Subiaco Rock & Blues Festival

Thirty-five years of live music in Subiaco

The Subiaco Rock & Blues Festival, also known as The Band Festival after the cultural association that organizes it, is one of the longest-running music festivals in the Lazio region. The first edition dates back to 1991, and ever since, the event has transformed Piazza della Resistenza in the historic center of Subiaco into a massive open-air stage every summer. Originally dedicated to rock and blues, the festival has expanded its horizons over the years to include soul, folk, singer-songwriter music, and traditional sounds, becoming a landmark for music lovers from across the province and beyond.

The Night of the Guitars

The crown jewel of the festival is the Night of the Guitars, a cult show that brings together some of the greatest guitarists on the Italian scene—often session musicians for artists like Vasco Rossi and Ligabue—led by the band Custodie Cautelari. The 2025 edition was billed as the "greatest Night of the Guitars ever held in Italy," featuring virtuosos such as Maurizio Solieri, Max Cottafavi, Luca Colombo, and Luigi Schiavone, joined by special guests like singer-songwriter Dolcenera and British soul vocalist Sarah Jane Morris.

The 2026 edition: the thirty-sixth

The official website has already confirmed the 36th edition, scheduled from August 7 to 10, 2026. It will feature four nights of free concerts in the square, following the tried-and-tested formula that combines major guests, high-quality tribute bands, and popular rhythms. The detailed lineup will be unveiled by the organizers in the weeks leading up to the festival.

A square in celebration of music and flavors

The festival is about more than just concerts: surrounding the stage is a well-stocked food area that highlights local gastronomy, featuring porchetta, sausages, arrosticini, fried delicacies, traditional desserts, local pasta dishes, and craft beers. The free admission and the convivial atmosphere of the square attract families, young people, and tourists every night, creating a festive vibe that involves the entire town. The final evening is traditionally intertwined with the celebrations of the Palio di San Lorenzo, strengthening the bond between the festival and Subiaco's local identity.

Subiaco, between Benedictine monasteries and the Monti Simbruini

Supported by the Municipality of Subiaco and the Lazio Region, the festival is also an invitation to discover one of the most fascinating villages in the Metropolitan City of Rome, nestled in the green Aniene Valley. Subiaco, the birthplace of Benedictine monasticism and the 2025 Italian Capital of the Book, guards treasures such as the Abbey Fortress, the Monastery of Saint Benedict with the Sacro Speco, and the Monastery of Saint Scholastica, while the surrounding Monti Simbruini Regional Nature Park offers trails and landscapes perfect for those looking to combine music, culture, and nature in a single August getaway.