Guardastelle Theatre Festival
The amateur theatre competition lighting up the stage at the Teatro San Luigi in Acireale
About Guardastelle Festival
A festival weaving together theatre, schools, and the local community
The Guardastelle Theatre Festival is a vibrant competition dedicated to the performing arts, held in Acireale, in the province of Catania, Sicily. Promoted by the Guardastelle Association with the support of the Municipality of Acireale and FITA Sicilia (Italian Federation of Amateur Theatre), the event debuted in May 2026. It has quickly established itself as more than just a competition: it is a true celebration of theatre that brings together performances, audiences, schools, workshops, cultural exchanges, debates, music, and conviviality.
The format: a competitive showcase
At the heart of the festival is a competition between six theatre companies from various Italian regions, performing on the stage of the Teatro San Luigi in Acireale. The competition is complemented by a non-competitive appearance from an international guest: the Spanish company Paladio Arte, featured during the closing night. The festival goes beyond evening shows; every morning, the theatre opens its doors to students for dedicated matinées, reflecting the festival's commitment to theatre as a tool for education and inclusion.
Schools take centre stage
One of the most original features of the Guardastelle is the central role given to local schools. Several youth juries are formed, one for each participating institute, tasked with evaluating the performances based on specific criteria and awarding dedicated prizes. Alongside the technical jury of professionals and the popular audience jury, these school juries give the festival its unique participatory and educational character.
Acireale, a Baroque stage
Acireale, a jewel of Sicilian Baroque overlooking the Cyclops Riviera, provides the ideal backdrop for an event that also aims to introduce the local area to the festival's participants. For four days, the Teatro San Luigi becomes a meeting point for companies, directors, students, and spectators, fostering an atmosphere of enthusiasm and sharing that has defined this new addition to the Sicilian theatre scene from the very start.
Guardastelle Festival — edition 2026
The first edition of the Guardastelle Theatre Festival brought the Teatro San Luigi of Acireale to life from May 6 to 9, 2026, with six competing companies from various Italian regions and the international Spanish guest Paladio Arte performing out of competition. Each evening featured shows welcomed by a large and enthusiastic audience, while the mornings were dedicated to school matinées for local students. The event concluded on May 9 with "The Night of Awards," the prize-giving ceremony featuring accolades from the technical jury, schools, and the public. The president of the Guardastelle Association, Paolo Filippini, described the experience as four wonderful days, marking the success of a festival at its debut.
Programme Guardastelle Festival 2026
Wednesday, May 6 — Opening Night
- 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM — Oneira, "Una rapina da sogno"
Thursday, May 7
- Morning — School matinées
- 7:30 PM — Torre del Drago (Puglia), "The Suicide Club", directed by Luigi Facchino — based on a Stevenson story, blending physical theatre and dialogue
- 9:30 PM — Camomilla a Colazione (Campania), "Venerdì 17 – Due preti di troppo", directed by Felice D'Onofrio — music and comedy on themes of legality and social redemption
Friday, May 8
- Morning — School matinées
- 7:30 PM — Costellazione, "La Cattedrale", directed by Roberta Costantini and Marco Marino — a reinterpretation of Notre-Dame de Paris with twelve actors
- 9:30 PM — Skené (Marsala), "Carcarazze", directed by Cinzia Bochicchio — a story about childhood, identity, and violence
Saturday, May 9 — The Night of Awards
- Closing night with the non-competitive participation of the Spanish company Paladio Arte and the awards ceremony featuring prizes from the technical jury, schools, and the public
Highlights Guardastelle Festival 2026
Prices Guardastelle Festival 2026
Practical information — Guardastelle Festival
Location
Performances take place at the Teatro San Luigi in Acireale (CT), in the heart of the Baroque city in the province of Catania.
Getting there
Acireale is easily accessible by car via the A18 Messina-Catania motorway (Acireale exit) and by train via the Acireale station on the Messina-Catania-Siracusa line. The nearest airport is Catania-Fontanarossa, approximately 25 km away.
Tickets
Admission to evening performances is managed by the organization; morning matinées are reserved for schools. For schedules, access details, and the latest information, please consult the official channels of the Guardastelle Association.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Guardastelle Festival
Teatro San Luigi