I Nostri Miti Festival

A theatre festival in the greenery of Pomigliano d'Arco

I Nostri Miti Festival is the summer theatre season that has been bringing the Giardini dei Miti in Pomigliano d'Arco, in the province of Naples, to life for several years in the heart of Campania. For a few weeks between June and July, the green space on Via Matteo Renato Imbriani turns into an open-air theatre: an audience under the stars, a stage framed by plants, and spectators arriving from across the Vesuvius area and, increasingly, from outside the province.

The festival was born from the passion of Totò Caprioli, patron and creator of the event, and is organized by the I Nostri Miti cultural association with the patronage of the Municipality of Pomigliano d'Arco and the Campania Region. In recent years, the festival has also become part of the city's summer programme, Pomigliano d'Estate, becoming one of the most anticipated cultural events in the city.

An artistic direction that changes the face of the festival

Each edition is entrusted to a prominent artistic director, who gives the programme a theme and a trajectory. In 2025, the sixth edition was led by Francesco Maria Cordella, focusing on the craft of the actor; in 2026, the direction passed to Luciano Melchionna, a director, author, and actor among the protagonists of contemporary Italian theatre, who chose the title «Eroiche disTrazioni» for the seventh edition.

It is a way to remember, as Melchionna himself explained, that "human beings are capable of enduring almost everything, except the void within themselves": theatre thus becomes a space for listening, reflection, and sharing rather than simple evening entertainment.

Contemporary drama, premieres, and opening acts

The formula is essential and recognizable: a few evenings, all carefully curated, with contemporary drama performances entrusted to nationally recognized companies and performers. Alongside big names, there is room for new productions and premieres, such as the one that opened the 2026 edition.

The novelty introduced in 2026 is the Opening Acts: musical, artistic, and multidisciplinary performances that precede the main show and accompany the audience as they enter the gardens, transforming the evening into a journey that combines music, theatre, and performance.

• Evening performances of contemporary drama, with monologues, original plays, and productions
• Musical and performance Opening Acts before the show
• Section for children and families — in the 2025 edition, the I Piccoli Miti programme featured afternoon events dedicated to the little ones
• Free admission to all evenings, subject to availability

A cultural project for the city

Free admission is not just an organizational detail, but a fundamental choice: to make auteur theatre accessible to everyone in a city like Pomigliano d'Arco, historically marked by heavy industry and now committed to building its own cultural identity. Local and regional institutions have repeatedly emphasized how the festival represents a shared heritage of the community and proof that the territory can offer high-quality cultural events.

When to go and what to expect

The events are concentrated between the second half of June and the end of July, almost always in the evening: the Opening Acts start around 7:30 PM and the main shows at 9:00 PM. The audience is large and the evenings are often sold out, with spectators standing at the edges of the seating area: it is therefore advisable to arrive well in advance. As it is an open-air event, it is advisable to bring something light for the evening and check for updates in case of bad weather.