NotteNera

An entire night dedicated to contemporary art

NotteNera is a festival unlike any other in the Marche region. For just one late summer night, the small village of Serra de' Conti, in the Province of Ancona, turns off its public lighting and embraces the darkness: not a darkness to fear, but a space for connection, for discovering others and other places. Through alleys, squares, cloisters, and courtyards of the historic centre, from sunset until late at night, a widespread programme comes to life, encompassing theatre, dance, music, animated film, visual arts, and performances.

An unconventional festival

NotteNera's choice is a conscious one: to be located in a small village far from the city spotlight, not to chase fleeting trends, not to focus on numbers or likes, but to prioritise artistic substance and complexity. The festival is designed as a participatory and organic experience, where attendees are not mere spectators but become part of a true architecture of emotions. Exhibitions and installations are spread across the most evocative locations in the village, from the Cloister of San Francesco to the monastic spaces, accompanied by an art tour guided by the artistic directors.

The 2026 Twentieth Anniversary

Born in 2006, NotteNera has grown edition after edition to become an identity-defining event for Serra de' Conti and the entire Vallesina area. On August 22, 2026, the festival will celebrate its first twenty years of existence: an important milestone for an event that has successfully combined artistic research with deep roots in the local community. Promoted by the Municipality of Serra de' Conti, the event is completely free and remains one of the most anticipated cultural moments of the Marche summer.

Not just NotteNera

Over the years, the festival has spawned initiatives for younger audiences, such as NotteNera Junior, an open-air creative workshop involving local schools with the Contro Campo Scuola project, and a series of summer previews hosted in neighbouring municipalities in the Vallesina. This demonstrates how NotteNera has become a cultural ecosystem, rather than a single event, capable of animating Serra de' Conti for a significant part of the summer.