Norbensis Festival — Folklore for the Peace of Peoples

A festival that makes Norma a city of folklore

The Norbensis Festival is the event that, every summer, brings the world within the walls of Norma, a small town in the Province of Latina, Lazio, suspended on the edge of the Lepini Mountains with a view that embraces the entire Pontine Plain down to the sea. Founded on July 22, 1995, by architect Fabio Massimo Filippi, the festival has grown to become one of the longest-running international folklore events in southern Lazio, recognized by the Italian Federation of Popular Traditions (FITP) and linked to the IOV World organization, affiliated with UNESCO.

The subtitle accompanying the event — folklore for the peace of peoples — is not just a formal phrase: it is the key to understanding the entire program. Groups arriving from countries far apart share the same stage, the same table, and the same streets for a week, and it is from this coexistence that the spirit of the event is born.

What to see during the evenings

The heart of the festival is the gala evenings, where each delegation presents its repertoire of songs, music, and traditional costumes. Alongside foreign guests, Italian groups from various regions perform — in recent years Sicily, Abruzzo, Molise, and Lazio — and naturally the Compagnia di Danza Popolare Norbensis, the local group, which showcases the choreographic heritage of the Lepini Mountains.

• International parade through the streets of the historic center, with all delegations in costume
• Inaugural ceremony and international meeting of the groups
• Dance and music evenings with guest groups, hosted by local broadcasters
• Ethnic market and food stalls from participating countries
• Popular games between nations and international 5-a-side football tournament
• Peace Mass, featuring the rites and songs of the guest groups
• Election of Miss and Mr Norbensis Festival
• Closing ceremony with the parade of all nations and the Arch. Fabio Massimo Filippi Award

More than just a festival: an association active all year round

Behind the event is the NORBENSIS APS association, which works in the area well beyond the days of August. The Norbensis Academy of Popular Art offers courses in accordion, tambourine, and traditional dance; the NORBAE Study Center conducts ethno-anthropological research and manages an ethnographic museum dedicated to the founder. Thanks to this continuous work, Norma has earned the recognition of City of Folklore, celebrated in July 2026 with the TraDay event, featuring conferences, free workshops, and a concert by Eugenio Bennato.

The festival within the Norma summer

The Norbensis Festival is the flagship event of the Norma Estate (Norma Summer) program, which fills the town from late May to September with concerts, theatrical performances, and food and wine evenings, many of which are hosted in the extraordinary setting of the Archaeological Park of Norba, the ancient Latin city with its mighty polygonal walls. Those who travel to Norma for the folklore will find a full calendar at their disposal, in addition to the caves of Norma, the trails of the Lepini Mountains, and the proximity to the villages of Sermoneta and Bassiano.

Atmosphere

It is a popular festival in the fullest sense of the term: admission is free, you sit next to local families, eat at affordable prices at the stalls, and almost always end up dancing with the guest groups at the end of the evenings. The local audience turnout is very high, but the welcome extended to visitors is a declared part of the event's identity.