Mercurio Festival – Orbite

What is Orbite di Mercurio

Orbite is the special section of the Mercurio Festival, a performing arts showcase in Palermo that stands out as one of the first multidisciplinary Italian festivals directed by the artists themselves. As the name suggests, Orbite stems from the desire to expand the orbit of the festival: a meeting space that strengthens dialogue with other cultural entities in the Sicilian capital and across the island, connecting diverse artists, festivals, and communities. The core belief is that culture grows primarily through the sharing of visions, practices, and languages.

Where and when

The Orbite events take place from June 12 to 25, 2026, at Spazio Franco, located within the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa (Via Paolo Gili 4), one of the most vibrant hubs of Palermo's independent scene. The former Officine Ducrot, repurposed as a space for contemporary arts, hosts theatre, dance, performance, and visual arts every year, serving as a natural backdrop for a section designed as a bridge between the local public and contemporary stage research.

The 2026 Program

The Orbite lineup features three main events:

• Mezzi sogni d'estate. Ovvero la crudelissima morte di Piramo e Tisbe (June 12-14) – a theatrical production that opens the section, staged at Spazio Franco.
• Studi per M by Stefania Tansini (June 19, 9:15 PM) – a choreographic project bringing one of the most acclaimed voices of Italian contemporary dance to Palermo.
• Roberto Baggio by Davide Enia (June 25, 9:00 PM) – the monologue with which the Palermitan author and actor closes the festival, transforming the champion's name into a gateway to a generational imagery made of childhood, popular myths, and theatrical language.

A festival directed by artists

Orbite is an integral part of the Mercurio Festival, conceived and curated by Giuseppe Provinzano and organized by ALTRO. and Spazio Franco with the support of numerous partners from the Palermo cultural network. The distinctive feature of the event is the direct involvement of artists in the artistic direction of each edition, with a passing of the torch between performers from previous years. Orbite thus anticipates the eighth edition of the festival, expected in the Sicilian capital at the end of September.

Why attend

For those visiting Palermo in June, Orbite di Mercurio is the perfect opportunity to discover the city's contemporary performing arts scene in a venue with a strong identity like the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa. Intimate shows, accessible ticket prices, and a cozy atmosphere make this section an ideal entry point to contemporary theatre and dance in Sicily.