Taormina Arte – International Festival

Taormina Arte, art under the Sicilian stars

Taormina Arte – International Festival is one of the most important cultural events of the Italian summer. Every year, from July to September, the Ancient Theatre of Taormina, in the town of Taormina in the province of Messina, becomes the setting for a festival that weaves together opera, dance, theatre, symphonic music, and major popular concerts. Spectators enjoy performances with a view that is unique in the world: the Greco-Roman cavea overlooking the Ionian Sea, with the silhouette of Mount Etna framing the horizon.

A history spanning over forty years

Founded in 1983, Taormina Arte has accompanied the cultural history of Sicily, bringing national and international names to the stage of the ancient theatre. Today, the festival is managed by the Fondazione Taormina Arte Sicilia, with the support of the Sicilian Region and the Ministry of Culture, and in collaboration with the Naxos-Taormina Archaeological Park. The festival's vocation is explicitly multidisciplinary: a single season brings together grand opera, classical and contemporary ballet, prose theatre, chamber music, jazz, and concerts by the most beloved Italian artists.

A program for every audience

The programming of Taormina Arte is designed to cater to diverse tastes while maintaining high artistic quality. Recurring festival offerings include:

• Opera with great repertoire titles, from Puccini's Tosca to Rossini's Barber of Seville, performed with orchestra and choir;
• Dance and ballet, featuring internationally renowned events such as the Roberto Bolle gala and productions by the Sicilian ballet;
• Symphonic concerts and evocative dawn concerts, musical moments performed at the first light of day;
• Major pop and rock concerts, which make the Ancient Theatre a coveted stop on both Italian and international summer tours.

The charm of the Ancient Theatre

Built in the Hellenistic era and expanded by the Romans, the Ancient Theatre of Taormina is one of Sicily's most famous monuments, offering acoustics and views that make every performance an unrepeatable experience. Attending Taormina Arte means combining the enjoyment of a major live event with the discovery of one of the island's most beautiful villages, amidst narrow alleys, panoramic terraces, and Mediterranean atmospheres.

An event to experience

For culture lovers and tourists visiting Sicily, Taormina Arte represents the ideal opportunity to experience the best of live performance in one of the most iconic locations in the Mediterranean. Year after year, the festival confirms its status as a landmark for the cultural life of the province of Messina and the entire region.