Rome Festival of the Orient
Culture, performances, and flavors of the East at Fiera di Roma
About Festival of the Orient
A journey to the East without a passport
The Festival of the Orient is one of the most popular ethnic-cultural events in Italy, and it finds its largest showcase in Rome, in the Lazio region: the Nuova Fiera di Roma exhibition center, located at via Portuense 1645 in the Ponte Galeria area, where entire exhibition halls are transformed into a continuous path through the countries of Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania. The format is itinerant and visits different Italian cities every year, but the Rome stage remains the one with the highest number of pavilions involved and the signature two-consecutive-weekend formula, spanning late April to early May.
Non-stop performances from morning to night
The heart of the event consists of dozens of performances that follow one another continuously and simultaneously on multiple stages, from opening until closing time. Artists and companies from India, China, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Nepal, Rajasthan, Sri Lanka, Burma, and Tibet take turns presenting traditional dances, songs, live music, and martial arts demonstrations.
- Lion dances and Japanese taiko drumming
- Folk dances and traditional songs from the host countries
- Mongolian music and live traditional instruments
- Martial arts with demonstrations and interactive tatami mats open to the public
- Chinese masks, Korean hanbok, and kimono dressing
The tea ceremony and Japan Expo
Among the most beloved appointments is the tea ceremony, a ritual and art form where every gesture has been codified for centuries, offered several times a day in dedicated spaces. The festival also hosts the Japan Expo, a format entirely dedicated to Japan that welcomes the public with exhibitions, performances, workshops, and activities related to Japanese culture and tradition: calligraphy, traditional dressing, cuisine, manga, and anime. Many of the proposed activities are free and included in the entrance ticket.
Wellness, bio-natural disciplines, and conferences
An entire sector of the event is reserved for physical and mental health and wellness, with pavilions dedicated to holistic therapies and bio-natural disciplines. The public can try sessions of yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, Reiki, massage, Tai Chi, Shiatsu, and Tuina, often as free trials. In the two conference rooms and various thematic areas, dozens of conferences and workshops take place every day, from morning to evening, covering natural medicine, spirituality, nutrition, and Eastern disciplines.
Bazaars and gastronomy
The exhibition route includes bazaars and commercial stands featuring handicrafts, fabrics, gifts, incense, ethnic clothing, and typical products. The gastronomic offer is one of the main attractions: restaurants and street food stalls serve sushi, ramen, curry, spicy Indian specialties, Thai and Middle Eastern dishes, served in dining areas distributed throughout the pavilions. Photographic exhibitions and installations also help tell the stories of the represented countries.
A family event
The Festival of the Orient is also designed for younger audiences, with entertainment, workshops, and activities dedicated to children. Admission is free for the little ones, and once inside, all performances, cultural, spiritual, and folk areas are accessible at no extra cost. Its location in the Municipality of Rome, in an exhibition center served by its own railway station and large parking lots, makes the event easily accessible even from outside the region.
Festival of the Orient — edition 2026
Two weekends between April and May
The 2026 Festival of the Orient occupied Fiera di Roma for a total of six days, spread over two long weekends: Friday, April 24, Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, and Friday, May 1, Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3. Each day opened at 10:00 AM with performances on the stages, which continued without interruption until 8:30 PM, alongside conferences, workshops, stands, and thematic areas.
What was offered
The stages were enlivened by lion dances, Japanese taiko drumming concerts, traditional dances and songs, Mongolian music, tea ceremonies and kimono dressing, Chinese masks, Korean hanbok, and martial arts demonstrations, with artists from India, China, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Nepal, Rajasthan, Sri Lanka, Burma, and Tibet. The Japan Expo returned, a format entirely dedicated to Japan with exhibitions, performances, workshops, and activities. An entire sector was reserved for physical and mental health and wellness, with pavilions dedicated to holistic therapies and bio-natural disciplines: yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, Reiki, massage, Tai Chi, Shiatsu, and Tuina. The route was completed by bazaars, commercial stands, photographic exhibitions, and a vast selection of authentic Eastern cuisine.
Programme Festival of the Orient 2026
Hours
Every day from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM. Performances start at 10:00 AM and follow one another continuously and simultaneously on the various stages until closing, as do the other areas, activities, conferences, and stands.
Days
- Friday, April 24, Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, 2026
- Friday, May 1, Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, 2026
On stage
- Lion dances
- Japanese taiko drumming concerts
- Traditional dances and songs from the host countries
- Traditional Mongolian music
- Martial arts demonstrations and interactive tatami mats
- Chinese masks, Korean hanbok
Areas and activities
- Tea ceremony and kimono dressing
- Japan Expo: exhibitions, performances, workshops, and activities dedicated to Japanese culture
- Wellness area: yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, Reiki, massage, Tai Chi, Shiatsu, Tuina
- Conferences and workshops in the two conference rooms and thematic areas, from morning to evening
- Free workshops on massage, calligraphy, and Eastern cuisine
- Bazaars, commercial stands, handicrafts, and photographic exhibitions
- Dining with authentic cuisine from the represented countries
- Entertainment and workshops for children
Highlights Festival of the Orient 2026
- Six days over two consecutive weekends, from April 24 to May 3, 2026
- Dozens of non-stop performances with artists from over fifteen Asian countries
- Return of the Japan Expo, a section entirely dedicated to Japan
- Tea ceremony and kimono dressing among the stands
- Pavilions dedicated to holistic therapies and bio-natural disciplines
- Martial arts with interactive tatami mats open to the public
- Wide selection of Eastern cuisine and ethnic bazaars
Prices Festival of the Orient 2026
Practical information — Festival of the Orient
Location
Nuova Fiera di Roma, via Portuense 1645, 00148 Rome (Ponte Galeria area). Access via the North and East entrances of the exhibition center.
How to get there
- By train: FL1 line Orte-Fiumicino Airport, Fiera di Roma stop, connected directly to the exhibition center entrances.
- By car: Exit from the Grande Raccordo Anulare towards via Portuense / Rome-Fiumicino motorway; parking available inside the exhibition complex.
- By plane: Rome Fiumicino Airport is just a few kilometers away, connected by the same FL1 railway line.
Hours
Opening at 10:00 AM; performances and activities continue non-stop until approximately 8:30 PM in all pavilions.
Tickets
Online presale and ticket office at the fair. The entrance ticket provides access to all performances and all cultural, spiritual, and folk areas. Free admission for young children.
Tips
It is best to arrive in the morning to catch as many performances as possible and book limited-capacity activities (tea ceremony, workshops, bio-natural discipline trials) in advance. Comfortable shoes are recommended: the route between the pavilions is long.
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Where does it take place — Festival of the Orient
Fiera di Roma (ingressi Nord ed Est)
Via Portuense 1645, 00148 Roma