OPEN Festival — Urban Theatre and Nouveau Cirque
Contemporary circus and street theatre in the squares of Mantua
About OPEN Festival
Contemporary Circus in the Square
OPEN Festival is organized by the Umberto Artioli Foundation — Mantua European Capital of Spectacle and is dedicated to urban theatre and contemporary circus (the "nouveau cirque"). Every June, it brings the extraordinary bodily poetry of new circus to the heart of Mantua, with shows combining acrobatics, juggling, clowning, and puppetry.
Squares as Stages
The shows take place in the squares and symbolic locations of the historic centre: Piazza Mantegna, Piazza Alberti, Piazza Erbe, the Rotonda di San Lorenzo, the Loggia del Grano, and other scattered spaces. Performances run from afternoon into the night, allowing the public to stroll from one square to another and discover different artists.
Companies from Around the World
The festival features about fifteen Italian and international companies from Chile, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Estonia, Brazil, China, Mexico, and other countries. With aerial acrobatics, fire shows, juggling, and mechanical theatre, OPEN offers dozens of free performances, as well as paid workshops for children and collateral events like urban walks.
Mantua, Capital of Spectacle
A city of theatre and music, Mantua (Province of Mantua) hosts one of the most popular and accessible events in its cultural calendar with OPEN Festival. The majority of shows being free and its street-based nature make it a truly city-wide celebration, capable of engaging families, children, and tourists.
OPEN Festival — edition 2026
The 8th edition of OPEN Festival animates Mantua from June 5 to 7, 2026, transforming the historic centre's squares into open-air stages. Acrobats, jugglers, clowns, and new circus artists perform in Piazza Mantegna, Piazza Alberti, Piazza Erbe, at the Rotonda di San Lorenzo, and in other scattered spaces.
The festival features over fifteen companies from around the world, with shows ranging from acrobatics to juggling, fire acts to mechanical theatre. Most performances are free; paid workshops for children and collateral events are also planned.
Programme OPEN Festival 2026
When and Where
From June 5 to 7, 2026, with shows running from the afternoon (from 3-5 PM) until late at night (around 11 PM) in the squares of the historic centre.
The Squares
- Piazza Mantegna
- Piazza Alberti
- Piazza Erbe
- Rotonda di San Lorenzo
- Loggia del Grano
The Companies
Over 15 Italian and international companies from Chile, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Estonia, Brazil, China, Mexico, and Italy, with acts of acrobatics, juggling, clowning, fire manipulation, and mechanical theatre.
Collateral Activities
- Free street shows
- Three paid workshops for children (ages 8-13)
- Collateral events, including urban walks
The complete program, with details of shows and times, is published on the official website mantovateatro.it.
Highlights OPEN Festival 2026
Prices OPEN Festival 2026
Practical information — OPEN Festival
When
From June 5 to 7, 2026.
Where
Squares and locations in the historic centre of Mantua: Piazza Mantegna, Piazza Alberti, Piazza Erbe, Rotonda di San Lorenzo, Loggia del Grano, and other spaces.
Admission
Most shows are free; children's workshops are paid.
How to Get There
Mantua is reachable by train and car (A22, Mantova Nord/Sud exits). The shows take place in the historic centre, which is easily walkable.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — OPEN Festival
Piazze del centro storico di Mantova
Piazza Mantegna, 46100 Mantova