Futuro Roma – International Festival of Contemporary Dance and Culture
Contemporary dance takes over Rome, from the Teatro Brancaccio to its public squares
About Futuro Roma
A festival looking to the future
Futuro Roma – International Festival of Contemporary Dance and Culture is one of the most recognizable events in the capital's dance scene. Born within the Teatro Brancaccio, in the heart of the Esquilino district in Rome, the festival has gradually expanded to other locations across the city and the Lazio region, becoming a hub for diverse and cross-disciplinary experiences. It was created by Alessandro Longobardi, with artistic direction by Alessia Gatta.
What to expect at Futuro Roma
The program goes far beyond evening performances. Alongside works by guest companies, the festival offers activities that bring the public closer to choreography and contemporary culture in a broader sense:
- Performances and premieres of contemporary dance, featuring international names and emerging young artists
- Experimental Battle: urban dance competitions spanning contemporary, breaking, house, and hip-hop, judged by specialists, with a Performance Lab for selected dancers
- Workshops and masterclasses covering theoretical and practical aspects, from contemporary dance to physical theatre and artistic research
- Jam sessions, beatbox, and live music, urban incursions, and closing parties
- Inclusive practices such as Dance Well, dedicated to the Parkinson's community
The 2026 Edition: SIESTA
The sixth edition is titled SIESTA and invites reflection on the concept of active suspension: a time liberated from the rush of metrics, mandatory performance, and imposed rhythms. It is an invitation to inhabit our bodies, visions, and presence with greater freedom and authenticity. The calendar spans from May to October 2026, with stops at the Teatro Brancaccio, the Brancaccino, the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, the Spazio Diamante, and a special event in Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore in Alatri, in the province of Frosinone.
The Venues
The headquarters remains the Teatro Brancaccio on Via Merulana, just steps from the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and a short distance from the Colosseum and San Giovanni in Laterano. The historic theatre interacts with the BrancaccioDanza spaces, the Palazzo delle Esposizioni museum on Via Nazionale, and the Spazio Diamante on Via Prenestina: a geography that traverses both the city centre and its surrounding areas.
Why it is worth the trip
Futuro Roma caters to both dance professionals and first-time observers. The formula alternates between the stage and the street, auteur language and urban culture, affordable tickets and free events. For visitors to the Lazio region, it offers a fresh way to experience Rome: not just archaeology and Baroque, but a vibrant contemporary scene that uses theatres, museums, and squares as shared spaces for research.
Tips for the audience
The most popular shows at the Teatro Brancaccio sell out early: booking online or contacting the box office in advance is recommended. Workshops and participatory practices almost always require prior registration, as spots are limited. Those looking to experience the festival on a budget can focus on the Experimental Battle and the free-entry events, which remain among the most energetic moments of the entire festival.
Futuro Roma — edition 2026
SIESTA, the 2026 theme
The sixth edition of Futuro Roma chooses the word SIESTA as its guiding theme: an active suspension, a time reclaimed from the rush of metrics and mandatory performance, to restore space to bodies, visions, and presence. The calendar opens in late May and concludes in October, alternating between the Teatro Brancaccio stage, the BrancaccioDanza spaces, the Palazzo delle Esposizioni museum, and the Spazio Diamante, with a stop in southern Lazio in Alatri.
A widespread program
Alongside evening performances, the program maintains the festival's participatory vocation: urban dance battles open to the public, intensive contemporary and physical theatre workshops, accessible practices like Dance Well, concerts, and the closing party. Free events coexist with paid ones; tickets are available on TicketOne and at the Teatro Brancaccio box office.
Programme Futuro Roma 2026
May 2026
- May 29-31 – 1m3, A Dance Weekend (BrancaccioDanza): intensive workshop on contemporary dance, physical theatre, and artistic research with Alessia Gatta, Vanessa Guidolin, Daniele Toti, and Viola Pantano. Registration: [email protected], tel. +39 377 5515549
- May 29 – Experimental Battle: competitions between contemporary, breaking, house, and hip-hop; ten dancers selected for the Performance Lab with Giulia Alvear Calderon. Jury: Giulia Alvear Calderon, Kathrin Frank, Philvstheworld. Free entry
- May 30, 9:00 PM – Dieci Corpi, Dodici Ore, with Giulia Alvear Calderon and beatboxer Ervin Dos Santos
- May 31, 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM – Te Quiero, choreography by Luca Scaduto (Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève), as part of the W.O.M. professional program
June 2026
- June 14, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM – Dance Well at Palazzo delle Esposizioni: artistic practice dedicated to the Parkinson's community. Free with museum ticket, mandatory registration by June 12 at [email protected]
- June 20 – Pupi and Welcome to Reality, choreography by Francesco Gammino and Alessia Gatta, in Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, Alatri (FR)
October 2026
- October 9, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM – SìR, Sharing in Roma: workshop with Olimpia Fortuni
- October 9, 7:00 PM – X (per) by Olimpia Fortuni
- October 9, 8:30 PM – Panta Rhei, Petranura Danza / Megakles Ballet
- October 10, 7:00 PM – new production KODANCE/&KO
- October 10, 9:00 PM – Welcome to Reality, Ritmi Sotterranei
- October 11, 9:00 PM – Shaking the Blue, concert by Marta Capponi
- October 11, 10:30 PM – FuturoRoma Closing Party
Highlights Futuro Roma 2026
- Experimental Battle on May 29: contemporary, breaking, house, and hip-hop showdown, free entry
- Te Quiero, by Luca Scaduto of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève
- Dieci Corpi, Dodici Ore, an encounter between dance and live beatbox
- Dance Well at Palazzo delle Esposizioni, inclusive practice open for free with a museum ticket
- The closing weekend in October with Panta Rhei, the Marta Capponi concert, and the Closing Party
Prices Futuro Roma 2026
Practical information — Futuro Roma
Getting there
The Teatro Brancaccio is located at Via Merulana 244, Rome. By metro: Line A, Vittorio Emanuele or Manzoni stop; Line B, Cavour stop. Roma Termini station is about a ten-minute walk away, convenient for those arriving by train or bus from Fiumicino and Ciampino airports. If driving, it is best to use a park-and-ride facility: the area is a restricted traffic zone and street parking is scarce.
Tickets
Tickets are available online via TicketOne and at the Teatro Brancaccio box office ([email protected]), open Tuesday to Saturday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, as well as on performance days. Many events are free.
Contact
General information: [email protected]. For workshops and BrancaccioDanza registration: [email protected], tel. +39 377 5515549.
Where to stay
The Esquilino district and the Termini area offer the highest concentration of hotels and bed and breakfasts in the city, with highly variable rates: booking in advance is advised, especially in May and October.
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Where does it take place — Futuro Roma
Teatro Brancaccio
Via Merulana 244, 00185 Roma