Sponz Fest
Vinicio Capossela's festival in Alta Irpinia
About Sponz Fest
A festival rooted in Irpinia
Sponz Fest was born in 2013 in Calitri, in the province of Avellino, from an idea by Vinicio Capossela, who has deep family roots in the area. The name comes from the local Calitri dialect: sponsare means to soak or steep, and by extension, it refers to a wedding—the theme of the very first edition. Since then, the Fest has become one of the most recognizable cultural events in inland Campania, capable of transforming an Alta Irpinia village into a laboratory of music, words, and collective thought for a few days.
More than just a concert lineup
Visitors arriving in Calitri for the first time quickly discover that Sponz is not confined to a single stage. The festival spreads across Borgo Castello, the caves of the historic center, Piazzale della Posta, the Casa della Musica, and, starting in 2026, primarily in the oak woods of Montecanto, in the Gagliano area. Days begin early with nature walks, continue with lectures from the Libera Università per Ripetenti and workshops for children, and conclude late at night with concerts and DJ sets.
Sponz Im-Bosck, the 2026 edition
The fourteenth edition, scheduled from August 26 to 30, 2026, is titled Sponz Im-Bosck and focuses on the woods: an archetype of enchantment and mystery, but also a refuge, a space outside the rules, and a place of resistance. Concerts, theatrical performances, meetings with scholars and journalists, guided trekking, and collective rituals revolve around this theme. Announced headliners include John Convertino of Calexico, Pierpaolo Capovilla, Mauro Ermanno Giovanardi, Krano, the Greek musicians Dimitris Mystakidis and Giorgos Xylouris, and, of course, Vinicio Capossela himself.
The Libera Università per Ripetenti
This is perhaps the most original feature of Sponz Fest: every morning, scholars, writers, journalists, and researchers hold open lectures in informal settings around the village. In 2026, topics range from ethnobotany to climate change, artificial intelligence to viticulture, and psychology to Mediterranean ecology, with guests such as Paola Caridi, Luciana Castellina, and Stefano Liberti. There are no exams or grades: it is a return to school for the sheer pleasure of understanding.
Walks, workshops, and games
- Imboscate: morning nature treks in the woods of Alta Irpinia, led by forestry experts and ethnobotanists.
- Children's workshops, such as The Treehouse, dedicated to the relationship with nature.
- Wimblesponz: the most irreverent tennis tournament in Irpinia, now a Fest tradition.
- Musica brada: the parallel festival hosted in the caves of the historic center.
- Community dinners, brass bands, and traditional dances until dawn.
Calitri and Alta Irpinia
The municipality of Calitri, with just over four thousand inhabitants in the province of Avellino, is one of those Apennine villages deeply marked by recent history: the 1980 earthquake reshaped its face, and the repopulation of the historic center remains an open challenge. Sponz Fest was born from this context as an attempt to restore meaning and presence to a territory at risk of depopulation. The festival is produced by the Sponziamoci Association together with La Cupa, with the support of the Campania Region and the Municipality of Calitri.
Why it's worth the trip
Those looking for a traditional music festival with rigid schedules and barriers will be surprised. Sponz asks you to walk, talk to strangers, sleep little, and eat together. In return, it offers an experience rarely found elsewhere in Italy: an entire village that becomes a stage, and an audience that doesn't just watch, but participates.
Sponz Fest — edition 2026
Sponz Im-Bosck
For its fourteenth edition, Sponz Fest chooses the woods as both a location and an idea. Entering the woods, the artistic direction explains, means seeking refuge in a hidden realm, in spaces that escape rules and social judgment: a natural sanctuary, but also a space of resistance. This is the origin of the title Sponz Im-Bosck, playing on the Calitri dialect and foreign assonances.
Two hubs, one festival
The days are divided between the historic center of Calitri—Piazzale della Posta, Borgo Castello, the caves, the Casa della Musica—and the new Montecanto area in Gagliano, where an oak forest hosts evening concerts and the festival campsite.
Production
The Fest is produced by the Sponziamoci Association and La Cupa, with funding from the Campania Region (Scabec, Cohesion Funds Italy 21-27) and the collaboration of the Municipality of Calitri and partners such as Happennino, Carnia per la Pace, and Vaia.
Programme Sponz Fest 2026
Wednesday, August 26 — Opening
- 6:00 PM, Piazzale della Posta: Opening ceremony with the Grand Concert of the Calitri Giovanni Rinaldi Municipal Band and the Banda della Posta, followed by a community dinner.
- Evening, Madonnelle area: Sotto al Pascone, a theatrical adaptation of Dylan Thomas.
- Midnight, Piazzale Immacolata: Concert by Mauro Ermanno Giovanardi.
- Historic center caves open with the Musica brada series.
Thursday, August 27
- 9:00 AM: First Imboscata, a nature walk with forestry experts.
- 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Lectures by the Libera Università per Ripetenti on Cuba, climate change, AI, viticulture, and botany.
- Afternoon: Children's workshops, Wimblesponz tennis tournament, Sotto il Bosco di Latte radio story.
- 5:00 PM: Opening of the Montecanto area.
- From 9:00 PM, Montecanto: Krano, John Convertino (Calexico), Sancto Ianne, and the Banda della Posta.
- 3:00 AM: DJ set by FiloQ.
Friday, August 28
- Morning: Second Imboscata with ethnobotanist Valeria Margherita Mosca; Libera Università per Ripetenti lectures continue.
- 4:30 PM: Peace march Un sudario per Gaza.
- Evening: Monologue by Francesca Fornario.
- From 9:00 PM, Montecanto: Pierpaolo Capovilla e i Cattivi Maestri, Mefisto Brass, A Cunv'rsazion.
- 3:00 AM: Late-night DJ set.
Saturday, August 29
- Morning: Third Imboscata with musical interludes along the route.
- Lectures on psychology, circular cooking, and Mediterranean ecology.
- From 9:00 PM, Montecanto: Vinicio Capossela with Il ballo di S. Vito e altri anniversari, accompanied by his band and guests including Pierpaolo Capovilla and Rachele Andrioli; followed by traditional dances.
- 3:30 AM: Closing DJ set.
Sunday, August 30 — Dawn Concert
- 5:00 AM: Dawn concert with Greek musicians Dimitris Mystakidis and Giorgis Xylouris, a preview of the project for the 2027 edition.
The full, updated program with times and locations is available on the official website sponzfest.it.
Highlights Sponz Fest 2026
- Vinicio Capossela on Saturday, August 29, at Montecanto with Il ballo di S. Vito e altri anniversari.
- The dawn concert on Sunday, August 30, with Dimitris Mystakidis and Giorgis Xylouris.
- John Convertino of Calexico and Pierpaolo Capovilla with the Cattivi Maestri.
- The Imboscate, morning walks in the Alta Irpinia woods with forestry and ethnobotany experts.
- Free lectures by the Libera Università per Ripetenti, featuring Luciana Castellina and Paola Caridi.
- The opening community dinner in Piazzale della Posta with local brass bands.
- The Wimblesponz tennis tournament and The Treehouse children's workshops.
Prices Sponz Fest 2026
Practical information — Sponz Fest
How to get there
By car: A16 Naples-Canosa motorway, exit Lacedonia, then SS399 towards Calitri (about 20 minutes). It is approximately 130 km from Naples and 150 km from Bari.
By train: Calitri-Pescopagano station on the Avellino-Rocchetta Sant'Antonio line, served only by limited connections; alternatively, use the Foggia or Avellino stations and continue by bus or rental car.
Tickets
Access to most daytime activities in the historic center (lectures, walks, workshops, meetings) is free. The evening events at Montecanto require a ticket, available for purchase on postoriservato.it. Free admission for children up to 13 years old.
Where to stay
The Fest provides the Sponz Camping, free for those who purchase the Sponz S-Pass. Bed and breakfasts, farm stays, and holiday homes are available in the village and surrounding towns: booking well in advance is recommended as spaces are limited.
Tips
Bring trekking shoes for the morning Imboscate, a flashlight for evening travel in the woods, and warm clothing: in August, nights in Alta Irpinia can be chilly.
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Where does it take place — Sponz Fest
Borgo Castello, Piazzale della Posta e bosco di Montecanto
Centro storico e località Gagliano-Montecanto, 83045 Calitri