MICfest – Music in the Castle

A widespread festival that crosses Emilia and beyond

Born in 2003, MICfest – Music in the Castle is one of the longest-running and most beloved summer festivals in northern Italy. In 2026, reaching its XXIII edition, the festival presents itself with a new "sound soul": no longer just a season of concerts, but a large widespread festival that from June 12 to September 11, 2026, brings culture to the most evocative places in the region. In total, there are 48 events, 68 international artists, and 38 municipalities involved across 8 provinces in Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, and Tuscany (Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Cremona, Mantua, Massa Carrara, and La Spezia).

The Castell'Arquato stop

Among the villages hosting the festival is Castell'Arquato, a medieval jewel of the Val d'Arda in the province of Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna. Here, the event is scheduled for Monday, June 29, 2026, at 9:30 PM, at the Parco delle Driadi (viale Rimembranze). The star of the evening is Riccardo Rossi, a historic face of Italian comedy, actor, voice actor, and performer beloved by the public, who presents the show "Una comicità da urlo": everyday humor made of sharp observations, theatrical rhythm, and great narrative skill, accompanied live on piano and double bass. In case of bad weather, the show will move to PalArquato.

Four sections, one spirit

MICfest is divided into four thematic sections that coexist throughout the summer: MIC Jazz, MIC Theatre, MIC Books, and MIC Stories dedicated to children and families. The common thread is the encounter between different languages — jazz and storytelling, theatre and music, dissemination and live performance — offered in castles, squares, historic villas, and parks. Among the big names of the 2026 season are Stefano Bollani, Fabrizio Bosso with the Toscanini Academy Big Band, Giuliano Palma, Frida Bollani Magoni, the Shai Maestro Quartet, and the Texans Vandoliers.

A free and solidarity event

All festival events are free admission, without reservation, true to the vocation of a popular and accessible festival that has characterized Music in the Castle since its origins. The artistic direction is entrusted to Enrico Grignaffini, while the organization is handled by the Associazione Piccola Orchestra Italiana APS. In 2026, the festival also renews its social commitment in support of Emergency.