Hurdy-Gurdy Festival

The Hurdy-Gurdy Festival, the heart of Occitan music in Piedmont

The Hurdy-Gurdy Festival is one of the longest-running and most iconic events dedicated to traditional Occitan music and balfolk in Italy. It takes place in Pragelato, a mountain village in the Chisone Valley in the Province of Turin, in the heart of the Occitan valleys of Piedmont. Organized by the Lou Magnaut Association, the event celebrates the hurdy-gurdy, an ancient string instrument played with a crank and keyboard, a symbol of the folk music of the Occitan Alps.

Three days of concerts, dance, and tradition

For its 42nd edition, scheduled from July 31 to August 2, 2026, the festival offers a packed calendar of evening concerts, dance workshops, and instrument courses. Friday is dedicated to Morvan dances, with a workshop led by the Gallica group and an evening concert by Gallica and QuBa Libre. Saturday features Gascon dances with the Trencadit group, beginner and advanced hurdy-gurdy courses, and a concert by Trencadit and Lindal, bands that weave Occitan tradition with rock, electronic, and contemporary sounds.

The grand finale: hike and jam session

Sunday closes the festival with the "Ghirondando" walk, a musical stroll along mountain paths with an aperitif at the Rivet d'Or, followed by the final jam session that brings musicians and participants together in one big collective performance.

Why it's worth attending

• One of the most important Italian festivals for traditional Occitan music and balfolk
• Completely free admission to all concerts
• Dance workshops and hurdy-gurdy courses open to all levels
• An exceptional alpine setting in the Chisone Valley, in Pragelato
• A convivial atmosphere and authentic Occitan cultural roots

Pragelato and Occitan culture

Located at an altitude of over 1,500 meters, the town of Pragelato is one of the symbolic locations of Piedmontese Occitan culture, where the language, music, and traditions of the alpine valleys are still very much alive. The Hurdy-Gurdy Festival is now a showcase for this heritage, capable of combining the preservation of roots with contemporary experimentation, and transforming the village into a European crossroads for folk music for a weekend.