Summer at MAXXI
Six weeks of investigative cinema, jazz, and electronic music in the open-air spaces of the Flaminio museum.
About Summer at MAXXI
A museum that becomes a piazza
Summer at MAXXI is the summer festival hosted by the National Museum of 21st Century Arts, located in the Flaminio district of Rome, Lazio. From mid-June to late July, the outdoor spaces of the building designed by Zaha Hadid—the grand piazza named after Alighiero Boetti and the adjacent Arena Cinema Tiziano—open up for evening events: screenings, concerts, staged readings, and talks, forming one of the most successful cultural formulas of the capital's summer.
The 2026 edition spans six weeks, from June 18 to July 28, featuring seventeen evening events. The setting is fresh: the piazza has been redesigned by landscape architect Bas Smets and now hosts Rubato, an installation by the winners of the NXT program, an initiative through which the museum supports young Italian architectural practices.
Three pillars: cinema, jazz, and electronics
The program is built on three distinct pillars, each under specific curation.
- Investigative Cinema, curated by critic Mario Sesti: a series of screenings dedicated to the relationship between journalism, power, and truth, introduced by conversations with prominent Italian journalists. The lineup includes titles such as Steven Spielberg's The Post, Marco Bellocchio's Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina, and the classic Roman Holiday.
- Jazz, under the artistic direction of double bassist and composer Paolo Damiani: a cycle of five concerts featuring leading figures from the Italian and international scene, including vocalists like Maria Pia De Vito and Ada Montellanico.
- Electronic Music and DJ sets: projects from contemporary sound research—names like juni, Whitemary, and Plastica—bringing club culture, experimental electronics, and emerging Italian production to the piazza.
Opening and early evenings
The festival kicked off on Thursday, June 18, with a major free party to inaugurate the new piazza, animated by a DJ set from Luce Clandestina b2b Marco Folco. In the following days, the program alternated between different styles: on June 23, the staged reading Farsi male. Variazioni sul masochismo with Vittorio Lingiardi and Federica Fracassi at the Arena Cinema Tiziano; on June 24, the duo of Lorenzo Hengeller and Gianfranco Compagnoli with Invadenze, blending jazz, swing, and singer-songwriter music; and on June 25, a DJ set by Napoli Segreta, a journey into Neapolitan music far from stereotypes. Investigative cinema took the stage starting June 30.
An accessible Roman summer
One of the festival's hallmarks is its pricing policy: five euros for screenings, ten euros for jazz and electronic concerts, with discounts for myMAXXI cardholders. Furthermore, the piazza remains open to the public before the shows, with food and drink services available: you can arrive early, dine outdoors under the museum's concrete vaults, and then decide whether to stay for the concert or the film.
Why it's worth the trip
MAXXI is already a must-see for anyone visiting Rome with an interest in architecture and contemporary art: Zaha Hadid's building, inaugurated in 2010, is a manifesto of 21st-century Italian architecture. Experiencing it at night, with the summer program, adds a different dimension to the daytime museum visit: more informal, more urban, and very close to the idea of a 'piazza' that the capital cherishes as part of its identity. The Flaminio district, nestled between the Auditorium Parco della Musica and the Ponte della Musica, is now one of Rome's most vibrant cultural hubs, and the festival has become a staple of the Lazio summer.
Summer at MAXXI — edition 2026
Summer at MAXXI 2026
Six weeks of evening programming, from June 18 to July 28, 2026, in the outdoor spaces of the MAXXI in Rome. The festival features 17 events distributed between the museum's new piazza and the Arena Cinema Tiziano, with a formula that alternates screenings, concerts, and staged readings.
2026 also marks the debut of the renovated piazza designed by landscape architect Bas Smets, featuring the Rubato installation by the winners of the museum's NXT program, dedicated to young Italian architectural firms.
Programme Summer at MAXXI 2026
Opening
- Thursday, June 18, 8:30 PM — Free opening party for the new piazza, DJ set by Luce Clandestina b2b Marco Folco.
Early evenings
- Tuesday, June 23, 9:00 PM, Arena Cinema Tiziano — Farsi male. Variazioni sul masochismo, a staged reading with Vittorio Lingiardi and Federica Fracassi, featuring the voice of Gianni Forte: a narrative of images and music exploring the daily forms of guilt and self-criticism.
- Wednesday, June 24, 9:00 PM, MAXXI piazza — Lorenzo Hengeller and Gianfranco Compagnoli in Invadenze, piano and trumpet blending jazz, swing, and singer-songwriter styles.
- Thursday, June 25, 9:00 PM, MAXXI piazza — DJ set by Napoli Segreta, a musical journey through a Naples far from stereotypes, mixing music, images, and literature.
Investigative Cinema — curated by Mario Sesti
Starting June 30, the cycle dedicated to the relationship between journalism, power, and truth begins, with screenings introduced by conversations with prominent Italian journalists. Titles include Steven Spielberg's The Post, Marco Bellocchio's Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina, and Roman Holiday (scheduled for July 21).
Jazz — curated by Paolo Damiani
A cycle of five concerts with Italian and international artists; announced names include Maria Pia De Vito and Ada Montellanico.
Electronic Music
Evenings featuring contemporary electronic research projects, including juni, Whitemary, and Plastica.
The complete calendar, evening by evening, is published and updated on the official website maxxi.art.
Highlights Summer at MAXXI 2026
- Free opening party on June 18 with a DJ set in the newly redesigned piazza.
- The investigative cinema cycle by Mario Sesti, featuring 'The Post' and 'Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina'.
- Five jazz concerts under the artistic direction of Paolo Damiani.
- Open-air screening of 'Roman Holiday' on July 21 at Arena Cinema Tiziano.
- The 'Rubato' installation, the winning project of the NXT program dedicated to emerging architecture.
- Free access to the piazza before the shows, with food and drink services.
Prices Summer at MAXXI 2026
Practical information — Summer at MAXXI
Location
MAXXI — National Museum of 21st Century Arts, via Guido Reni 4/A, 00196 Rome, Flaminio district. Events take place in the Alighiero Boetti piazza and at the Arena Cinema Tiziano.
How to get there
- Metro: Line A, Flaminio stop, then tram 2 to Apollodoro (a few minutes' walk from the museum).
- Tram/bus: Tram 2, or buses serving Viale Pinturicchio and Via Guido Reni.
- Train: From Roma Termini, take Metro A towards Battistini to Flaminio.
- Car: Paid parking is available in the area; public transport is recommended as the area is very busy on summer evenings.
Tickets
Film screenings: 5 euros (4 euros with myMAXXI card); jazz concerts and electronic music nights: 10 euros (8 euros with myMAXXI card). The opening night on June 18 was free of charge. Free access to the piazza in the evening before the shows, with bar and food services.
Tips
Arrive a little early to enjoy the piazza and the new landscaping; check the updated program and seat availability on the official website maxxi.art, as some evenings sell out. Info: +39 06 39967350.
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Where does it take place — Summer at MAXXI
MAXXI — Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo (Piazza Alighiero Boetti e Arena Cinema Tiziano)
Via Guido Reni 4/A, 00196 Roma