FestivaLOVE – Fall in Love in Scandiano
Three days dedicated to love with music, culture, theatre, and arts in the historic centre of Scandiano
About FestivaLOVE
A festival dedicated to love
FestivaLOVE – Fall in Love in Scandiano is one of Emilia-Romagna's most beloved cultural events. Founded in 2015, it transforms the Municipality of Scandiano, in the province of Reggio Emilia, into a grand container of emotions every year at the end of May: three days of encounters, music, theatre, circus, and art centred around one great theme, love in all its forms.
Boiardo-inspired
The festival is rooted in the town's history: the idea stems from Matteo Maria Boiardo's "Orlando Innamorato", the Renaissance poet associated with Scandiano and its Rocca. It's no coincidence that the beating heart of the event is the Gardens of the Rocca dei Boiardo, which host dialogues, conferences, and readings. Love thus becomes a lens through which to discuss society, spirituality, peace, science, and current affairs.
Widespread culture, music, and entertainment
FestivaLOVE is a widespread celebration that takes over the entire historic centre. Author dialogues fill the Gardens of the Rocca and the Library, while the squares host diverse forms of expression:
- Piazza Fiume: the stage for major concerts and evening performances;
- Piazza Spallanzani: DJ sets and events for younger audiences;
- Piazza Primo Maggio: contemporary circus from the "I Love Circus" festival, featuring acrobats, clowns, and bubble artists;
- Piazza Boiardo: "poetry tastings" and more intimate events;
- Corso Garibaldi and the town centre streets: live drawing by cartoonists and markets.
An event for everyone
One of FestivaLOVE's most appreciated features is the almost always free admission: the vast majority of events are free to attend, designed for families, young people, and the curious. Alongside cultural talks, there are workshops for children, street food, craft markets, and live radio broadcasts, all in a festive atmosphere that involves local businesses and associations.
Ten years of history
Promoted by the Municipality of Scandiano with the support of ATER Fondazione, local businesses, and numerous cultural organizations, FestivaLOVE celebrated its tenth edition in 2026, confirming itself as a key event in the Reggio Emilia calendar and for spring in Emilia-Romagna.
FestivaLOVE — edition 2026
FestivaLOVE 2026: The Tenth Edition
From May 29 to 31, 2026, Scandiano celebrated ten years of FestivaLOVE with three days of major events. The opening ceremony on Friday was attended by the President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Michele De Pascale.
Concerts and Performances
The stage in Piazza Fiume hosted the main evening events: Dardust with "Urban Impressionism" (Friday 29th), a free concert by Mara Sattei (Saturday 30th), and the theatrical performance by Stefano Massini "La ricerca della felicità" (Sunday 31st), the only paid event.
Author Encounters
The Gardens of the Rocca dei Boiardo featured a lineup of prominent guests: Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi on "love for peace," Vasco Brondi, psychoanalyst Vittorio Lingiardi, writers Valeria Parrella and Michela Ponzani, journalist Lucia Goracci, actor Paolo Ruffini, and many others. The programme was rounded out by the contemporary circus "I Love Circus," DJ sets in Piazza Spallanzani, poetry tastings, and markets.
Programme FestivaLOVE 2026
Friday, May 29
- 6:30 PM – Opening ceremony with the President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Michele De Pascale
- 8:00 PM – Michela Ponzani (Gardens of the Rocca)
- 9:30 PM – Vittorio Lingiardi (Gardens of the Rocca)
- 9:30 PM – Dardust "Urban Impressionism" (Piazza Fiume)
- 8:00 PM – "Libidine" DJ set (Piazza Spallanzani)
Saturday, May 30
- 4:00 PM – Valeria Parrella (Gardens of the Rocca)
- 5:30 PM – Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, "love for peace"
- 8:30 PM – Vasco Brondi
- 9:30 PM – Mara Sattei in concert, free admission (Piazza Fiume)
Sunday, May 31
- 5:00 PM – Lucia Goracci
- 6:30 PM – Paolo Ruffini, "Io sono perfetto"
- 9:30 PM – Stefano Massini, "La ricerca della felicità" (Piazza Fiume, ticket €12)
Throughout the festival: "I Love Circus" contemporary circus, live drawing "VignettiAMO," Radio Luna broadcasts, street food, and markets.
Highlights FestivaLOVE 2026
- Tenth edition of the festival (2015–2026)
- Dardust live with "Urban Impressionism"
- Free concert by Mara Sattei
- Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi on the theme of peace
- Stefano Massini with "La ricerca della felicità"
- Opening ceremony with Regional President De Pascale
Prices FestivaLOVE 2026
Practical information — FestivaLOVE
How to get here
Scandiano is located about 20 km south of Reggio Emilia, at the gateway to the Apennines. By car, it can be reached from the A1 motorway (Reggio Emilia exit) via the SS467. By train, the town is served by Scandiano station on the Reggio Emilia–Sassuolo railway line.
Tickets and admission
Almost all events are free to enter. Evening theatre performances (general admission, unnumbered seats) cost around €12, available on Vivaticket and at the Cinema Teatro Boiardo (tel. 0522 854355).
Tips
Events are concentrated in the historic centre, which is easily walkable. It is advisable to consult the official website for updated schedules and for events in the Gardens of the Rocca, which may reach full capacity.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — FestivaLOVE
Giardini della Rocca dei Boiardo