Rieti European Music Festival
A week of free concerts in the heart of Central Italy
About European Music Festival
Rieti in the European music circuit
The European Music Festival began as a continental event tied to the summer solstice and June 21st, and in Rieti, it has found one of the longest-running expressions in the Lazio region. In the capital of the Province of Rieti, the festival has grown into a full week of free-entry concerts, drawing families, enthusiasts, and passersby into the historic center, allured by the music spilling out from open doorways.
The heart of the festival: Piazza San Rufo
The event's headquarters is the Church of San Rufo and the square of the same name, a symbolic site for the city as it is marked as the Center of Italy. The church's acoustics are particularly suited for choral and chamber music, while the square hosts open-air performances during the busiest evenings: two complementary spaces that allow for a blend of intimacy and conviviality throughout the day.
Organizers
The festival is curated by Musikologiamo APS, a Rieti-based association active since 1997, which has promoted the European Music Festival in Rieti and its province since 2006. The most recent edition was supported by the Fondazione Varrone - Cassa di Risparmio di Rieti and the Fondo Edifici di Culto of the Ministry of the Interior, which provided the church as a concert venue.
A choral and instrumental program
The lineup reflects the musical vitality of the Rieti area and features a diverse range of performers:
- City and association choirs: from the CAI Choir of Rieti to the Rieti Canta choral group, and the Orpheus Choir, one of the most acclaimed ensembles in the Sabina region.
- Young instrumentalists: flute students from courses directed by Maestro Sandro Sacco, often accompanied by piano, showcasing the educational work behind the festival.
- Piano recitals: afternoon concerts that open the evenings and provide a stage for emerging performers.
- Chamber and folk music: guitar and flute duos, acoustic trios, and folk-inspired groups typically close the week.
What to expect
This is not a festival of massive stages and long queues: it is a local celebration where the audience consists largely of locals who know the musicians on stage, yet visitors are welcomed without formality. Concerts are concentrated between late afternoon and evening, when the heat subsides and the historic center becomes pleasantly walkable.
Rieti and the Sabina region
Attending the festival is a great way to discover a city often overlooked by mainstream Lazio itineraries: the medieval walls, the Roman bridge, the underground chambers of the Episcopal Palace, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria can be visited in just a few hours. Nearby, the Way of St. Francis and the sanctuaries of the Rieti Holy Valley—Fonte Colombo, Greccio, La Foresta, Poggio Bustone—offer day trips that pair perfectly with an evening of music in the city center.
Admission and accessibility
All events are free until capacity is reached: it is advisable to arrive early for choral concerts, which quickly fill the nave of San Rufo. The completely open nature of the event makes it one of the most accessible summer offerings in the Sabina capital.
European Music Festival — edition 2026
One week, ten concerts, 120 artists
The 32nd edition of the European Music Festival confirmed the formula that has made the Rieti festival a success over the years: seven consecutive days of free-entry concerts in the heart of Rieti's historic center, with the Church of San Rufo as the main venue and the square in front as an open-air stage.
Organized by Musikologiamo APS with the support of the Fondazione Varrone - Cassa di Risparmio di Rieti and the Fondo Edifici di Culto of the Ministry of the Interior, the event featured over 120 musicians and artists. The common thread was once again the promotion of local musical talent: choirs, music school students, emerging soloists, and folk music groups.
Cultural projects and anniversaries
Alongside the concerts, the program hosted in-depth sessions such as The Voice of Places, a project dedicated to the identity of the territory created with Francesco Rinaldi and Fabrizio Tomassoni on the occasion of the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis, a significant event in the Rieti Holy Valley. There were also lighter, educational offerings such as Tour of Italy in Seven Notes and the guitar showcase Strings in Celebration.
Programme European Music Festival 2026
2026 Program
- Monday, June 15 - Inaugural concert by the CAI Choir of Rieti, Church of San Rufo.
- Tuesday, June 16, 9:00 PM - Concert by the Rieti Canta choral group.
- Wednesday, June 17, 9:00 PM - Evening of young flautists directed by Maestro Sandro Sacco, with Maestro Paolo Paniconi on piano.
- Thursday, June 18, 9:30 PM - Concert by the Orpheus Choir of Rieti directed by Maestro Angelo Fusacchia, in two acts: the first inside the Church of San Rufo, the second in Piazza San Rufo.
- Friday, June 19, 6:30 PM - Piano recital by Francesco Rinaldi; evening concert by the Voci nella Valle choir.
- Saturday, June 20, 6:30 PM - Second piano session with Francesco Rinaldi; evening concert by the guitar and flute duo featuring maestros Paolo Paciucci and Sandro Sacco.
- Sunday, June 21, 6:30 PM - Concert by pianist Mirko Di Lorenzo; 9:00 PM grand acoustic finale with the Triskell Trio, on the official day of the European Music Festival.
Program subject to changes communicated by the organizers. All events took place between the Church of San Rufo and Piazza San Rufo.
Highlights European Music Festival 2026
- Over 120 musicians and artists in 10 events, all free of charge.
- The two-act concert by the Orpheus Choir, between the church and the square.
- The Voice of Places project for the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis.
- The June 21st finale with the Triskell Trio, coinciding with the European Music Day.
Prices European Music Festival 2026
Practical information — European Music Festival
How to get there
By car: from Rome via the Salaria highway (SS4), about an hour and a half; from Terni via the SS79 in just under an hour. By train: Rieti station, connected to Terni; the historic center is a ten-minute walk away. Nearest airports: Rome Fiumicino and Rome Ciampino.
Where it takes place
Church of San Rufo and Piazza San Rufo, in the historic center of Rieti, a few steps from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. Paid parking is available in areas surrounding the center.
Tickets
Free admission to all concerts, subject to availability. No advance booking required.
Tips
Arrive at least twenty minutes early for concerts inside the church. Evenings can be cool: a light jacket is recommended. For updated information, refer to Musikologiamo APS and the event's Facebook page.
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Where does it take place — European Music Festival
Chiesa di San Rufo - Centro d'Italia
Piazza San Rufo, 02100 Rieti