Teatro a Pedali Festival

The theatre that lights up as you pedal

The Teatro a Pedali Festival is the only theatre festival in Italy entirely powered by energy produced by the audience. No power outlets: spectators pedal on specially designed bicycles connected to an electrical cogeneration system, generating the power that runs the show's lights and sound system. A display shows the watts produced in real-time, turning every evening into a collective, fun, and deeply sustainable experience. In 2026, the festival, now in its seventh edition, brings this formula to Sampeyre, a municipality in the upper Varaita Valley in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont.

The Sampeyre event

The Sampeyre stop is scheduled for Friday, July 24, 2026, at 9:00 PM, in Piazza della Vittoria, in the town centre. On stage is "Pedalando tra le storie" by Daniele Ronco, a journey through music and tales that weaves local memory with the ironic and civic spirit that has always characterized the festival. The show is part of a small series animating the Varaita Valley in the summer of 2026 with two other evenings hosted by the Mulino ad Arte company.

A travelling festival across six regions

Conceived in 2019 by Daniele Ronco and produced by the Mulino ad Arte company from Cumiana, Teatro a Pedali began as an almost utopian gesture and is now a recognized cultural project both in Italy and abroad. The 2026 edition runs from May to September with approximately 60 live performances and four international events, spanning six regions: Piedmont, Lombardy, Aosta Valley, Trentino-Alto Adige, Emilia-Romagna, and Apulia. Villages, cities, mountains, and natural spaces become near-zero-impact stages, in collaboration with Enel Green Power.

Culture, environment, and participation

The festival's message is simple yet powerful: culture can be sustainable, shared, and participatory. The shows often address environmental and civic themes with lightness, alternating narrative theatre, live music, and moments of popular science. In Sampeyre, the energy from the audience's pedaling becomes a concrete metaphor for a community that "lights up" together: an experience designed for families, theatre enthusiasts, and the curious of all ages, to be enjoyed outdoors in one of the most evocative valleys of the Saluzzo area.

Why it's worth it

• A unique show in Italy, where you produce the energy that illuminates the stage.
• Theatre, music, and local stories in an exceptional alpine setting.
• A green event suitable for the whole family, in the heart of the Varaita Valley.
• Part of a travelling festival that crosses six Italian regions.