FestivArt – International Street Artists Festival

A festival that takes over the squares of Novara

Every spring, FestivArt transforms Novara's historic center into a sprawling stage. For three days, the squares, avenues, and streets of the provincial capital in Piedmont come alive with performances by street artists from all over Italy and the world. Mimes, jugglers, acrobats, tightrope walkers, magicians, and street theater companies take turns in a continuous flow of performances, bringing wonder, laughter, and pure magic to passersby.

Who organizes FestivArt

The event is conceived and curated by the Circo e Teatro Dimidimitri Cultural Association, a Novara-based organization dedicated to promoting circus arts and street theater, in collaboration with the City of Novara. The goal is twofold: to bring world-class performances to the streets and to showcase the city center as a vibrant space for culture and social connection, accessible to everyone.

Performance areas

The heart of the festival lies in the distribution of performance spots throughout the center, with each corner dedicated to a different discipline. Key sections of the event include:

• Rock on the Street: concerts and live music along Corso Cavour, Corso Cavallotti, and Piazza Gramsci;
• Magic Street: magic and illusion shows along Corso Italia;
• Adventure Park: activities and obstacle courses designed for the little ones;
• Face Painting and workshops for children, featuring creative makeup and entertainment.

Parades, circus, and awards

The festival kicks off with a grand inaugural parade that winds through the center from Via Cavour to Piazza Duomo, involving artists and students from the Dimidimitri school. Evenings feature contemporary circus shows, while the closing ceremony is dedicated to awarding the artist voted most popular by the audience, followed by a final cabaret show in Piazza Duomo. All performances are free of charge and designed to engage families, children, and curious visitors of all ages.

Why it's worth attending

FestivArt has become a highly anticipated date on the Novara calendar, blending the quality of international artists with the accessible, grassroots spirit of a street festival. Strolling through the center of Novara during the event means being surprised at every turn by suspended acrobatics, balancing acts, giant soap bubbles, and theatrical moments that bring the city to a standstill.