Mittelfest

The Mitteleuropa Festival

Founded in 1991, Mittelfest is one of the most prestigious festivals on the Italian and European cultural scene. Every summer, the ducal city of Cividale del Friuli becomes a crossroads of languages and cultures, hosting artists, companies, and musicians from Central European countries and around the world. Theatre, music, dance, and circus blend into a multidisciplinary programme that makes Cividale, for ten days, a privileged observatory of contemporary creativity.

A Theme to Interpret the Present

Mittelfest's distinctive feature is its annual theme: a keyword around which the entire programme is built, chosen to question the present and connect the stories, conflicts, and experiences of the Central European peoples. Each edition thus becomes a journey of meaning that unfolds across the city's stages, churches, squares, and courtyards.

World Premieres and Major Guests

Mittelfest has always been a showcase for world and national premieres and a meeting point for internationally renowned artists: directors, actors, choreographers, musicians, and companies who create original productions specifically for the festival. Alongside the big names, ample space is dedicated to new generations, particularly with the MittelYoung section for under-30s.

The Festival Venues

The charm of Mittelfest also stems from its venues: performances come alive in Piazza Duomo, the Teatro Adelaide Ristori, churches, cloisters, and the most evocative corners of Cividale, a Lombard city and UNESCO World Heritage site. The dialogue between contemporary art and historical heritage is one of the festival's most recognisable traits.

A Project Supported by the Region

Promoted by the Mittelfest Association with the support of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the Municipality of Cividale del Friuli, and numerous institutional partners, Mittelfest is much more than a review: it is a cultural project that, through initiatives like Mittelland and training courses, intertwines the arts with the life of the region, strengthening the European vocation of Cividale and Friuli.