Fontecchio Music Festival
The international music festival in the medieval village of the Subequana Valley
Edition 2026 — event currently on hold
There is no edition scheduled in 2026 for this event. This page remains accessible to archive the history of the manifestation and will be updated if a new edition is announced.
About Fontecchio Music Festival
A village that turns into music
The Fontecchio Music Festival is the event through which the small municipality in the Subequana Valley, in the province of L'Aquila, celebrates the International Music Festival every year on June 21st. For an entire day, from early morning until late at night, the medieval village of Fontecchio becomes a widespread stage: alleys, squares, courtyards, meadows, and the nature oasis next to the medieval tannery host concerts, performances, exhibitions, and workshops.
A free and participatory event
The event is organized by the cultural association La Kap, with the patronage of the Municipality of Fontecchio. It is a completely free event, made possible by the voluntary work of residents and local associations, without public funding. The program ranges across very different genres: from Abruzzese folk to singer-songwriter music, from progressive rock to jazz, from bossa nova to traditional music, with a particular focus on choral singing projects and the sonic traditions of the territory.
Concerts, art, and nature
Alongside live concerts, the festival offers art exhibitions scattered throughout the village, workshops for children and adults, dance shows, craft markets, and nature walks in the Sirente-Velino Regional Park. The setting is one of the most evocative villages in inland Abruzzo, crossed by the Way of Celestine V, where music becomes an opportunity to rediscover places, memories, and landscapes.
The oasis next to the medieval tannery
The heart of the event is the redeveloped oasis located in Via del Rio, adjacent to the historic medieval tannery, nestled in the greenery along the Aterno River. This is where most of the stages and activities are concentrated, in a continuous dialogue between historical heritage, nature, and new live music.
A cultural project for inland Abruzzo
The Fontecchio Music Festival is more than just a concert: it is a cultural project that aims to enhance the small villages of the Abruzzo hinterland as living places, capable of hosting contemporary art and tradition. Each edition has a theme that accompanies the programming and connects music, territory, and community.
Fontecchio Music Festival — edition 2026
The sixth edition of the Fontecchio Music Festival had been announced for Sunday, June 21, 2026, under the title "The Voices of the Places", a tribute to the songs and notes that tell the stories of the territories and the people who inhabit them. The program, planned in the oasis next to the medieval tannery, would have ranged from Abruzzese folk to post-punk, jazz, and bossa nova.
On June 20, 2026, the organizing association La Kap announced the cancellation of the event, citing bureaucratic difficulties and delays, as well as organizational costs that had become unsustainable for a small association without public funding. "The safety of the participants and the entire community is a priority," declared the association, which preferred to cancel rather than proceed without the necessary guarantees.
On June 21, an alternative initiative, "Open Artist Studios", still took place (from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM), with the studios of resident artists opening to the public. La Kap has confirmed its intention to propose the Music Festival again in a future edition.
Practical information — Fontecchio Music Festival
Getting there
Fontecchio is located in the province of L'Aquila, in the Subequana Valley. By car from the A24/A25, take the exit towards L'Aquila or Bussi/Popoli and continue along the SS17 and the provincial roads of the Subequana Valley. The nearest train station is L'Aquila, from where you can continue by car or local transport.
Admission
Admission to concerts, exhibitions, and workshops is free. Some activities (such as nature walks) may require booking.
Tips
The village is characterized by narrow alleys and staircases: comfortable footwear is recommended. For the final schedule and program, please refer to the channels of the La Kap association and the Municipality of Fontecchio.
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Where does it take place — Fontecchio Music Festival
Oasi di Fontecchio (conceria medievale)
Via del Rio, 67020 Fontecchio