Melfi International Festival of Art and Culture

Art and Culture in the Frederickian City

In historic Melfi, the symbolic city of Frederick II's kingdom, the International Festival of Art and Culture comes to life. It is a multidisciplinary event that intertwines artistic languages, historical memory, and new visions of the territory. Promoted by the association Officina Mediterranea of Avigliano, the festival reaches its third edition in 2026, hosted in the evocative Sala degli Stemmi of the Palazzo Vescovile.

The 'Under the Same Sky' Competition

The heart of the event is the 'Under the Same Sky' competition, open to a plurality of creative expressions: poetry, narrative, short stories, essays, painting, illustration, artistic craftsmanship, photography, comics, theatre, monologues, performances, and short films. A broad and inclusive format that invites artists and authors to engage with a common vision of dialogue and cultural openness, in line with the Mediterranean spirit of the organizing association.

Frederick II and 'Stupor Mundi'

The 2026 edition dedicates an in-depth study to the figure of Frederick II and 'Stupor Mundi', curated by historians Enrico Fagnano and Angelo Lacerenza, who recount his multicultural vision and deep connection with Melfi, where the emperor promulgated the famous Constitutions. The testimonial for the day is the actor Ulderico Pesce, a well-known voice in Italian civil theatre.

A Festival for the Territory

With award ceremonies, historical reflections, and artistic moments, the Melfi International Festival of Art and Culture offers an opportunity for encounter and valorization of the creative energies of Basilicata and beyond. Free admission makes it an accessible event for everyone, in the name of culture as a shared asset.