International Gnomes Festival
Immersive forest theatre with gnomes, goblins, and fairies on the Aremogna Plateau
About Gnomes Festival
A theatre festival in the woods
The International Gnomes Festival is one of the most beloved and long-standing events of the Abruzzo summer. Organized for over two decades by the theatre company I Guardiani dell'Oca, every July it transforms the Coppo dell'Orso beech forest on the Aremogna Plateau above Roccaraso (L'Aquila province, Abruzzo) into an enchanted world populated by gnomes, goblins, fairies, elves, dwarves, and trolls.
This is not just a simple costume party; it is a true open-air theatre festival set entirely in nature. Performances take place along forest trails—by day with light filtering through the beech trees, and by night by the glow of lanterns—engaging both adults and children in an atmosphere suspended between reality and fantasy.
Shows, parades, and workshops
The program brings together Italian and international theatre companies specializing in environmental and fantasy theatre, featuring over thirty events. The beech forest comes alive with dance, circus theatre, interactive performances, and storytelling, featuring actors, street performers, and fairytale characters.
- The famous parade of gnomes, goblins, fairies, elves, dwarves, and trolls marching among the trees
- Creative workshops tailored to different age groups for children
- Itinerant evening shows immersed in the lantern-lit woods
- A free opening event in Piazza Giovanni Leone, in the center of Roccaraso
Roccaraso and Aremogna in summer
Roccaraso, famous as a winter ski resort in the Alto Sangro, reveals the lush green side of its plateaus in summer. The Aremogna beech forest, at an altitude of about 1,400 meters, provides the ideal setting for an event that combines entertainment, a connection with nature, and the tradition of fantasy storytelling. The Gnomes Festival is now an unmissable appointment for families vacationing in Abruzzo and a benchmark for fantasy theatre enthusiasts throughout Italy.
An event for the whole family
Designed primarily for children but capable of captivating adults as well, the festival offers an immersive experience where walking in the woods means meeting fairy creatures, witnessing surprise performances, and letting yourself be carried away into a fairytale world. An opportunity to experience the Abruzzo mountains in a playful and poetic way.
Gnomes Festival — edition 2026
For the 2026 edition, the International Gnomes Festival returns to Roccaraso and the Aremogna Plateau from July 24 to 27. The event opens on Friday, July 24, at 9:00 PM with the free stilt-walking show In fabula in Piazza Giovanni Leone, in the center of Roccaraso.
On Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26, from 11:00 AM until evening, the Coppo dell'Orso beech forest will host over thirty activities by national and international theatre companies: dance performances, circus theatre, interactive theatre, the grand parade of gnomes, goblins, fairies, and elves, and creative workshops for children divided by age group. After sunset, itinerant evening shows will take place in the lantern-lit woods. The grand finale is scheduled for Sunday, July 27, with the bubble show Soffio di grado.
Programme Gnomes Festival 2026
2026 Program
- Friday, July 24, 9:00 PM — In fabula, free stilt-walking show in Piazza Giovanni Leone (Roccaraso center)
- Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26, from 11:00 AM to evening — Over 30 activities in the Coppo dell'Orso beech forest in Aremogna: dance, circus theatre, interactive theatre, parade of gnomes, goblins, fairies, elves, dwarves, and trolls, creative workshops by age group
- Itinerant evening shows in the lantern-lit woods
- Sunday, July 27, 10:00 PM — Grand finale with Soffio di grado, bubble show
Highlights Gnomes Festival 2026
- Free opening with stilt-walking show in Piazza Leone
- Over 30 shows and activities in the Aremogna beech forest
- Parade of gnomes, goblins, fairies, and elves among the trees
- Creative workshops for children divided by age
- Evening shows by lantern light
- Grand finale with the bubble show Soffio di grado
Prices Gnomes Festival 2026
Practical information — Gnomes Festival
Getting there
Roccaraso is located in the Alto Sangro area, in the Province of L'Aquila. By car: A25 motorway, exit at Pratola Peligna-Sulmona, then take the SS17 towards Roccaraso; the festival area is in the Coppo dell'Orso beech forest, on the Aremogna Plateau. By train: Roccaraso station on the Sulmona-Isernia line.
Tickets
Approximate daily ticket: 17 euros for adults, 12 euros for children aged 3-12, free for children under 3. Evening shows require a separate ticket for adults (children under 12 are free). Some free shows require advance booking. Please check the official website for online ticketing.
Tips
Bring comfortable shoes for walking in the woods and a warm layer for the evening at altitude. There is a wide range of accommodation available in Roccaraso, Rivisondoli, and Pescocostanzo.
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Where does it take place — Gnomes Festival
Faggeta di Coppo dell'Orso, Aremogna