The gateway between worlds: folklore, esotericism, fantasy, and music at the Antiche Terme Jacobelli
MAGICON – by Janara, Esotericism and Magic is the festival that brings an entire village dedicated to folklore, esotericism, fantasy, comics, and live music to Telese Terme, in the province of Benevento. The heart of the event is the Antiche Terme Jacobelli park, a historic thermal complex that, for four days, transforms into a grand "gateway between worlds"—an immersive space where fantasy, popular tradition, and entertainment meet and mingle.
The event is conceived and produced by the La Janara Association, a local Sannio organization born around the figure of the janara, the witch of Benevento tradition. The creative and organizational work is led by Stefania Amodio and Gabriele Bertolo, who have spent years promoting popular culture, entertainment, and the esoteric and folkloric traditions of the territory.
The project began in 2025 under the name "Janara – Esotericism and Magic": the first edition was held from April 25 to 27 at the Villa Comunale Serenitas in San Giorgio del Sannio, with free admission and a dedicated shuttle service—the "Janarabus"—connecting the central station of Benevento to the festival venue. The success of that debut encouraged the association to scale up: in 2026, the event moved to the thermal park of Telese Terme and took on the name MAGICON, expanding its scope to include fantasy, comics, and live music.
The format is that of an open-air convention, with multiple themed areas active simultaneously from morning until late at night:
The festival was not born by chance just a few kilometers from Benevento: for centuries, the city has been associated in the Italian imagination with witches and the legendary walnut tree around which tradition places the gatherings of the janare. MAGICON revisits this heritage of stories with an educational and entertaining approach, transforming it into a journey of conferences, set designs, and shows. It is a perspective that makes the event different from classic comic book fairs: here, fantasy dialogues with local folklore and the popular memory of inland Campania.
Despite the theme, MAGICON is built for a broad, intergenerational audience. Alongside conferences for enthusiasts, the program reserves plenty of space for children with games, entertainment, and creative activities, while the evenings focus on music and comedy that appeal to everyone. There is also a charitable dimension: the 2026 edition hosted the "Le creazioni di Sara" association, created to honor a girl who passed away at sixteen.
The Municipality of Telese Terme is the thermal center of the Valle Telesina, known for its sulfur springs and the lake that bears the city's name. The Antiche Terme Jacobelli, with their tree-lined park, offer a suggestive and shaded setting, ideal for an event that runs from morning until night. The festival is thus also an opportunity to discover a lesser-known corner of Campania, nestled between the Matese massif, the villages of Sannio, and local wine production.
The first Telese edition of MAGICON took place from Saturday, May 30, to Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in the Antiche Terme Jacobelli park, with continuous opening hours from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The chosen theme, "The gateway between worlds," guided the layout of the entire thermal complex, which was transformed into a multi-area village featuring set designs, themed stalls, and performance spaces.
The program combined educational content—conferences and meetings with guests from the Italian esoteric and cultural scene, energy technique workshops led by Germana Lupi Baldi, and vibrational sound sessions for energy rebalancing—with an evening program of pure entertainment. Alongside the performances, the exhibition area brought together artisans, publishing houses, authors, comic book shops, and collectors, while the children's area, managed by Wawe Animazione, offered inflatables, games, face painting, and creative workshops.
Throughout the four days, there was no shortage of folkloric shows, fire performances, and street artists. The event recorded the presence of thousands of visitors from all over Campania and other Italian regions, confirming its status as one of the landmark events in the Sannio calendar. The "Le creazioni di Sara" association, created to honor a girl who passed away at sixteen, was also present, testifying to the event's charitable vocation.
Village opening from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM: inauguration of the exhibition area with crafts, publishing, comics, collectibles, and esoteric items, launch of the food and children's areas, first meetings, and street performances in the thermal park.
Antiche Terme Jacobelli, Telese Terme (BN), in Campania. The festival area occupies the park of the thermal complex.
By car: Telese Terme can be reached from the SS 372 "Telesina" road, which connects Benevento to the A1 motorway junction at Caianello. By train: the Telese–Cerreto Sannita railway station is located within the municipal territory and is served by regional connections with Benevento and Naples.
In the 2026 edition, the festival area remained open every day from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Admission conditions were not detailed by local sources: it is advisable to check the official "Janara Esoterismo e Magia" social media channels or call +39 351 745 9221.
The thermal park is large and mostly outdoors: comfortable shoes are recommended, and for late spring days, sun protection during the central hours. The concert evenings are the busiest times: it is better to arrive early to park without difficulty.
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