TolfArte - International Street Art and Artistic Craftsmanship Festival
The village in the Tolfa Mountains that turns into an open-air stage
About TolfArte
TolfArte, the village that becomes a stage
Since 2005, on the first weekend of August, the town of Tolfa — a hillside village perched in the Tolfa Mountains, in the province of Rome, northern Lazio — has hosted TolfArte, the International Street Art and Artistic Craftsmanship Festival. For three days, the alleys, squares, and historic buildings of the center transform into a natural backdrop with a dozen performance spots, featuring over a hundred completely free shows: aerial acrobatics, contemporary circus, clowning, live music, theater, dance, art exhibitions, and literary meetings.
A story of community and wonder
Born as a meeting point between local craft traditions — Tolfa is famous for its leatherwork and the «catana» bag — street art, and contemporary languages, the festival has grown to become one of the most important street art events in Central Italy, awarded in 2011 as the «Best Emerging Festival in Italy» and patronized by EXPO Milano 2015. The organization is managed by the TolfArte Social Promotion Association under the artistic direction of Claudio Coticoni (Scuderie MArteLive), with the support of the Municipality of Tolfa and the Lazio Region. Each edition attracts tens of thousands of spectators from all over Italy and artists from around the world.
The 2026 edition: «Metamorfosis»
The 22nd edition, scheduled from August 7th to 9th, 2026, features the theme «Metamorfosis — Where everything changes form»: metamorphosis as a transformative force to be experienced and lived, through visions, moving bodies, and new identities. The program includes the national premiere of the aerial acrobatics show «Sfera» by the company eVenti Verticali, suspended twenty meters high, concerts by Nobraino and Zinarhua, the new wellness section «The Creative Garden» in the Municipal Villa, the Literary Space in collaboration with the Tolfa Gialli & Noir festival, and the unmissable TolfArte Kids.
The festival sections
- Circus and street arts: aerial acrobatics, contemporary circus, clowning, and vertical dance in the squares and on the facades of the village;
- Live music: evening concerts and roving bands until late at night;
- Artistic craftsmanship: the creators and artisans market curated by Hippy Market;
- TolfArte Kids: shows and workshops for children in the Municipal Villa garden;
- Literary Space: meetings with authors in the Palazzaccio courtyard;
- Exhibitions and installations: displays at the Palazzaccio, Palazzo Buttaoni, and the Rocca di Tolfa.
Tolfa and its mountains
Visiting TolfArte also means discovering one of the most authentic villages in Lazio: the fortress (Rocca) overlooking the countryside down to the sea of Civitavecchia, the tradition of the butteri (cowboys) and horses raised in the wild, and the hillside gastronomy of the Roman Tuscia. The festival, with strictly free admission, is the perfect opportunity for a short holiday between art and nature, just over an hour from Rome.
TolfArte — edition 2026
From August 7 to 9, 2026, the historic center of Tolfa hosts the 22nd edition of TolfArte, dedicated to the theme of metamorphosis as a transformative force: an invitation to change through visions, moving bodies, and new identities. The festival confirms its successful formula: over a hundred free shows distributed across a dozen spots among squares, alleys, and historic buildings of the village.
The highlight event is the national premiere of «Sfera», an aerial acrobatics show by the company eVenti Verticali suspended twenty meters high, performed on the evening of Friday, August 7, after the traditional welcome ritual. On Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th, from 6:30 PM until late at night, contemporary circus, clowning, dance, and live music will alternate, with the Zinarhua concert on Saturday and the grand finale by Nobraino on Sunday.
A 2026 novelty is «The Creative Garden», a wellness section hosted in the morning in the Municipal Villa. Also returning are the Tolfa Gialli & Noir OFF Literary Space in the Palazzaccio courtyard, TolfArte Kids with shows and workshops for children, the artistic craft market curated by Hippy Market, and exhibitions at the Palazzaccio, Palazzo Buttaoni, and the Rocca di Tolfa. In Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the food area features street chefs and the official San Biagio beer.
Programme TolfArte 2026
Friday, August 7
- Traditional welcome ritual to open the festival
- National premiere of «Sfera», aerial acrobatics at 20 meters high by the company eVenti Verticali (with Andrea Piallini, Gaia Pascolo, Susanna Defraia, Martina Mastroviti, Valeria Serra, and Valeria Ugone)
Saturday, August 8
- From 9:00 AM: «The Creative Garden», wellness activities in the Municipal Villa
- From 6:00 PM: TolfArte Kids, shows and workshops for children
- From 6:30 PM until late: contemporary circus, acrobatics, clowning, dance, and music throughout the village
- In the evening: Zinarhua concert (world music)
Sunday, August 9
- From 9:00 AM: wellness activities in the Municipal Villa
- From 6:00 PM: TolfArte Kids
- From 6:30 PM: widespread shows in the historic center
- Grand finale: Nobraino concert
Daily
- Tolfa Gialli & Noir OFF Literary Space in the Palazzaccio courtyard
- Exhibitions at the Palazzaccio, Palazzo Buttaoni, and the Rocca di Tolfa
- Artistic craftsmanship curated by Hippy Market
- Improvised guitar with Daniele Romeo, puppets by Teatr'Azione, vintage funfair games by Daniele Antonini
- Food area in Piazza Vittorio Veneto (Saturday and Sunday) with street chefs and San Biagio beer
Highlights TolfArte 2026
- National premiere of «Sfera» by eVenti Verticali, aerial acrobatics at 20 meters
- Concerts by Zinarhua (Saturday) and Nobraino (Sunday)
- New wellness section «The Creative Garden» at the Municipal Villa
- Over 100 free shows at 12 spots in the village
- TolfArte Kids, Literary Space, and artistic crafts by Hippy Market
Prices TolfArte 2026
Practical information — TolfArte
How to get there
By car from Rome (approx. 70 km): take the SS1 Aurelia or the A12 motorway to Civitavecchia, then the provincial road to Tolfa; alternatively, take the Via Braccianese passing through Bracciano and Manziana. By train: Civitavecchia station (Rome-Pisa line), then Cotral bus to Tolfa.
Admission
All festival shows have free admission. Food area with paid service in Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
Tips
During the festival, the historic center is pedestrianized: it is best to arrive in the late afternoon and park in the areas outside the village. Wear comfortable shoes for the uphill alleys and bring a sweater for the cool hillside evenings.
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Where does it take place — TolfArte
Centro storico di Tolfa
Centro storico, 00059 Tolfa