Scampia Intercultural Festival

An intercultural festival in the heart of Scampia

The Intercultural Festival was born in 2026 in Scampia, a district in the northern suburbs of Naples, the capital of the Campania region. It was launched by the Elsa Morante State High School in close collaboration with the 8th Municipality of the City of Naples. The inaugural edition took place on Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Piazza Giovanni Paolo II, from 7:30 PM until midnight, with free admission for all.

The idea behind the event is as simple as it is ambitious: to open the school to its surrounding community while building lasting international ties. The theme for the first edition focused on Scampia as a voice of legality that unites people, with a special emphasis on Mexico—a country with which the school has established a strong, ongoing partnership—and a tribute to Frida Kahlo. The event is part of the Ministry of Education and Merit's Summer Plan.

Musical opening with bands, choirs, and majorettes

The festival opens with a musical performance by the Campania Federation of Bands, Choirs, and Majorettes (FBCM). The inaugural procession, led by student flag-bearers, accompanies the national anthems of France, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Italy: a symbolic choice that sets the tone for the evening and revives a deeply rooted band tradition in the region's towns and neighborhoods.

Three thematic sections, four languages

Following the student introductions in Italian, Spanish, French, and English and official greetings, the square transforms into a sprawling stage. Performances are organized into three thematic sections curated by the high school students:

• Me and My Roots — songs and texts related to Neapolitan tradition and personal identity;
• Love That Saves — songs, readings, and choreography centered on connection and care;
• Metamorphosis — a contemporary segment dedicated to personal change and transformation.

The repertoire blends music, dance, poetry, and theater: Neapolitan songs alongside international hits, original rap in dialect, flamenco, contemporary dance, and monologues in Spanish, French, and English. It is a participatory format where students are not just spectators, but authors and performers.

Exhibitions and workshops for children

Throughout the evening, the square hosts art exhibitions and creative workshops led by guest artists and artisans. These activities are specifically designed for children, making the festival a family-friendly event that attracts local families, teachers, and community associations.

Patronage and international collaborations

The event is held under the patronage of the Embassy of Mexico in Italy, the Consulate of Mexico in Naples, the University of Salamanca, the City of Naples, the 8th Municipality, and the Metropolitan City of Naples. The first edition featured a video message from Mexican Ambassador Genaro Lozano, who highlighted the intercultural value of the project.

Praise from the President of the Republic

The first edition received an unexpected honor: the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, personally called the school to express his appreciation for the educational, civic, and social value of the initiative. During the evening, the audience signed an official postcard addressed to the Quirinale.

Scampia beyond stereotypes

For the neighborhood, the Intercultural Festival is above all a narrative tool. Piazza Giovanni Paolo II, one of Scampia's most recognizable public spaces, becomes a stage for one night where the school showcases its work and the Neapolitan periphery presents itself as a laboratory of culture, inclusion, and legality. It is not a traditional food festival or a tourist event; it is a civic celebration that grows from the grassroots and speaks to the rest of the city.

An event to watch

Following the success of the inaugural edition, the festival aims to become a permanent fixture in the Naples calendar for late June. As it is a school-led initiative, dates and programs are announced annually by the Elsa Morante High School and the 8th Municipality; it is recommended to check the school's and the City of Naples' channels a few weeks before summer.