FRA NOI Missionary Festival
Three days of fraternity, culture, and mission in Recanati
About FRA NOI Festival
A festival on fraternity in the city of Leopardi
The FRA NOI Missionary Festival is a cultural and spiritual event that takes place in Recanati, in the heart of the province of Macerata, in the Marche region. Conceived and promoted by the Capuchin Friars of the Marche together with the youth and vocations ministry and local volunteer organizations, the festival transforms the famous Giacomo Leopardi Square into a place of meeting, dialogue, and reflection open to all.
The meaning of "FRA NOI"
The festival's name plays on the double meaning of "fra": the friar, a central figure in Franciscan and Capuchin spirituality, and the preposition evoking togetherness, the bond between people. From this arises a program that centers on fraternity, welcome, solidarity, and attention towards those who are distant or different from us. Each edition chooses a theme and a common thread that runs through encounters, performances, and moments of testimony.
Culture, entertainment, and engagement
FRA NOI is not an event reserved only for believers: the festival intertwines cinema, music, theater, exhibitions, and major cultural encounters with protagonists from the world of entertainment and civil engagement. Over the years, the event has hosted directors, actors, preachers, psychotherapists, artists, and humanitarian workers, addressing current issues such as migration, relationships, inclusion, and the sense of community.
Missions at the center
The beating heart of the festival are the testimonies of Capuchin missionaries, who bring their experiences from missions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to Recanati. Moments of storytelling, prayer, and conviviality — such as the solidarity lunches of the "convent kitchen" — recall the missionary vocation that gives rise to the entire event.
A square for everyone
With free admission to every event, FRA NOI is designed as a people's festival: spaces and activities for children, activities for families, moments for young people, and major cultural evenings for adult audiences. The setting of Piazza Leopardi, a stone's throw from the most famous Leopardi sites, adds a strong symbolic value to an event that speaks of humanity and encounter.
Recanati and the Marche
Birthplace of Giacomo Leopardi and homeland of the voice of Beniamino Gigli, Recanati is one of the most beloved villages in the Marche hinterland. The FRA NOI Missionary Festival is part of a rich calendar of summer cultural events that liven up the city and helps make it, during the festival days, a reference point for those seeking culture, spirituality, and opportunities for shared reflection.
FRA NOI Festival — edition 2026
FRA NOI 2026: "Am I my brother's keeper?"
The 2026 edition of the FRA NOI Missionary Festival chooses the biblical question from Genesis, "Am I my brother's keeper?", as its title, interpreted on the theme of fraternity and responsibility towards others, with a particular focus on migration. The event, promoted by the Capuchin Friars of the Marche, takes place on June 5 and 6, 2026, in Giacomo Leopardi Square in Recanati.
Alongside the evening encounters, a exhibition dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi is set up on both days, as part of the 800th anniversary of the Saint's death, retracing his life and spiritual experience through images, stories, and testimonies. All events have free admission, with reservations required for the main encounters.
Programme FRA NOI Festival 2026
Friday, June 5, 2026
- 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM — Exhibition on St. Francis of Assisi (800th anniversary of his death), with guided tours, in Piazza Leopardi.
- 9:00 PM — Cultural encounter "Am I my brother's keeper?" with Brother Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the Pontifical Household, in dialogue with Davide Avolio, accompanied by musical interludes by Serena Lambertucci.
Saturday, June 6, 2026
- 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM — The exhibition on St. Francis of Assisi continues in Piazza Leopardi.
- 8:15 PM — Encounter with director Matteo Garrone dedicated to the film "Io capitano", which tells the story of the journey of two young Senegalese migrants through Africa, Libya, and the Mediterranean. Followed by a screening of the film on a big screen.
Highlights FRA NOI Festival 2026
- 2026 Theme: "Am I my brother's keeper?" — fraternity and migration
- Brother Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the Pontifical Household, in dialogue with Davide Avolio (June 5)
- Director Matteo Garrone presents "Io capitano" with a screening on a big screen (June 6)
- Exhibition on St. Francis of Assisi for the 800th anniversary of his death
- Free admission to all events
Prices FRA NOI Festival 2026
Practical information — FRA NOI Festival
Where it takes place
The main events are held in Giacomo Leopardi Square, in the historic center of Recanati (MC). Some moments, such as masses and solidarity lunches, take place at the Capuchin Friars' Convent in Recanati.
How to get there
Recanati can be reached by car from the A14 motorway (exits Loreto-Porto Recanati or Civitanova Marche, then highway). The nearest train station is Recanati-Loreto-Porto Recanati, connected to the center by bus. Nearest airport: Ancona-Falconara.
Admission and reservations
Admission is free to all events. For the main cultural encounters, reservations are required (in recent years via the Ciaotickets circuit or at the Capuchin Friars' Convent of Recanati). It is advisable to check the updated procedures and dates on the official channels of the Capuchin Friars of the Marche.
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Where does it take place — FRA NOI Festival
Piazza Giacomo Leopardi
Piazza Giacomo Leopardi, 62019 Recanati