Valli del Noce TrentinoInJazz

Jazz in Piazza Municipio, Cles

The Valli del Noce TrentinoInJazz festival is a cornerstone of the TrentinoInJazz network, which spans the entire Autonomous Province of Trento. Each summer, the Valli del Noce edition features a series of concerts across the squares, villages, and castles of the Val di Non and Val di Sole. In Cles, the heart of the Anaunia region, the concerts take place in Piazza Municipio, drawing a dedicated audience from across the valley for free, open-air evening performances.

A festival rooted in the Anaunia territory

Promoted by Trentino Jazz ETS in collaboration with the Val di Non Community and participating municipalities, and supported by the Autonomous Province of Trento, the festival is artistically directed by Massimo Faes. The project brings jazz to iconic local landmarks—from medieval castles like Castel Valer, Castel Belasi, and Castel Caldes to historic town squares—with Cles serving as a key hub due to its central location in the main town of the Val di Non.

A program blending tradition and contemporary flair

The artistic direction favors contemporary jazz and original projects, fostering a dialogue between improvisation, song, folk traditions, and new musical languages. Alongside the evening concerts, the festival hosts the In the Spirit of Jazz orchestral workshop in Cles, a training project that brings together young musicians from Trentino and Sicily to focus on ensemble playing and improvisation under the guidance of saxophonist Carlo Cattano.

The 2026 Edition

In 2026, the Valli del Noce festival runs from July 15th to 24th with ten concerts throughout the Val di Non. Two evenings are scheduled in Piazza Municipio, Cles: on Friday, July 17th, the final concert of the In the Spirit of Jazz workshop (sixth edition) featuring the big band led by Carlo Cattano, and on Monday, July 20th, the Rebus Quartet with pianist Eugenia Canale, presenting Turandot—a jazz reinterpretation of Puccini's masterpiece that balances respect for the score with improvisational freedom.

A festival celebrating Trentino-Alto Adige

TrentinoInJazz unites various festivals that bring Trentino to life from July to September with around forty concerts. The Valli del Noce section highlights the heart of the Val di Non, showcasing the valley's historic and scenic beauty. Most concerts, including those in Cles, are free to attend, making world-class live music accessible to everyone in the municipality of Cles and the wider Val di Non.