Mascagni Festival

A tribute to Pietro Mascagni in his native Livorno

The Mascagni Festival is an annual opera and music event that pays tribute to Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945), the renowned Livorno-born composer of Cavalleria rusticana, in the heart of his hometown. Produced by the Teatro Goldoni Foundation and artistically directed by Marco Voleri, the festival takes place in Livorno, Tuscany, transforming city squares, theaters, and sites associated with the composer into an expansive, open-air stage.

The 2026 Edition: The 7th Annual Festival

The seventh edition will be held from August 19 to 23, 2026, with its main hub in Piazza Goldoni. The program weaves together grand operatic tradition with original experiments, confirming the festival's commitment to bridging memory and innovation.

• August 19-20 — A new production of Cavalleria rusticana, directed by Plamen Kartalov and conducted by Enrico Fagone, enriched for the first time by the participation of the Coro delle Mani Bianche and LIS (Italian Sign Language) interpretation to ensure full accessibility.
• August 21 — Mascagnane – Voci che resistono, a national premiere concert-reading featuring Veronica Pivetti.
• August 22 — Cavaller-IA rusticana, a project by Marco Voleri that blends live music with generative algorithms.
• August 23 — Soundtrack Mascagni: the music that inspired cinema, co-produced with the Teatro Mercadante of Cerignola, with narration by Maurizio Nichetti.

The Mascagni Award and Guests of Honor

The symbolic heart of the event is the Mascagni Award, presented to distinguished opera performers. In 2026, the award will be given to the legendary mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto, a special guest at the opening night of Cavalleria rusticana. Over the years, the festival has hosted artists such as Giancarlo Giannini, Elio, and Max Gazzé, building a bridge between opera enthusiasts and a broader audience of music and entertainment lovers.

The Mascagni Landmarks

Beyond Piazza Goldoni, the festival highlights iconic sites in the city: the Terrazza Mascagni overlooking the sea, the Antignano seafront, and the Santuario di Montenero, where a preparatory event on June 20, 2026, will feature Mascagni's Messa di Gloria. The festival also takes the composer's music beyond the city limits through a widespread project involving municipalities along the Livorno coast.

Why attend

The Mascagni Festival is the perfect opportunity to discover the legacy of one of Italy's most beloved composers in the very places that inspired his art. With a mix of opera, sunset concerts, and productions that engage with the contemporary world, the event offers a high-level cultural experience immersed in the summer atmosphere of Livorno and the Tuscan coast.