Monfortinjazz

Monfortinjazz: Fifty years of music in the Langhe

Established in 1976, Monfortinjazz is one of Piedmont's longest-running and most beloved music festivals. Every summer, the village of Monforte d'Alba, in the Province of Cuneo, transforms into an open-air stage that draws fans from all over Italy and abroad. Organized by the Monfortearte Odv Association in collaboration with Ponderosa Music & Arts, the festival has established itself over the years as a cornerstone of the Piedmontese cultural summer.

The Horszowski Auditorium: An amphitheater among the Barolo hills

The heart of the festival is the Horszowski Auditorium, a stunning natural amphitheater carved into the upper part of the medieval village, dedicated to pianist Mieczysław Horszowski, who held memorable concerts right here. Its tiered seating and natural acoustics, combined with views over the Barolo wine hills, offer a rare listening experience, suspended between music and the landscape of the Langhe, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The 50th Anniversary Program (2026)

The 2026 edition celebrates the festival's half-century with a broad international lineup spanning pop, jazz, and singer-songwriter genres. Confirmed headliners include:

• Tony Hadley (June 26) — The voice of Spandau Ballet opens the festival
• Stefano Bollani & Enrico Rava (July 3) — A meeting between two masters of Italian jazz
• Paolo Fresu "Heroes" (July 18) — A tribute to David Bowie
• L'Antidote Trio (July 19)
• Suzanne Vega (July 24) — "Flying With Angels Tour 2026"
• Kings of Convenience (July 26)
• Vinicio Capossela (August 2) — "30 years of Il Ballo di San Vito", closing concert

Wall of Sound 20.0: The Guido Harari exhibition

Accompanying the concerts from June 26 to August 2 is the photography exhibition "Wall of Sound 20.0" by photographer Guido Harari, hosted in the spaces of the Confraternita di Sant'Agostino: a gallery of portraits dedicated to great international musicians, providing the perfect visual counterpoint to the live program.

A festival in the Langhe territory

Experiencing Monfortinjazz also means discovering Monforte d'Alba and its surroundings: one of the most beautiful villages in Piedmont, surrounded by Barolo vineyards, just a few kilometers from Alba and the lower Langa. It is the perfect opportunity to combine great music, fine food and wine, and breathtaking scenery in one of the most fascinating areas of the Piedmont region.