Roma Borgata Festival

A festival bringing art to the suburbs of Rome

The Roma Borgata Festival is a widespread event that, from May 9 to September 13, 2026, enlivens the suburbs of Rome with over 80 events including theatre, dance, contemporary circus, music, workshops, and artistic residencies. Conceived and curated by Alessandra Muschella for the A.S.A.P.Q. association, the festival flips the cultural geography of the capital: it is not the historic centre, but the borgate (outskirts) that become the beating heart of the scene. In 2025, the inaugural edition attracted over 8,000 spectators, breathing new life into a journey started with the eight editions of "La Città Ideale".

The eight featured districts

The 2026 edition spans eight Roman districts: Centocelle, Alessandrino, Primavalle, Montespaccato, Trullo, Magliana, Tor Marancia, and Torpignattara. Local markets, ATER public housing courtyards, bars, newsstands, and urban parks are transformed into open-air stages. The programming follows a relay format across the districts:

• Centocelle and Alessandrino (May 9-31): opening with the Performative Picnic at Villa De Sanctis, plus theatre and music in bars and parks.
• Primavalle and Montespaccato (June 3-7): performances in markets and neighbourhood spaces.
• Trullo and Magliana (June 8-14): choreographic residencies and circus in ATER lots.
• Tor Marancia (June 15-21): circus workshops and performances at Parco Torre.
• Torpignattara (September 7-13): closing at Parco Sangalli with young artists under 25 and symphonic concerts.

The 2026 programme

The festival weaves together diverse languages, from opera in courtyards to narrative theatre, from site-specific contemporary dance to circus. Announced events include: the Performative Picnic on May 17 at Villa De Sanctis with Le Radiose, "Il Menù della Poesia", and contributions by Giulia Anania and Ivan Talarico; "Garrincha, l'angelo dalle gambe storte" by the Malalingua company; "Operai all'Opera – La Fanciulla del West"; the debut of "Scuolabus – quando il viaggio diventa racconto", which turns a vintage school bus into a travelling theatre; the "Pillole urbane" choreographic residencies (Kodance); and the circus shows "Winner The Big Jump" by Circo Pacco. Closing in Torpignattara are the "Symphonic Dialogues" by the Eico Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Germano Neri.

A social and cultural project

With affordable tickets from 1 to 2 euros, the Roma Borgata Festival pursues a precise mission: to make art accessible and bring it back into the daily lives of the suburbs. The event is supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Lazio Region, with the patronage of Municipalities V, VIII, XI, and XIV of Rome and the collaboration of ATER Roma. A community theatre model that makes cultural decentralization its strength, restoring prominence to neighbourhoods too often on the margins of the capital's artistic scene.