Ravenna Festival at the Pavaglione of Lugo
The great evenings of the Ravenna Festival under the 18th-century loggia of the Pavaglione
About Ravenna Festival in Lugo
The Ravenna Festival arrives in Lugo
For several years now, the Ravenna Festival, one of Italy's most important cultural events, has been bringing part of its programme outside the provincial capital, to Lugo, a town in Bassa Romagna in the province of Ravenna, in Emilia-Romagna. The chosen venue is the Pavaglione, the imposing quadrilateral loggia built between 1771 and 1784 to a design by architect Giuseppe Campana: a covered market square measuring over 130 metres on the long sides, which for a few evenings transforms into a large open-air theatre.
A review marked by cross-pollination
The Lugo evenings of the Ravenna Festival are distinguished by their openness to different genres and languages. In the same place, a night of electronic music with a Detroit techno maestro, a symphonic concert built around the voice of a great theatre actor, and the new generation of Italian singer-songwriters accompanied by an orchestra can follow one another. It is this variety that makes the Lugo dates one of the most anticipated events of the festival.
The Ravenna Festival and its identity
Founded in 1990 and deeply linked to the figure of conductor Riccardo Muti and the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra, the Ravenna Festival is a summer event that spans classical and contemporary music, theatre, dance, and spoken word, with a different theme each year. Its programme unfolds in numerous locations throughout the Ravenna area, and the dates at Lugo's Pavaglione represent one of its most beloved extensions for the Romagna public.
The Pavaglione, a monument that becomes a stage
The heart of Lugo's civic life, the Pavaglione hosts markets, fairs, and events all year round, but it is during the festival evenings that it reveals its spectacular vocation. The name derives from the Latin papilio, in memory of the ancient silk cocoon market once held there. Attending a concert under its arches means combining great music with the discovery of one of Romagna's most characteristic architectural heritage sites.
Ravenna Festival in Lugo — edition 2026
The Lugo dates of the Ravenna Festival 2026 are part of the 37th edition of the event, titled 'Nacque al mondo un sole' (Dante's words) and dedicated to the figure of St. Francis of Assisi, in dialogue with themes of peace, sustainability, and cultural exchange. The festival, directed in the spirit of the tradition linked to Riccardo Muti and the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra, takes place from May 21 to July 11, 2026, in numerous locations throughout the Ravenna area.
The Pavaglione in Lugo hosts three very different events in terms of style: an electronic night, an evening of symphonic cinema and spoken word, and a concert of new Italian singer-songwriter music. The evenings confirm the festival's commitment to cross-pollination between genres and generations.
Programme Ravenna Festival in Lugo 2026
Friday, June 26 — 9:30 PM
- Jeff Mills presents 'Tomorrow Comes the Harvest', with Jean-Phi Dary (and guests). The Detroit techno pioneer brings his sonic ritual, born from collaboration with drummer Tony Allen, to the Pavaglione: a hypnotic dialogue between machines, keyboards, and Afrobeat rhythms.
Saturday, June 27 — 9:30 PM
- Nicola Piovani conducts the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra in 'Padre Cicogna', a symphonic narration with the voice of Toni Servillo, based on the Neapolitan poem of the same name by Eduardo De Filippo (1969).
Sunday, June 28 — 9:30 PM
- Emma Nolde in concert with the La Corelli Orchestra, conducted and arranged by Carmelo Emanuele Patti: one of the most recognizable voices of the new Italian singer-songwriter scene, following her album Nuovospaziotempo.
- The evening opens with Giulia Mei & Band presenting 'Io della musica non ci ho capito niente'.
Highlights Ravenna Festival in Lugo 2026
Prices Ravenna Festival in Lugo 2026
Practical information — Ravenna Festival in Lugo
How to get there
The Pavaglione is located in the historic centre of Lugo, overlooking Piazza dei Martiri della Libertà. By car: the reference motorway exit is on the A14 (Bologna-Ancona), then provincial roads towards Lugo. By train: Lugo station on the Castel Bolognese-Lavezzola line, a short walk from the centre.
Tickets
Tickets for the evenings at the Pavaglione can be purchased through the Ravenna Festival ticket office and the Vivaticket platform. For information: [email protected], tel. +39 0544 249244.
Tips
The shows are held in the evening, usually at 9:30 PM: it is advisable to arrive in advance. As it is an outdoor venue under the loggia, it is advisable to consider the weather conditions.
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 — Ravenna Festival in Lugo
Pavaglione di Lugo
Piazza dei Martiri della Libertà, 48022 Lugo