Musicultura – Festival of Popular and Author Song
The festival of Italian author song, in Macerata
About Musicultura
A festival that gives voice to the new author song
Founded in 1990, Musicultura is one of the longest-running and most respected Italian festivals dedicated to popular and author song. Based in the Municipality of Macerata, the capital of the province of the same name in the Marche region, the festival has established itself as a true talent incubator: each year, a panel of experts selects eight finalist artists from hundreds of applications from across Italy, who then perform live before the large audience at the Arena Sferisterio.
The final nights at the Sferisterio
The festival's climax is the final nights, hosted in the evocative neoclassical monument of the Arena Sferisterio. Here, the eight winners of the year present their original songs, while the audience in the arena, through their votes, decides the overall winner, who receives a significant financial award. The evenings are enhanced by the presence of major guests from Italian and international music and are traditionally broadcast by national radio, giving the festival a reach that extends far beyond regional borders.
La Controra: the fringe festival in the historic centre
Alongside the competition, La Controra is the fringe festival that enlivens Macerata's historic centre for five days. Courtyards, squares, historic buildings, and public spaces become stages for concerts, meetings with authors and artists, book presentations, readings, and discussions on contemporary music and culture. Almost all of La Controra's events are free admission, making the festival an accessible experience deeply connected to the city.
A musical tradition in the Marche
- Author Song: the festival celebrates the writing, lyrics, and originality of the new generation of Italian singer-songwriters.
- Macerata, capital of music: for a few days, the city in the Marche becomes a meeting point for musicians, writers, journalists, and enthusiasts.
- Widespread culture: the Sferisterio and the historic centre are integrated into a journey that combines major events with intimate moments.
Participating in Musicultura means discovering the Italian music of tomorrow in a historically and culturally fascinating setting, within the walls and squares of one of the most evocative art cities in the Marche.
Musicultura — edition 2026
Musicultura 2026: La Controra and the Sferisterio finals
The 2026 edition of Musicultura brings five days of music and culture to Macerata. La Controra (June 16-20) enlivens the historic centre with free admission events: on June 16 and 17, the eight competition winners perform in two concerts at the Banca Macerata Arena in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, hosted by John Vignola, with appearances by Paola Turci and Francesco Sarcina. Guests announced for La Controra also include Fabio Concato, Giampaolo Morelli, Susanna Nicchiarelli, Ermanno Cavazzoni, and the 2025 winners Ibisco and Abat-Jour.
The final nights
The grand finale at the Arena Sferisterio takes place on June 19 and 20: on stage, alongside the eight finalists, will be guests such as Planet Funk, Brunori Sas, Tosca, Ron, Santamarea, Maria Antonietta & Colombre. At the end of the two evenings, the audience in the arena will decide the absolute winner.
Programme Musicultura 2026
La Controra (June 16-20, historic centre, free admission)
- June 16 – Banca Macerata Arena, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 9:15 PM: first concert by the eight winners, hosted by John Vignola, guest Paola Turci
- June 17 – Banca Macerata Arena, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 9:15 PM: second concert by the eight winners, hosted by John Vignola, guest Francesco Sarcina
- June 16-20 – talks, concerts, readings, and guests in courtyards, squares, and historic locations in the centre (Fabio Concato, Giampaolo Morelli, Stefano Dal Bianco, Ermanno Cavazzoni, Gloria Bellicchi, Susanna Nicchiarelli, Brunori Sas, Tosca, Ibisco, Abat-Jour)
Final nights (Arena Sferisterio)
- June 19: eight finalists with Planet Funk, Brunori Sas, Maria Antonietta & Colombre, Giampaolo Morelli
- June 20: eight finalists with Tosca, Ron, Santamarea, Riccardo Rossi
Highlights Musicultura 2026
- XXXVII edition of the festival
- La Controra: five days of free events in the historic centre
- Final night guests: Planet Funk, Brunori Sas, Tosca, Ron, Santamarea
- Audience vote for the absolute winner at the Sferisterio
Prices Musicultura 2026
Practical information — Musicultura
Getting there
By car: take the Macerata exit from the SS77 highway (Civitanova-Foligno), then follow signs for the centre. By train: Macerata station, connected to the Civitanova Marche-Albacina line. By plane: Ancona-Falconara Marche Airport, about 50 km away.
Tickets
Events in La Controra in the historic centre are free admission. For the final nights at the Arena Sferisterio, tickets are on sale at the Teatri di Macerata ticket office and online via Vivaticket.
Tips
It is advisable to book accommodation in advance: Macerata and its surroundings experience high visitor numbers during the festival. The historic centre is pedestrianized; wear comfortable shoes for moving between the various event venues.
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Where does it take place — Musicultura
Arena Sferisterio / Centro storico