The Witches' Night
Five nights of magic, rituals, and international shows in the village of San Giovanni in Marignano
About Witches' Night
A festival that reignites the ancient magic of San Giovanni
The Witches' Night is the signature event of San Giovanni in Marignano, a village in the Valconca in the Province of Rimini, in Emilia-Romagna. Every year, in the days preceding and accompanying the summer solstice and the night of San Giovanni (June 23rd), the medieval historic center transforms into a large open-air stage: alleys, squares, courtyards, and the Ventena stream bed become settings for shows, rituals, and installations. It is one of the most beloved and recognizable events on the Romagna Riviera, capable of uniting peasant tradition, folklore, and contemporary performing arts.
The legend of witches and the solstice
The festival is rooted in the night of San Giovanni, always considered a magical night in Romagna popular culture, when the boundary between the real and supernatural worlds blurs. It is the night of herbs, spells, and witches, but also of propitiatory rituals linked to the land and harvest: the Water Ritual and the famous Fire Ritual, with the large bonfire lit at midnight in the Ventena stream bed, the most symbolic and attended moment of the entire event.
International shows and street arts
The heart of The Witches' Night is a packed program of shows that animate the village every evening: contemporary circus, street theater, comedy, dance, music, and ritual performances with companies and artists from all over Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Alongside the main stage, experiential paths, site-specific installations, craft markets, divinations, children's workshops, and food stalls with the flavors of Romagna tradition multiply.
An entire village on stage
The strength of the event lies in its widespread nature: not an event concentrated in a single square, but an entire historic center lived and traversed, where every corner holds a surprise. Witches, costumed figures, and urban decorations guide visitors on a journey through memory, nature, and imagination, culminating in the grand final parade preceding the Fire Ritual. Admission to the festival is free, and the organization is managed by the Municipality of San Giovanni in Marignano with the support of Destinazione Romagna and numerous local partners.
Witches' Night — edition 2026
The 40th edition of The Witches' Night takes place from June 19 to 23, 2026 with the theme "Roots. The Call of the Earth", a tribute to Romagna's peasant memory and the deep bond between humans and the earth. Five evenings transform the historic center of San Giovanni in Marignano into a widespread stage for international shows, rituals, installations, and gastronomy, culminating on the solstice with the Fire Ritual at midnight on June 23rd. Admission is free.
The organization is managed by the Municipality of San Giovanni in Marignano with the support of Destinazione Romagna, Cereria Terenzi, Romagna Acque, Banca Malatestiana, and Gruppo Hera.
Programme Witches' Night 2026
Friday, June 19 — Opening
- 8:00 PM — Studio Danza Il Castello: "Humus. The Step of Memory", itinerant flash mob
- 8:00 PM — Scintille. School of Singing, Dance, and Acting: "Roots", performative action
- 8:30 PM — Institutional greetings and official inauguration
Saturday, June 20 — Music
- Concert by Culpable, an Emilian band blending reggae, rock, ska, folk, and electronic music (Caronte space)
International Shows (all evenings)
- Pantao (Germany) — "Wind Horses"
- Nacho Rey (Argentina) — "El Naides"
- Muruya (Argentina) — "Mama Polpo"
- Tsubasa Watanabe (Japan) — "Contour"
- Ramiro Vergaz (Spain) — "White Bottom"
- Mr Dyvinetz (Chile) — Cyr wheel performance
- Chien Hung-Kuo (Taiwan) — "Moving Zen"
- Compagnia Cho Kairin (China) — "I See You"
- Compagnia Chilowatt — "Rex", electric circus inspired by Nikola Tesla
- Compagnia Bellavita — "Menù del giorno", juggling and comedy
- Agro The Clown — "Improlocura"
- Monsieur & die Dame am Klavier (Germany) — "Humor in Black and White" (national premiere)
- Quetzalcoatl (Mexico) — "Ritual de fuoco"
Installations and Experiential Spaces
- Arborium – The Breath of Roots (curated by Bimbi per Natura): ritualistic path among herbs and talismans
- Locus Locorum (curated by Pro Loco): folklore, divinations, and crafts with over 50 artists
- Regno di Fuori: children's area in the municipal library garden
- Alveo X TE (Cereria Terenzi): site-specific installation with eight monumental candles, lights, and V Canto scents
- L'Alveo dei Sussurri (Teatro Cinquequattrini): ritual performance for small groups
Tuesday, June 23 — Solstice Night
- Grand parade led by the witches
- At midnight — Fire Ritual in the Ventena stream bed, the most symbolic and attended moment of the festival
Highlights Witches' Night 2026
Prices Witches' Night 2026
Practical information — Witches' Night
How to get there
San Giovanni in Marignano is located in the hinterland of the Romagna Riviera, a few kilometers from Cattolica and Riccione. By car: A14 motorway, exit Cattolica-San Giovanni in Marignano-Gabicce Mare, then follow signs for the center. By train: Cattolica-San Giovanni-Gabicce station on the Adriatic line, then bus or taxi. Nearest airport: Rimini "Federico Fellini".
Admission and times
Free admission. The event mainly takes place in the evening: markets and food stalls open in the late afternoon, shows start around 8:00 PM - 8:30 PM and continue until late at night. The night of June 23rd concludes with the parade and the Fire Ritual at midnight.
Tips
Arrive early to find parking near the center and wear comfortable shoes for walking through the village alleys. The festival often coincides with the Riviera's Notte Rosa (Pink Night): book accommodation in the surrounding area (Cattolica, Riccione, Misano) in advance.
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Where does it take place — Witches' Night
Centro storico e alveo del torrente Ventena
Centro storico, 47842 San Giovanni in Marignano