Folkest a Gemona del Friuli

Folkest starts from Gemona, a symbol of rebirth

It is no coincidence that Folkest chooses Gemona del Friuli for its opening night: the city, one of the epicentres of the 1976 earthquake, is the symbol of Friuli's rebirth, and Folkest was born precisely as a cultural response to that earthquake, the Orcolat. For decades, the international folk and world music festival has brought artists from all over the world to the villages of Friuli Venezia Giulia, blending popular tradition and borderless sounds.

The opening concert

The Gemona stop is the one that officially kicks off the programme: an evening of great music that attracts fans from all over the region. In 2026, the opening is entrusted to Lou Dalfin, a historic Occitan folk-rock band, capable of captivating the audience with powerful and rhythmic sounds, in perfect harmony with the spirit of a festival that celebrates the music of minorities and peoples.

Music, memory, and territory

In Gemona, a city that carries the memory of reconstruction in its identity, Folkest takes on a particularly symbolic value: music as a tool for rebirth and cultural encounter. The opening night, supported by the Municipality and the local network, is an opportunity to experience the unique atmosphere of the festival at the foot of the Julian Prealps.