Music Festival – Guido Day
Arezzo celebrates Guido d'Arezzo and the International Award dedicated to musical excellence
About Guido Day
A day dedicated to the father of modern music
The Guido Day is the annual event where Arezzo, in the heart of the Arezzo province and eastern Tuscany, celebrates Guido d'Arezzo, the Benedictine monk who lived around the year 1000 and revolutionized music history by inventing the staff notation system and the names of the notes (ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la). It is no coincidence that the event takes place on June 21st, the summer solstice, which coincides with the Fête de la Musique throughout Italy and Europe, linking the city's historical identity to a widespread and popular celebration.
Between research, outreach, and early music
The day, hosted primarily in the evocative Sala di Giustizia of the Palazzo Vescovile in Piazza del Duomo, has both an academic and festive spirit. In the morning, scholars and musicologists from Italian and international universities engage in seminars and round tables on musical writing, pedagogy, and the Guidonian legacy; the afternoon is dedicated to exhibitions, the award ceremony, and concerts.
The symbolic heart of the event is the Guido d'Arezzo International Prize, established in 2016 thanks to the commitment of soprano Slavka Taskova-Paoletti, which is now a benchmark in the international musical scene. The award is presented, in the presence of authorities, to individuals and institutions that have distinguished themselves in the field of music and the promotion of musical culture.
A celebration for the city and musicians
- Seminars and lectures with speakers from international universities
- Exhibitions dedicated to the figure of Guido and musical notation
- Medieval and early music concerts performed with period instruments
- The International Prize award ceremony
Guido Day is organized by the Fondazione Guido d'Arezzo together with the Municipality of Arezzo, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Celebrations of the Millennium of Guidonian Notation. The event is free to attend, and the main sessions are broadcast via live streaming to reach scholars and enthusiasts far beyond the borders of the Tuscan city.
Guido Day — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Guido Day, the eleventh of the Guido d'Arezzo International Prize, takes place on Sunday, June 21, 2026, in the Sala di Giustizia of the Palazzo Vescovile in Arezzo. The day combines high-profile scientific moments — with scholars from international universities — with public-facing offerings such as the digital exhibition and the evening early music concert.
The Prize recognizes excellence in the relationship between art and territory and the promotion of musical culture. Admission is free, and the main events are broadcast live on the Fondazione Guido d'Arezzo YouTube channel.
Programme Guido Day 2026
Sunday, June 21, 2026 — Sala di Giustizia, Palazzo Vescovile
- 10:30 AM — Seminar "Professional training for musicians", with Jonathan Kuuskoski (University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance)
- 3:30 PM — Welcome remarks by authorities
- 4:00 PM — Inauguration of the digital exhibition "The Guidonian Hand: the first musical software", featuring touch-screen displays tracing images from the Middle Ages to the 17th century
- 4:30 PM — Award ceremony for the Guido d'Arezzo International Prize
- 5:00 PM — Lecture by Susan Forscher Weiss (Johns Hopkins University), followed by the round table "Voice, sign, and memory" with Marco Gozzi, Stefano Mengozzi, Luisa Nardini, and Angelo Rusconi
- 6:30 PM — Concert by the vocal-instrumental ensemble Murmur Mori, featuring medieval music performed with organetto, bells, and monochord
Highlights Guido Day 2026
Prices Guido Day 2026
Practical information — Guido Day
Getting there
Arezzo is well connected by train along the Florence–Rome line (Arezzo station, a few minutes' walk from the historic center). By car, it can be reached via the A1 motorway, Arezzo exit. The events take place in the heart of the city, between the Sala di Giustizia of the Palazzo Vescovile in Piazza del Duomo and other city venues.
Admission
Participation in Guido Day events is generally free. The digital exhibition is free for residents of the Municipality of Arezzo. The main sessions are broadcast live on the Fondazione Guido d'Arezzo YouTube channel.
Tips
Take advantage of your visit to discover the historic center of Arezzo, including Piazza Grande, the Basilica of San Francesco, and the frescoes by Piero della Francesca.
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Where does it take place — Guido Day
Sala di Giustizia del Palazzo Vescovile
Piazza del Duomo 1, 52100 Arezzo