Romaeuropa Festival (REF)

The Romaeuropa Festival

Established in 1986, the Romaeuropa Festival is now one of Europe's most significant events dedicated to contemporary creation. Promoted by the Romaeuropa Foundation, it transforms Rome every year between September and November into an open-air laboratory where dance, theatre, music, and digital arts engage in a borderless dialogue. The festival is a cornerstone of cultural life in the City of Rome and the Lazio Region, attracting artists and audiences from all over the world.

The 41st Edition (REF2026)

From September 8 to November 15, 2026, the forty-first edition will feature around one hundred performances, over 240 shows, and nearly one thousand artists spread across twenty venues in the capital. The underlying theme is interpreting the present through the eyes of artists, with a special focus on intercultural dialogue: REF2026 also celebrates 75 years of diplomatic relations between Italy and Germany.

Dance

International dance takes centre stage. The programme ranges from the opening performance by Sofia Nappi with the KOMOCO company to major names such as Sasha Waltz, Benjamin Millepied, the collective (LA)HORDE, Boris Charmatz, and Wim Vandekeybus, in a journey that weaves together contemporary choreography, live music, and new technologies.

Music

The music section spans from contemporary to electronic: tributes to the 90th birthday of Steve Reich and the centenary of Hans Werner Henze, alongside protagonists such as Caterina Barbieri, Jeff Mills, Fatoumata Diawara, Hildur Guðnadóttir, and Vinicio Capossela. The closing event on November 15 is a twelve-hour marathon blending classical music and club culture.

Theatre and Digital Arts

In the theatre section, the return of Romeo Castellucci with a world premiere stands out, alongside European directors and playwrights such as Tiago Rodrigues. Digital arts are showcased in sections dedicated to the intersection of performance, installations, and new technological languages.

ULTRA REF and REF Kids

The festival looks to the future with ULTRA REF, a showcase for emerging creativity in music, theatre, dance, design, and video games, and with REF Kids & Family, a section designed for children and families, often featuring free activities on weekends.

A City-Wide Festival

The REF does not have a single home but inhabits the entire city: participating venues include the Auditorium Conciliazione, Teatro Argentina, Mattatoio, MAXXI, Teatro Costanzi, Sala Santa Cecilia, and many other spaces in the historic centre and beyond. This widespread nature makes the Romaeuropa Festival a unique opportunity to traverse Rome following the thread of contemporary art.