Sustainable Development Festival - Rome Stage (ASviS)
The Rome stage of Italy's largest event dedicated to the 2030 Agenda
About Sustainable Development Festival Rome
A month to talk about sustainability
The Sustainable Development Festival is Italy's largest awareness-raising initiative on sustainability, promoted by ASviS - the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development, a network bringing together over three hundred civil society, academic, and business organizations. Launched in 2017, the Festival has been recognized by the UN SDG Action Campaign as an innovative and unique international experience.
Each edition lasts as many days as there are 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the 2030 Agenda and features hundreds of events spread across Italy. Rome, home to the Alliance and the country's institutional heart, hosts the most significant stage: the one where proposals gathered during the Festival are presented to the institutions.
The Rome stage
In the capital, the Festival is not concentrated in one place but moves through the city, occupying diverse venues: the parliamentary halls of Palazzo Montecitorio, the historic Rai studios on via Asiago, and the exhibition spaces of the Palazzo della Calcografia in the Trevi district. This choice aligns with the spirit of the event, which aims to take sustainability out of specialized circles and into citizens' daily lives.
The Roman program alternates between political and institutional discussions and cultural and musical events. Alongside conferences, there are award ceremonies for school competitions, podcasts produced with Rai and non-governmental organizations, exhibitions, and concerts. Many events are live-streamed to reach those who cannot be physically present.
What to expect
- Institutional conferences at the Chamber of Deputies, presenting the proposals that emerged from the Festival
- Meetings with civil society, associations, businesses, and local administrations
- Cultural events dedicated to the relationship between culture and sustainable development
- Concerts and radio productions created with Rai Radio and humanitarian organizations
- School awards for students of all levels
Rome and the 2030 Agenda
The choice of Rome as the closing venue is no coincidence. The city is home to ASviS, located on via Farini, and the main United Nations agencies for food and agriculture, effectively making it a global hub for the sustainable development debate. The Rome stage of the Festival leverages this vocation, bringing together parliamentarians, researchers, businesses, the third sector, and students.
For the Province of Rome and the entire Lazio region, the Festival also represents an opportunity for widespread participation: universities, schools, libraries, and local associations organize dozens of independent initiatives every year that join the national program, from nature walks to circular economy workshops.
How to participate
Almost all events are free to attend. Some appointments, particularly those hosted in institutional venues or television studios, require prior online registration due to capacity and access restrictions. The full calendar, updated until a few days before the start, is available on the official Festival website, where you can filter events by city, date, and 2030 Agenda Goal.
Sustainable Development Festival Rome — edition 2026
The tenth edition
2026 marked the tenth anniversary of the Sustainable Development Festival and ASviS. The event, presented at a press conference on April 21, 2026, opened on May 6 in Milan and continued until May 22 in eight Italian and European cities - Milan, Brussels, Bologna, Parma, Turin, Florence, Bari, Genoa, and Rome - with over 600 events on the program organized by universities, schools, associations, businesses, and local authorities.
The edition's theme, "Shining a light on sustainability", accompanied the communication campaign dedicated to the results achieved and the future priorities of the 2030 Agenda.
Rome, the closing stage
The capital hosted the most anticipated institutional moment and the two closing events, which extended the Festival until May 27.
Programme Sustainable Development Festival Rome 2026
Rome - May 22, 2026
"Building the future: strategies for a sustainable Italy" - Restitution event at Palazzo Montecitorio, Sala della Regina. Proposals on environmental, social, and economic issues that emerged during the Festival weeks were presented to institutions, along with a report on civil society mobilization.
Rome - May 25, 2026
Africa Day Concert, second edition, in the historic Sala B on via Asiago. Organized by Rai Radio, Amref, and ASviS, it was broadcast live on Rai Radio2 from 7:45 PM to 9:00 PM and in a video version on channel 202. Hosted by Sara Zambotti and Massimo Cirri; on stage: Fiorella Mannoia, Mirkoeilcane, Epoque, Kaze, Lina Simons, Chris Obey, Andrea Satta, Eddie Brock, Chiara Galiazzo, Senhit, and Matador. On the same occasion, the podcast "Teranga - The sound of development" was presented, a Rai Radio production with ASviS and Amref, featuring Giobbe Covatta, dedicated to stories, voices, and territories of Senegal along the pillars of the 2030 Agenda.
Rome - May 27, 2026
"The necessary Goal: culture, the foundation of sustainable development" - Palazzo della Calcografia. Meeting dedicated to the role of culture as a pillar of sustainable development, followed by the award ceremony for the "Facciamo 17 Goal" school competition, aimed at students of all levels.
Other national stages
- May 6, Milan - opening on business and finance, with the presentation of the ASviS Spring Report
- May 8, Brussels - "European Leadership for the Future", at the European Economic and Social Committee
- May 11-12, Bologna - sustainable and inclusive cities, at the Oratorio San Filippo Neri
- May 13, Parma - "Future Day" by Ecosistema Futuro
- May 14-16, Turin - "From AI to the self", at the International Book Fair
- May 15, Florence - "Energy Square" at Palazzo Vecchio
- May 18, Bari - innovation and reduction of inequalities
- May 18, Bologna - artificial intelligence and sustainability at the Fondazione Mast
- May 20, Genoa - environment and biodiversity, at the Aquarium
Highlights Sustainable Development Festival Rome 2026
- Tenth edition of the Festival and tenth anniversary of ASviS
- Over 600 events on the program throughout Italy and Europe
- Theme "Shining a light on sustainability"
- Restitution of proposals to institutions at Palazzo Montecitorio
- Africa Day concert live on Rai Radio2 with Fiorella Mannoia and Chiara Galiazzo
- Podcast "Teranga - The sound of development" with Giobbe Covatta
- Award ceremony for the "Facciamo 17 Goal" school competition
Prices Sustainable Development Festival Rome 2026
Practical information — Sustainable Development Festival Rome
How to get there
Rome is served by Fiumicino and Ciampino airports and by the Roma Termini and Roma Tiburtina railway stations, both connected by high-speed rail. The Festival venues are almost all in the city center: Palazzo Montecitorio and the Trevi district are a few minutes' walk from the Barberini and Spagna metro stops (Line A), while the Rai headquarters on via Asiago can be reached via the Lepanto metro stop or surface buses. We highly recommend using public transport: the historic center is a restricted traffic zone.
Admission and booking
Most events are free. For appointments hosted at the Chamber of Deputies and in Rai studios, online registration is required; for parliamentary venues, appropriate attire and a valid ID are mandatory.
Tips
The program is very rich and spread over several weeks: it is advisable to check the official calendar a few days in advance and select the meetings of interest. Many events can be followed via live stream.
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Where does it take place — Sustainable Development Festival Rome
Varie sedi cittadine (Palazzo Montecitorio, Sala B di via Asiago, Palazzo della Calcografia)