Labro Festival
Ten evenings of music, theatre, and performances in the stone village of Sabina
About Labro Festival
A festival in the stone village
Perched on a spur overlooking the Rieti plain and Lake Piediluco, Labro is one of the most evocative villages in Lazio: a maze of stone alleys, arches, and stairways leading up to the Nobili Vitelleschi castle. It is here, in the square named after the town's noble family, that the Labro Festival takes place every year. This multidisciplinary event has made this town in the Province of Rieti, in Lazio, a small but recognizable landmark for live performance in the Sabina region.
A history spanning over a decade
The festival was conceived and developed over ten years ago by artistic director Piero Fasciolo, who defined its identity: bringing high-quality entertainment to a village of a few hundred inhabitants, without barriers and without tickets. Since 2025, the festival has been reborn under new artistic leadership entrusted to Jobel, an international cultural organization founded in 2000 and directed by filmmaker Lorenzo Cognatti, with show production managed by Vela Classica, the company that runs the Teatro Ghione in Rome. The 2026 edition was dedicated to the memory of Piero Fasciolo.
What to see on stage
The format is intentionally multidisciplinary: a different genre every night, ensuring that audiences visiting Labro for multiple days never see the same show twice. Recent editions have featured:
- contemporary circus theatre, including aerial acrobatics, dance, and contortionism;
- a cappella vocal concerts and chamber ensembles;
- storytelling theatre and narrative concerts inspired by classical myths;
- variety, magic, and illusionism;
- grand tributes to Italian singer-songwriters and film soundtracks, with live orchestras;
- roaming performances through the alleys of the historic centre.
A moving calendar
The time of year is not fixed: the 2025 edition was held at the end of August, from the 28th to the 31st, while the 2026 edition was moved to June, from the 19th to the 28th, for ten consecutive evenings. The festival has also extended its reach into winter, with Christmas events between December and January hosted in the Municipal Theatre and the village streets. Those planning a trip should therefore check the dates on the Municipality of Labro's channels each year.
The atmosphere
The added value is the setting. Shows begin at 9 PM, when the light fades over the valley and the square fills with chairs: only a few metres separate the stage from the front rows, the acoustics are provided naturally by the stone houses enclosing the space on three sides, and behind the audience, views of the lake open up. It is a festival to be experienced slowly, arriving in the afternoon, strolling through the village, dining in one of the few local taverns, and staying until nightfall.
Why it's worth the trip
The Labro Festival is an example of cultural policy focused on the attractiveness of small towns: supported by PNRR resources under the Ministry of Culture's measure dedicated to historic villages, it offers a city-level programme in a tiny town, while maintaining completely free admission. For those visiting the Sabina region, Lake Piediluco, or the nearby Marmore Falls, it is an opportunity for an evening of entertainment that cannot be found elsewhere.
Labro Festival — edition 2026
Labro Festival 2026
Ten evenings from June 19 to 28, 2026, all at 9 PM in Piazza Nobili Vitelleschi, all with free admission: this was the formula chosen for the 2026 edition, the second under the artistic direction of Jobel and dedicated to the memory of Piero Fasciolo, who invented the festival over ten years earlier. The programme spanned very different genres, from circus theatre to symphonic orchestra, with a clear prevalence of tributes to great Italian music: Lucio Battisti, Franco Battiato, Ennio Morricone's soundtracks, and a Beatles-inspired finale in a symphonic-rock version. The project benefited from the support of the PNRR — Ministry of Culture, measure M1C3 dedicated to the attractiveness of historic villages.
Programme Labro Festival 2026
2026 Programme — Piazza Nobili Vitelleschi, 9 PM, free admission
- Friday, June 19 — «Incontri», Compagnia Materia Viva: circus theatre with aerial acrobatics, dance, and contortionism.
- Saturday, June 20 — Anonima Armonisti: a cappella vocal septet blending pop and traditional repertoire.
- Sunday, June 21 — «In viaggio con Ulisse», Arnia Centro Artistico: narrative concert on classical myth.
- Monday, June 22 — Pino Strabioli in «Sempre fiori, mai un fioraio», a tribute to Paolo Poli.
- Tuesday, June 23 — «Crazy Magic Show» with Magico Alivernini, Disguido, and Monsieur David: variety, magic, and illusionism.
- Wednesday, June 24 — «Nel Mondo di Lucio Battisti», Roberto Pambianchi & Band, with projections.
- Thursday, June 25 — «Tre Tenori e un Intruso», Compagnia Italiana di Operette: opera and comedy.
- Friday, June 26 — «C'Era una Volta Morricone», Orchestra Mavra conducted by Maestro Piero Gallo.
- Saturday, June 27 — Tribute to Franco Battiato: readings and musical rearrangements.
- Sunday, June 28 — «A Beatles' Orchestra», I Beatles a Roma with the Orchestra Arios conducted by Maestro Daniele Viri: symphonic-rock project.
Highlights Labro Festival 2026
- Ten consecutive evenings, a different genre every night.
- Orchestral tributes to Ennio Morricone and the Beatles, with live orchestra in the square.
- Pino Strabioli with his theatrical portrait of Paolo Poli.
- The contemporary circus theatre opening by Compagnia Materia Viva.
- Everything free, outdoors, in the medieval historic centre of Labro.
Prices Labro Festival 2026
Practical information — Labro Festival
Where
Piazza Nobili Vitelleschi, in the historic centre of Labro (02010), Province of Rieti, Lazio. Some events take place at the Municipal Theatre, the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, or the former Franciscan Convent.
How to get there
By car: from Rome, take the SS4 Salaria road to Rieti, then the SS79 towards Terni-Piediluco (about 1 hour and 45 minutes in total). From Terni, it is about 25 minutes. The most convenient train stations are Terni and Rieti, from which a car or bus service is necessary. The village is pedestrian-only: park in the areas just outside the town and walk up.
Times and tickets
Shows at 9 PM (winter events are held in the afternoon). Free admission to all events, subject to availability: it is advisable to arrive a little early.
Tips
Bring a sweatshirt even in June: in the evening, at this altitude, the temperature drops. The village streets are cobbled and uphill, so comfortable shoes are recommended. For accommodation, in addition to the few options in Labro, there are solutions in Piediluco, Rieti, and Terni.
Information
Municipality of Labro, tel. +39 0746 636134.
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Where does it take place — Labro Festival
Piazza Nobili Vitelleschi
Piazza Nobili Vitelleschi, 02010 Labro