of Grottammare, which spans over four months of culture, music, and traditions, FestivaLiszt represents a key event for lovers of fine music spending their summer on the Marche Riviera.
FestivaLiszt — edition 2026
FestivaLiszt returns to Grottammare for its 24th edition, included in the Municipality's 2026 summer program. As tradition dictates, the festival opens at dawn on August 18 with a concert on the beach in front of the Kursaal, while the evening concerts will be held in the Church of Santa Lucia on August 21, 23, 25, and 27, 2026.
The festival maintains its identity as a high-level piano and chamber music festival, under the artistic direction of Giuseppe Federico Paci and organized by Gioventù Musicale d'Italia. The complete program, with the names of the performers and the pieces scheduled, will be released by the organization in the weeks leading up to the event's start.
Programme FestivaLiszt 2026
The 2026 edition's schedule, confirmed by the summer program of the Municipality of Grottammare, includes:
- August 18 — Dawn concert on the beach in front of the Kursaal
- August 21 — Evening concert in the Church of Santa Lucia
- August 23 — Evening concert in the Church of Santa Lucia
- August 25 — Evening concert in the Church of Santa Lucia
- August 27 — Evening concert in the Church of Santa Lucia
The detailed musical program and the names of the performers will be announced by the organization in the weeks preceding the festival. In recent editions, the festival has featured both established pianists and young talents of international concert performance, with a repertoire focused on Franz Liszt and the great romantic composers.
Highlights FestivaLiszt 2026
The most anticipated moment is the dawn concert on the beach on August 18, which opens the festival by combining music with the sunrise over the Adriatic. The evening concerts in the evocative Church of Santa Lucia, a place linked to Franz Liszt's stay in Grottammare, represent the acoustic heart of the festival.
Prices FestivaLiszt 2026
Practical information — FestivaLiszt
How to get there
Grottammare can be reached by train on the Adriatic line (Grottammare station) and by car via the A14 motorway, Grottammare exit. The Church of Santa Lucia is located in the upper town; the dawn concert takes place on the beach in front of the Kursaal.
Tickets
Evening concerts are ticketed (in recent editions, full price €10, reduced for under-20s €8, with the possibility of a season ticket for all four concerts). The dawn concert on the beach is generally free admission. Advance tickets and information at www.festivaliszt.com.
Contacts
Information: [email protected], tel. +39 380 592 1393.
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Where does it take place — FestivaLiszt
Chiesa di Santa Lucia
Chiesa di Santa Lucia, Via Santa Lucia, 63066 Grottammare