Music Festival / European Music Festival
The grand festival that opens the Modena summer: over 40 free concerts throughout the city
About Music Festival
Three days of music to open the summer in Modena
The Music Festival is the event that, every year, marks the beginning of summer in the capital of the Province of Modena. It is the Modena iteration of the Fête de la Musique, born in France in 1982 and which became the European Music Festival throughout Europe: a great popular celebration that, around June 21st (the day of the solstice), transforms the city into a widespread and free stage. In Modena, the event has its roots in the eighties and is now coordinated by the Music Centre of the Municipality of Modena, involving dozens of music schools, conservatories, choirs, ensembles, and cultural associations.
The entire city as a stage
The heart of the festival is the extraordinary variety of locations: not just one big stage, but an entire city playing simultaneously. The Ducal Gardens, the Urban Forest, the cloisters of Santa Chiara and Palazzo Santa Margherita, the churches of San Domenico, San Biagio, San Bartolomeo, and Santa Maria delle Assi, the garden of the Duomo Museums, the Pavarotti-Freni Municipal Theatre, parks, squares, and courtyards of the historic center host dozens of events simultaneously.
A program for all tastes
The strength of the Modena Music Festival is its total openness to different genres and styles:
- Classical, baroque, and opera in churches and cloisters (baroque sonatas, chamber music, philharmonic choirs);
- Jazz, blues, and singer-songwriter music in courtyards and historic venues;
- Rock, indie, electronic, and psychedelic music at the Ducal Gardens and the Wave Music Arena;
- Gospel and spiritual music in the churches of the center;
- Traditional Emilian music and world music.
A free and participatory event
Almost all events are free admission, in line with the original spirit of the festival: bringing music to the streets and making it accessible to everyone. The event is part of the Modena City of Festivals program and inaugurates the Modena Summer season, packed with events that liven up the city until September. For the complete program and updated times, please refer to the Music Centre's website and its social media channels.
Music Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition confirms the widespread format that has made the Modena Music Festival famous: three days, dozens of locations, over 40 free concerts, and hundreds of musicians. It kicks off on Friday, June 19th, with the preview at the SuperCinema Estivo, leading up to the grand day on Sunday, June 21st, which invades the entire historic center, from baroque churches to city parks. The Ducal Gardens remain the beating heart, but music spreads throughout every district of Modena.
Programme Music Festival 2026
Friday, June 19th — Preview
- SuperCinema Estivo (Viale C. Sigonio), 10:00 PM — Live soundtrack for the silent film Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans by F.W. Murnau, with Filippo Cassanelli, Lorenza Ceregini, Erika Fumarola, Gabriele Rigo, Matteo Salzano, and special guest Karim Qqru (drummer for Lo Stato Sociale / Zen Circus). Ticketed admission.
Saturday, June 20th
- Ducal Gardens, 10:00 PM — LIKENIA presents Lamante + Eva Bloo (dark folk and electronic/techno), curated by the Music Centre and students of the Inside Live 2026 course.
- Wave Music Arena (Polisportiva Morane, Via Ancona 6), 7:00 PM — Blues Punk Night with Route 66, Hobo Pickers, and Keep Out, with open jam sessions.
Sunday, June 21st — The widespread festival
- Piazza Sant'Agostino, 9:30 PM — Cantautori su Marte presents Venerus, in conversation with Francesco Locane (inauguration of Modena Summer, artistic direction Corrado Nuccini).
- Church of San Domenico, 7:00 PM — Frignano Youth Orchestra (soundtracks, symphonic, rock, and pop).
- Church of San Biagio, 9:00 PM — Baroque Sonatas and Dances with Schola Bononiensis and Concentus Parmae (Bolognese repertoire of the 17th century: Corelli, Cazzati, Perti).
- Church of San Bartolomeo, 7:00 PM-9:30 PM — Baroque Vertigoes, Luigi Gazzotti Philharmonic Choir and instrumentalists from the Vecchi-Tonelli Conservatory on two historic organs.
- Church of Santa Maria delle Assi, 9:00 PM — Serial Singers Gospel Night, directed by Maestro Roberto Penta.
- Cloister of Santa Chiara, 9:00 PM — The Magic of the Sheng with Li-Chin Li (traditional Chinese and electronic music).
- Cloister of Palazzo Santa Margherita, 6:30 PM NonOrchestra (14-piece big band); 9:15 PM Trio Ciocaia, Di legno e di pelle (Emilian piva music).
- Garden of the Duomo Museums, 9:00 PM — chamber music with strings, winds, and piano (Schubert and Poulenc, Vecchi-Tonelli Conservatory).
- Ducal Gardens, 9:30 PM — Pip Carter and the Deads (rock and psychedelia).
- Cortile del Leccio, 9:00 PM — Giulio Stermieri Trio (African-American piano and electronics).
- Hangar Rosso Tiepido, 6:30 PM LowFaro (blues and dub); 9:15 PM Maurizio Leoni (baritone) and Claudia Rondelli (piano) with Ravel, Satie, Rossini, Verdi.
- Urban Forest, 6:30 PM — Euphonìa Showcase with Zoe's Acoustic Set, Sinagua, La Convalescenza, and The Shamblers.
- Wave Music Arena (Polisportiva Morane), 6:00 PM student performances; 7:30 PM Grida, The Nihilist, and Sharasad (rock and progressive).
- Piazza XX Settembre, 9:30 PM — Juno in concert. Via Taglio 9:00 PM The Checkmates. Corso Canalchiaro 9:00 PM Witchunters + Blackout. Parco Amendola 8:00 PM Tribute to Francesca.
- Teatro Comunale Pavarotti-Freni, 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM — free guided tours (booking at 059 2033010).
Full program, updated times, and any changes at www.musicplus.it.
Highlights Music Festival 2026
- Venerus in Piazza Sant'Agostino for the Cantautori su Marte series
- Live soundtrack for the silent film Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans by F.W. Murnau with Karim Qqru
- Pip Carter and the Deads at the Ducal Gardens
- Baroque sonatas in historic churches with Schola Bononiensis and Concentus Parmae
- Gospel music by Serial Singers in the church of Santa Maria delle Assi
Prices Music Festival 2026
Practical information — Music Festival
When
Around June 21st, the day of the summer solstice. In 2026, the festival takes place from Friday, June 19th to Sunday, June 21st.
How to get there
Modena is easily reachable by train (Modena station on the Milan-Bologna line, high-speed train just a few minutes away) and by car from the A1 motorway (Modena Nord or Sud exit) and the A22 Brenner motorway. The events are concentrated in the historic center, which is easily walkable.
Admission
Most concerts are free admission. Some special events (such as film soundtracks at the SuperCinema Estivo) may be ticketed.
Information
Centro Musica, 71MusicHub, Via Morandi 71, Modena. Tel. +39 059 2034810. Full program at www.musicplus.it and on the Music Centre's Facebook and Instagram profiles.
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Where does it take place — Music Festival
Centro storico di Modena (Giardini Ducali, chiese, piazze e parchi)
Via Morandi 71, 41121 Modena