Open Camp Fest
Two months of sports, cinema, books, and music at the Campo dei Monaci in San Giorgio del Sannio
About Open Camp Fest
Two months of sports, culture, and community at the Campo dei Monaci
From early June to the beginning of August, the Open Camp Fest turns the Campo dei Monaci in San Giorgio del Sannio, in the province of Benevento, into a large open-air square. This is not a festival concentrated into a single weekend; it is a sprawling program that, evening after evening, alternates screenings under the stars, sports tournaments, book launches, author talks, live music, and simple moments of social connection. The core idea, as stated by the organizers, is to give the community back a regenerated public space, opening it up to all ages and budgets.
The rebirth of Campo dei Monaci
The field was established in the 1970s as a recreational space for the orphanage next to the Santissima Annunziata convent of the Friars Minor. After difficult years, it was completely redeveloped thanks to approximately 700,000 euros in funding from the government's «Sport e Periferie» program and returned to life on September 27, 2025, with an inaugural open day and sports exhibitions. Today, it is a sports and social center designed to introduce sports to children from lower-income families: the Open Camp Fest marks its first full summer of cultural programming.
The Cinema of Courage, under the stars
The cinematic theme is the «Cinema of Courage» series, curated by the University for Peace of Campania: films that tell stories of freedom, justice, and social redemption, screened outdoors and always with free admission. Highlights include Clint Eastwood's «Invictus», starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, which recounts Nelson Mandela's vision for post-apartheid South Africa through the 1995 Rugby World Cup. On June 17, the field also hosted «Border Screens» for Refugee Week Italy 2026, dedicated to the theme of courage: the animated short «Migrants» by Hugo Caby and the feature film «Dreamers» by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, presented by the Mario Puzo Film Festival in collaboration with Second Tree and UNHCR.
Books, stories, and «Let's Lounge»
The literary component features presentations and author meetings, such as «Nostos – Journey into the folds of the soul» by Natalia Merola and «My name is Rugine» by Gianlivio Fasciano, a finalist for the 2026 Bancarella Prize. These are joined by thematic talks, including the recurring event «Let's Lounge: San Giorgio del Sannio tells its story», dedicated to the town's memories and history, the «Mountain Beauties» evening with the Lerka Minerka association, and an encounter promoted by the Sanniti Union, Genius Loci section.
Sports for all ages and the Summer Camp
Sport remains the soul of the venue. The program alternates exhibitions and activities open to anyone who wants to try: junior five-a-side soccer, touch rugby, archery for children and adults, amateur volleyball, table tennis, chess workshops, evening burraco tournaments, and the traditional «Friendship Match». In parallel, from June 8 to July 31, the Summer Camp managed by the Sannio Social Academy welcomes children and teenagers with sports activities, workshops, and outdoor games: a summer day camp by day, a cultural arena by night.
Live music and village evenings
Musical evenings are free and designed for an intergenerational audience, ranging from the Alpha Kronos tribute band to sets by the Sottotono Duo, as well as more convivial moments like the Montanara Festival with open karaoke, accompanied by local gastronomic products. It is the typical vibe of Sannio summers: music, simple food, and a full square.
A grassroots festival
- Program built in collaboration with local associations and entities
- Patronage of the Municipalities of San Giorgio del Sannio and San Nazzaro
- Management of the Summer Camp entrusted to Sannio Social Academy
- Free admission to screenings, presentations, and concerts
- Sports activities with free participation for children, adults, and families
In an inland Campania often only known for its food festivals, the Open Camp Fest proposes a different model: not a major blockbuster event, but a daily presence that keeps a space active for two months straight. For those visiting the Sannio region in summer, it is an opportunity to see firsthand how a town of just over nine thousand inhabitants manages to build a cultural agenda with its own resources.
Open Camp Fest — edition 2026
A whole summer, evening after evening
The 2026 edition is the first of the Open Camp Fest and stems from the desire to bring the Campo dei Monaci to life for two consecutive months, less than a year after its inauguration. The program was built together with local associations and entities, with the patronage of the Municipalities of San Giorgio del Sannio and San Nazzaro, in the province of Benevento.
The rhythm is twofold: by day, the Summer Camp managed by the Sannio Social Academy, active from June 8 to July 31 with sports activities, workshops, and outdoor games for children and teenagers; by night, screenings, talks, presentations, and concerts, all free of charge. The cinema is entrusted to the «Cinema of Courage» series, curated by the University for Peace of Campania, while literary evenings have brought authors from the Sannio region and beyond to the field.
The weekend of July 31 and August 1 served as the penultimate appointment, with Clint Eastwood's «Invictus», the special edition of «Let's Lounge» dedicated to local history, and the Montanara Festival with karaoke. The closing is scheduled for the following weekend, in early August.
Programme Open Camp Fest 2026
June
- June 8 – July 31 — Summer Camp: day camp with sports activities, workshops, and outdoor games, by Sannio Social Academy
- June 15-19, 6:30 PM — Junior five-a-side soccer exhibitions
- June 17, 8:30 PM — «Border Screens» for Refugee Week Italy 2026: «Migrants» by Hugo Caby (France, 2020, 8') and «Dreamers» by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor (UK, 2025, 78'), by Mario Puzo Film Festival with Second Tree and UNHCR
- June 20, 7:00 PM — Presentation of the book «Nostos – Journey into the folds of the soul» by Natalia Merola
July
- July 4 — Tribute musical evening with Alpha Kronos
- July 10, 8:30 PM — «Mountain Beauties» with the Lerka Minerka association: words, photography, and testimonies with Roberto Pellino and Giulio Martino, live music by Sottotono Duo
- July 31, 8:30 PM — «Cinema of Courage»: «Invictus» by Clint Eastwood, with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon
August
- August 1, 8:30 PM — «Let's Lounge» special edition: glimpses of local history
- August 1, from 9:30 PM — Montanara Festival and open karaoke, with local gastronomic products
- Following weekend — Closing events of the Open Camp Fest 2026
Scheduled throughout the two months
- Presentation of «My name is Rugine» by Gianlivio Fasciano, finalist for the 2026 Bancarella Prize
- «Let's Lounge: San Giorgio del Sannio tells its story», collective memory meetings
- Meeting promoted by the Sanniti Union, Genius Loci section
- Activities and tournaments: touch rugby, archery for children and adults, amateur volleyball, table tennis, chess workshops, evening burraco tournaments
- «Friendship Match» and friendly matches between local sports teams
The calendar was updated week by week by the organizers: for the latest appointments, it is best to check the official Campo dei Monaci channels.
Highlights Open Camp Fest 2026
- «Cinema of Courage» outdoors, curated by the University for Peace of Campania, with «Invictus» by Clint Eastwood
- «Border Screens» for Refugee Week Italy 2026, preview of the Mario Puzo Film Festival with Second Tree and UNHCR
- «Mountain Beauties» with Lerka Minerka and Sottotono Duo live
- Summer Camp from June 8 to July 31 for children and teenagers
- Montanara Festival with karaoke, August 1 from 9:30 PM
- Sports for all: touch rugby, archery, volleyball, table tennis, chess, and burraco
Prices Open Camp Fest 2026
Practical information — Open Camp Fest
How to get there
The Campo dei Monaci is located on Via San Francesco in San Giorgio del Sannio (BN), next to the Santissima Annunziata convent. By car: take the Benevento exit from the A16 Naples-Canosa motorway, then the SS 7 Appia towards Avellino, about 10 km from Benevento. By train: Benevento station, with bus connections to San Giorgio del Sannio.
Admission and rates
Screenings, book presentations, talks, and concerts are free of charge. Sports activities are open to all. The Summer Camp for children and teenagers requires registration; fees and forms are provided by the organizers.
Tips
Evening events usually start at 8:30 PM outdoors: bring a light sweater, as evenings in the inland Sannio region can get cool. It is advisable to arrive a few minutes early to find a seat. For overnight stays, the widest range of options is in Benevento, just a few kilometers away.
Information
Official website www.campodeimonaci.it, WhatsApp +39 348 9342572. The calendar is updated week by week: it is best to check the evening before.
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Where does it take place — Open Camp Fest
Campo dei Monaci
Via San Francesco, 82018 San Giorgio del Sannio