Novi Music Festival
The free concert series of the Municipality of Novi di Modena
About Novi Music Festival
A month of free music
The Novi Music Festival is one of the most anticipated cultural events in the Municipality of Novi di Modena, in the lower plain of the province of Modena, in Emilia-Romagna. Founded in 2023, the festival is promoted by the Municipal Culture Office in collaboration with the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Carpi, and has quickly established itself as a regular fixture on the winter calendar, capable of attracting a loyal audience thanks to a simple and winning formula: high-level concerts, all with free admission.
A review designed for everyone
The review unfolds over a series of Saturday evenings between the end of February and the end of March, with concerts usually starting at 8:45 PM. Artistic direction is entrusted to pianist and composer Massimo Malavasi, who each year curates a deliberately diverse program: jazz dialogues with the accordion, great sacred music meets chamber repertoire, romantic violin alternates with contemporary music. The stated goal is to promote musical culture in the area and introduce even non-enthusiasts to genres that rarely find space in small towns.
The festival venues
The heart of the festival is the Ezio Ferraresi Civic Hall, in Piazza 1° Maggio in Novi di Modena, but the review is itinerant and involves other spaces in the Municipality: the Tina Zuccoli Civic Hall in the hamlet of Rovereto sulla Secchia and the evocative Church of Sant'Antonio in Mercadello, chosen particularly for sacred and baroque music concerts. This choice enhances the entire municipal territory and its hamlets, bringing music even to the smallest locations.
Why it's worth it
In a territory marked by reconstruction after the 2012 earthquake, the Novi Music Festival represents a strong signal of cultural vitality. The free admission to all events, combined with the quality of the offerings and the variety of genres, makes it a precious opportunity for those who love live music without economic barriers. It is a community-sized festival, but with an artistic level that is second to none compared to events in larger cities.
Novi Music Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Novi Music Festival celebrated the festival's fourth year with an expanded program of five concerts, all with free admission and starting at 8:45 PM. The review, promoted by the Municipality of Novi di Modena in collaboration with the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Carpi, confirmed its itinerant format across Novi, Rovereto sulla Secchia, and Mercadello.
The program ranged from Romagna singer-songwriter music to jazz with accordion, from Mozart's Requiem to romantic violin, and finally to the contemporary music of artistic director Massimo Malavasi.
Programme Novi Music Festival 2026
Saturday, February 28 — Tina Zuccoli Civic Hall, Rovereto sulla Secchia
- 8:45 PM — Luisa Cottifogli (vocals) and Gabriele Bombardini (guitar) in «Rumì, viaggio in una Romagna incantata», a project finalist at the Tenco Prize and winner of the Imola in Musica award.
Saturday, March 7 — Ezio Ferraresi Civic Hall, Novi di Modena
- 8:45 PM — Fuccelli Fisarmony Jazz Quintet with Sara Moretti in «Il Jazz incontra la fisarmonica» (Jazz Meets the Accordion).
Saturday, March 14 — Church of Sant'Antonio, Mercadello
- 8:45 PM — Coro Estudiantina of Cremona performs W.A. Mozart's «Messa da Requiem».
Saturday, March 21 — Ezio Ferraresi Civic Hall, Novi di Modena
- 8:45 PM — Alessio Bidoli (violin) and Luigi Moscatello (piano) in «Il violino romantico» (Romantic Violin).
Saturday, March 28 — Ezio Ferraresi Civic Hall, Novi di Modena
- 8:45 PM — Massimo Malavasi (composer and piano) with the Armonya Nova Ensemble in «Nuovi intrecci sonori» (New Sound Intertwining).
Highlights Novi Music Festival 2026
Prices Novi Music Festival 2026
Practical information — Novi Music Festival
Where it takes place
Concerts are mainly held in the Ezio Ferraresi Civic Hall (Piazza 1° Maggio 19, Novi di Modena), the Tina Zuccoli Civic Hall in Rovereto sulla Secchia, and the Church of Sant'Antonio in Mercadello.
How to get there
Novi di Modena is located in the lower Modena area, about 30 km from Modena and a few kilometers from Carpi. It is easily accessible by car from the Via Emilia and from the A22 motorway exits (Carpi-Reggiolo). The nearest train station is Carpi, which is connected to Modena.
Admission and times
Admission to all concerts is free. Performances start at 8:45 PM. For information: Municipal Culture Office, tel. +39 059 6789111, [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Novi Music Festival
Sala Civica Ezio Ferraresi
Piazza 1° Maggio 19, 41016 Novi di Modena