Scanno Jazz Festival

Jazz on the shores of Lake Scanno

The Scanno Jazz Festival is a musical event held in Scanno, one of the most picturesque villages in Abruzzo, located in the province of L'Aquila within the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. Established in 2025, the festival transforms the banks of the scenic Lake Scanno into a natural stage where jazz meets the local landscape and culture.

The festival takes place in the Parco dei Salici, overlooking the lake's shimmering waters: between the warm glow of sunset and the immersive sound of the instruments, the music becomes a vibrant, shared experience. The concert program is complemented by cultural meetings and food and wine tastings, offering a sensory journey of notes, emotions, and beauty.

A connection to Henry Mancini

Scanno is the ancestral home of the parents of Henry Mancini, one of the 20th century's most celebrated film score composers, known for legendary tracks like the Peter Gunn theme and the music for Breakfast at Tiffany's. The festival pays homage to this legacy, celebrating jazz as a universal language of freedom, improvisation, and discovery, in dialogue with the village's history and identity.

Music, nature, and community

Promoted by the LocalEvolution APS association with the patronage of the Municipality of Scanno, the festival brings together internationally renowned artists and emerging young talents. The artistic direction is led by Niccolò Petitto, while the organization is managed by Francesco Fronterotta. The goal is to introduce jazz to a wider audience while showcasing the natural and cultural heritage of one of the most beloved spots in the Abruzzo mountains.

• Where: Parco dei Salici, on the shores of Lake Scanno (Scanno, province of L'Aquila)
• When: Summer, in August
• What: Open-air jazz concerts, talks, and food and wine tastings
• Setting: Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park

With its intimate atmosphere and the perfect blend of great music and scenery, the Scanno Jazz Festival has established itself since its debut as an event capable of telling the story of authentic Abruzzo—the land of mountain villages, lakes, and traditions—through the contemporary language of jazz.