Sounà e Cantà
The gathering of spontaneous singers and players of courenta and balet in Robilante
About Sounà e Cantà
A day of folk music in the heart of the Vermenagna Valley
Sounà e Cantà is the celebration of the musical tradition of Robilante, a town in the province of Cuneo nestled in the Vermenagna Valley, in Piedmont, just a few kilometers from the Occitan border. Every year on June 2nd, the village hosts a gathering of spontaneous singers and players of courenta and balet: musicians, choral groups, and enthusiasts arrive from all over the Cuneo valleys to bring to life a day of folk music played and sung in the village squares and streets, with no stages or tickets required.
Courenta, balet, and the Occitan soul of the valleys
The heart of the event lies in the courenta and balet, the dances and melodies of the Piedmontese and Occitan tradition of the Maritime Alps, passed down from generation to generation. Accordions, hurdy-gurdies, diatonic accordions, and voices echo through the streets, turning the entire historic center into a large shared space where anyone can join the dance. It is a grassroots festival, built on participation and connection, designed to keep alive a musical culture that might otherwise fade away.
Hikes, polenta, and the museums of Robilante
The day begins in the morning with a hike in the woods organized by the Limodoro Association, meeting in the village for a loop trail through the woods surrounding Robilante. At noon, it is time for the grand polenta feast in the square hosted by the Pro Loco, a convivial moment that brings together locals and visitors alike. In the afternoon, the musical gathering officially kicks off. Throughout the day, the village museums remain open, particularly the Accordion, Music, and Folk Art Museum and the Sound and Communication Museum (MuS.Com), which showcase the extraordinary craftsmanship and musical heritage of the Vermenagna Valley.
A meeting point of memory and community
Organized by the Pro Loco of Robilante together with the Limodoro Association, Sounà e Cantà has become a highly anticipated date in the calendar of traditional festivals in the province of Cuneo. More than just a musical event, it is a way to rediscover the identity of the Occitan alpine valleys: the language, songs, dances, and flavors of a territory that has made folk music a distinctive trait. In some editions, a special train from Cuneo is also available to reach the village comfortably along the historic Vermenagna Valley railway line.
Sounà e Cantà — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Sounà e Cantà, the 21st, was held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Robilante and coincided with the twentieth anniversary of the Limodoro Association. The common thread of the year was the telling of four stories of women from the valleys of Cuneo, interwoven with the music and songs of tradition.
Alongside the gathering of spontaneous singers and players of courenta and balet, the day featured a walk in the woods of the Vermenagna Valley, the polenta feast in the square, and the special opening of the Robilante museums, confirming the formula that combines nature, gastronomy, and folk culture.
Programme Sounà e Cantà 2026
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
- 8:30 AM — Meeting at Piazza Regina Margherita and departure for the walk in the woods of the Vermenagna Valley, organized by the Limodoro Association, animated by readings and music on the theme "Four stories of women from our valleys to Cuneo".
- 12:30 PM — Grand polenta feast in the square hosted by the Pro Loco of Robilante (reservations recommended).
- 3:00 PM — 21st gathering of spontaneous singers and players of courenta and balet "Sounà e Cantà": music, songs, and dances in the village squares and streets.
- 3:00 PM — Inauguration, in the Town Hall council room, of the exhibition for the twentieth anniversary of the Limodoro Association.
- All day — Special opening of the museums (Accordion Museum and MuS.Com), open from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Highlights Sounà e Cantà 2026
- Twentieth anniversary of the Limodoro Association with a dedicated exhibition
- Edition dedicated to the theme "four stories of women from the valleys"
- Walk in the woods with readings and music
- Grand polenta feast in the square by the Pro Loco
- Special opening of the Accordion Museum and MuS.Com
Prices Sounà e Cantà 2026
Practical information — Sounà e Cantà
How to get there
Robilante is located in the Vermenagna Valley, in the province of Cuneo. By car, it can be reached from Cuneo along the SS20 Colle di Tenda road in about 20 minutes. By train, it is served by the Cuneo-Limone-Ventimiglia railway line; in some editions, a special train from Cuneo is organized for the event.
When
The event traditionally takes place on June 2nd. The hike starts in the morning from the town center, the polenta feast is at noon, and the musical gathering enlivens the afternoon.
Costs and reservations
Participation in the festival throughout the squares is free and open to all. For the polenta feast in the square, reservations are recommended (contact Luca, tel. +39 329 6221979).
Tips
For those participating in the morning hike, trekking shoes and clothing suitable for mountain trails are recommended. During the day, it is well worth visiting the village museums, a true pride of Robilante.
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Where does it take place — Sounà e Cantà
Centro storico di Robilante
Piazza Regina Margherita, 12017 Robilante