Malatesta Court — Court on Stage
Fano's summer culture between prose, music, opera and dance under the stars
About Malatesta Court
An open-air theatre in the heart of Fano
As the evenings lengthen, Fano's Malatesta Court transforms into the city's cultural hub. Enclosed by the 15th-century walls commissioned by the Malatesta lordship, this arcaded courtyard becomes a captivating open-air theatre each summer, seating around 600 spectators, complete with a equipped stage and a roof. It hosts the Corte in Scena festival. This is the summer event of the Fondazione Teatro della Fortuna, organised in collaboration with the Municipality of Fano and AMAT (Marchigiana Association of Theatrical Activities), extending the season of the renowned city theatre under the stars.
A multidisciplinary programme
From June 2nd to August 25th, 2026, sixteen performances will take place, spanning various genres to appeal to every type of spectator. Prose performances feature leading actors such as Alessandro Preziosi, Ambra Angiolini, and Flora Canto. Symphonic music is presented by the Gioachino Rossini Symphony Orchestra, alongside musical tributes, candlelit concerts, gospel, contemporary dance, opera, and shows designed for families.
- Author's prose with major names in Italian theatre and performance
- Symphonic concerts by the Rossini Orchestra, a jewel of the Marche's musical tradition
- Tributes to icons of Italian and international music
- Opera, rediscovering the operatic heritage
- Family shows and contemporary dance
The Malatesta setting
The Malatesta Court is one of Fano's symbolic landmarks, a city in the Province of Pesaro and Urbino on the Adriatic coast in the Marche region. Attending a performance within these walls means experiencing culture in a unique historical context, where Renaissance architecture serves as a natural backdrop for the artists. The festival traditionally opens with a major free event promoted by the Culture Department of the Municipality of Fano and concludes with opera performances at the end of August.
Why it's worth it
Corte in Scena is more than just a summer season; it's Fano's way of telling its story, blending major national talents with local projects in a refined and accessible calendar. For visitors to the Marche Riviera during the summer, it's an opportunity to alternate beach time with the excitement of live performances, all within one of the most beautiful courtyards in the Marche.
Malatesta Court — edition 2026
The 2026 season of the Malatesta Court confirms the multidisciplinary vocation of the Corte in Scena festival, with sixteen events spread between June and August. The direction is by the Fondazione Teatro della Fortuna, in collaboration with the Municipality of Fano and AMAT.
The programme blends nationally renowned prose, concerts by the Gioachino Rossini Symphony Orchestra, candlelit musical tributes, gospel, contemporary dance, and opera, in a balance designed for the summer audience of the Marche Riviera.
Programme Malatesta Court 2026
June 2 - Concert for the 80th Anniversary of the Republic
- Gioachino Rossini Symphony Orchestra and Children's Choir — free opening concert, promoted by the Culture Department (6:30 PM, numbered seats available at the box office)
June
- June 19 — Alessandro Preziosi in Prometeo (prose, with live electronics by Paky de Maio)
- June 23 — Homage to Ennio Morricone, Fanum Fortunae Wind Orchestra with Claudio Pacifici as narrator (candlelit concert, proceeds to charity)
July
- July 1 — Spirito in musica – Beethoven Cycle, G. Rossini Symphony Orchestra, Gaetano Di Bacco on saxophone, conducted by Daniele Agiman
- July 8 — Gladiator – The Music of the Blockbusters, G. Rossini Symphony Orchestra (for Fano dei Cesari)
- July 21 — Ambra Angiolini in La misteriosa scomparsa di W (text by Stefano Benni, directed by Ambra Angiolini)
- July 22 — 30 Years of Gospel, Fano Gospel Choir with special guest Trini Massie Lopez
August
- August 1 — The Muse Fam in Shakespeare, contemporary dance (artistic director Michele Antonio D'Apote)
- August 5 — Flora Canto in Me la canto e me la sogno… ancora, with Salvatore Russo, directed by Pierluigi Iorio
- August 8 — Mamma Mia! – Homage to ABBA, with Clarissa Vichi and Valentina Ariemma, narrated by Claudio Salvi
- August 11 — The Jungle Book, Gruppo Panta Rei (family theatre, 9:30 PM; text by Barbara Scalco, directed by Paolo Bergamo)
- August 20 — Lumina – Homage to Fabrizio De André, candlelit concert with Valerio Valerii and Alessio Frantoni
- August 23 — Il laboratorio del Belcanto, G. Rossini Symphony Orchestra (opera, 6:30 PM)
- August 25 — La donna selvaggia by Carlo Coccia, opera directed by Enrico Lombardi (8:30 PM)
Highlights Malatesta Court 2026
Prices Malatesta Court 2026
Practical information — Malatesta Court
Where
Malatesta Court, Piazza Costanzi, historic centre of Fano (PU). The area is easily accessible on foot from the main city squares.
How to get there
By train: Fano station on the Adriatic line, a few minutes from the centre. By car: take the Fano exit from the A14 motorway, then park in the historic centre. By plane: Ancona-Falconara and Rimini airports are nearby.
Tickets
Tickets and season tickets for prose performances can be purchased from the Teatro della Fortuna box office and AMAT. The opening event is free admission with numbered seats to be collected at the box office. It is advisable to check prices and availability for each event on the official website.
Tip
Performances are held outdoors: bring a light jacket for cooler evenings and arrive a little early to enjoy the courtyard setting.
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Where does it take place — Malatesta Court
Corte Malatestiana
Piazza Costanzi, 61032 Fano