May Day - The NON-Work Festival (CSOA Forte Prenestino)

The NON-Work Festival at Forte Prenestino

Every May 1st, the CSOA Forte Prenestino, a historic occupied and self-managed social center in the Prenestino-Centocelle district of Rome, opens its doors for the NON-Work Festival: a full day of live music, art, debates, and conviviality that flips the meaning of May Day, transforming the traditional workers' holiday into a collective reflection on self-management and the rejection of exploitation. Born just a few years after the occupation of the fort, the event has become one of the most iconic and well-attended gatherings in the Roman underground scene.

A 19th-century fortress in the heart of Rome

The festival takes place inside Forte Prenestino, one of the fortresses of the entrenched camp built to defend Rome at the end of the 19th century, occupied since 1986. Its vast courtyards, long underground tunnels, and moats come alive with stages, markets, workshops, and popular kitchens, offering a setting unique in the entire Capital and the Lazio region. Throughout the day, guided tours are available to the evocative underground passages of the fortress, which tell the story of both the site's military past and its forty years of occupation.

Music on multiple stages

The musical program is the beating heart of the festival: two large stages set up in the fort's squares offer non-stop concerts and DJ sets ranging from punk, funk, reggae, and electronic to hip-hop and world music. These are joined by the famous Reggae Grove, an open-air space dedicated to offbeat rhythms with sound systems, selectors, and singers performing throughout the afternoon.

More than just concerts

Beyond the music, the NON-Work Festival features photographic and documentary exhibitions on the history of the social center, art workshops, self-produced goods, information stalls from local social and solidarity groups, spaces for children and families, and the essential popular kitchens managed by collectives, offering culinary delights from around the world. Admission is free, and the entire festival relies on self-financing and voluntary contributions.

A special edition for the 40th anniversary

In 2026, the festival reaches its 44th edition and coincides with 40 years of occupation and self-management of Forte Prenestino: a milestone celebrated with an exhibition dedicated to the collective memory of the site and a particularly rich program. It should be noted that the NON-Work Festival is distinct from other events hosted at the Fort throughout the year, such as Enotica, the No Oil Carnival, and the terraTERRA market.