Lucca Teatro Festival
The family theatre festival that brings performances to Bagni di Lucca
About Lucca Teatro Festival
A widespread festival in the heart of Tuscany
The Lucca Teatro Festival is one of the most beloved theatre events in the Lucca Plain, dedicated specifically to children, teenagers, and families. Born as a project by the La Cattiva Compagnia troupe, the festival has transformed the Lucca summer into a widespread journey of theatre, play, and imagination, with dozens of completely free events spanning just over a month, from late June to early August.
The winning formula is that of a travelling festival: performances are not concentrated in a single venue but travel through ten locations spread across five municipalities in the area, thanks to collaborations with numerous local bodies, associations, and organizations. Alongside the main city of Lucca, the festival reaches centres such as Porcari, Capannori, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, and, naturally, Bagni di Lucca, where events find a home in the charming Public Gardens of the Benabbio hamlet.
Events in Bagni di Lucca
In Bagni di Lucca, in the Province of Lucca, the festival offers evening performances in the Public Gardens of Benabbio, with entrance from Via Francesco Cianelli. These interpreted readings and family shows offer an intimate theatrical experience accessible to everyone within the green, secluded setting of the village. The usual time is late afternoon, when the heat subsides and the gardens become a small open-air theatre.
Theatre, workshops, and storytelling for growth
The Lucca Teatro Festival programme is not limited to performances: each edition weaves together storytelling sessions, creative workshops for little ones, moments of street theatre, and meetings with special guests. The goal is to introduce new generations to the language of theatre in a fun and participatory way, making the stage a living and inclusive space.
- Theatre performances for children and families
- Interpreted readings based on literary classics
- Creative and theatrical workshops for young people
- Street theatre and travelling events
- Widespread events in five municipalities of the Lucca Plain
A free event for everyone
One of the festival's hallmarks is that it is free of charge: all events have free admission subject to availability, with booking recommended for the most popular shows. This makes the Lucca Teatro Festival a precious opportunity for families in Tuscany and for tourists who choose Bagni di Lucca and the Garfagnana as their summer holiday destination, amidst spas, nature, and culture.
Lucca Teatro Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Lucca Teatro Festival, organized by La Cattiva Compagnia, revolves around the theme "Seeds of the Future": an invitation to cultivate curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in children and teenagers through theatre. The festival, running from 28 June to 2 August, offers more than thirty free initiatives spread across ten locations in five municipalities. Great emphasis is placed on the bicentenary of the birth of Carlo Collodi, celebrated with various events throughout the programme.
In Bagni di Lucca, in the Public Gardens of Benabbio, two interpreted readings for families are scheduled, both with free admission.
Programme Lucca Teatro Festival 2026
Thursday 9 July — Benabbio, Bagni di Lucca
- 18:00 — "Pipì. O lo scimmiottino color di rosa", an interpreted reading based on the fairy tale by Carlo Collodi, at the Public Gardens of Benabbio (entrance from Via Francesco Cianelli).
Thursday 23 July — Benabbio, Bagni di Lucca
- 18:00 — "The Magic Flute", an interpreted reading based on Die Zauberflöte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, at the Public Gardens of Benabbio.
The festival in the territory
The events in Bagni di Lucca are part of a wider programme that also involves Lucca, Porcari, Capannori, and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. The festival is inaugurated on Sunday 28 June at the San Romano auditorium in Lucca by Vincenzo Schettini, with the show-meeting "Everything starts with a spark", and closes on 2 August with the travelling show "I will call him Pinocchio" at the Bioparco in Capannori.
Highlights Lucca Teatro Festival 2026
The two shows in Bagni di Lucca are dedicated to great classics reinterpreted for family audiences: a lesser-known fairy tale by Collodi in the year of his bicentenary and Mozart's masterpiece "The Magic Flute". The 2026 edition is inaugurated by Vincenzo Schettini, a science communicator and well-known face to the general public.
Prices Lucca Teatro Festival 2026
Practical information — Lucca Teatro Festival
Where
Performances in Bagni di Lucca are held in the Public Gardens of the Benabbio hamlet, with entrance from Via Francesco Cianelli (55022 Bagni di Lucca, Province of Lucca).
How to get there
Bagni di Lucca can be reached by car via the SS12 Abetone and Brennero state road, about 30 minutes from Lucca. By train, the Bagni di Lucca station is served by the Lucca-Aulla line. Benabbio is located in the hills above the municipal capital.
Admission
All performances are free until capacity is reached. For some events, booking is recommended or required (via email or through Eventbrite).
Tips
Performances take place outdoors: comfortable clothing is recommended. In case of rain, please check for any programme changes on the festival's official channels.
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Where does it take place — Lucca Teatro Festival
Giardini Pubblici di Benabbio
Giardini Pubblici di Benabbio, via Francesco Cianelli, 55022 Bagni di Lucca