Valsugana and Vigolana International Festival
Opera at Castello di Ivano, within the walls of a Valsugana manor
About Valsugana and Vigolana Festival
Opera at Castello di Ivano
The Valsugana and Vigolana International Festival is a traveling opera festival that traverses the municipalities of the Valsugana valley and the Vigolana Plateau, in the province of Trento, within the Trentino-Alto Adige region. Conceived and produced by the Belcanto Academy APS under the artistic direction of soprano Francesca Micarelli, the festival transforms thermal squares, ancient churches, castles, and auditoriums into stages for opera, bringing the general public closer to a heritage often perceived as distant.
In the municipality of Castel Ivano, the festival finds an exceptional setting in the Castello di Ivano, one of the best-preserved manors in Trentino, perched on a rocky spur at the entrance to the Valsugana valley. Its historic halls host concerts and operatic productions that engage with the medieval architecture, in an atmosphere that enhances the voice and live music.
A widespread, free, and sustainable festival
The formula is as simple as it is ambitious: all events are free of charge and feature young international artists selected for the Belcanto Academy Opera Studio advanced training program. Singers, pianists, and, on some evenings, the Young OperaLab Orchestra perform a program ranging from the most famous arias and duets to complete productions of major repertoire titles.
The festival involves some of the most evocative locations in eastern Trentino — Levico Terme, Pergine Valsugana, Grigno, Borgo Valsugana, Roncegno Terme, Castello Tesino, Calliano in Vallagarina, and the Vigolana Plateau — with Castel Ivano being one of the most anticipated stops thanks to the charm of its castle and the hamlet of Spera. The festival is produced in collaboration with municipal administrations and with the support of the Autonomous Province of Trento; the festival has been awarded the Eco Eventi Trentino label.
Why attend
- High-quality opera with young international talent, completely free of charge
- Concerts in the historic setting of Castello di Ivano
- A long calendar, from June to December, accompanying the entire season
- Complete productions of the great repertoire, set in the Valsugana valley
- A project that combines advanced musical training with the promotion of the territory
For opera lovers and those approaching this world for the first time, the Valsugana and Vigolana International Festival is a rare opportunity to listen to great live music in an alpine setting with a strong identity.
Valsugana and Vigolana Festival — edition 2026
2026 Edition in Castel Ivano
The fifth edition of the Valsugana and Vigolana International Festival consists of thirteen free events from June to December 2026, under the artistic direction of Francesca Micarelli. The guiding theme is the 500th anniversary of the Peasants' War, the revolt of the rural classes against the clergy and feudal power that marked these territories in the 16th century.
The municipality of Castel Ivano hosts two events. The first is the concert "Intrigues and Power within the Manor Walls", scheduled for July 1st at 9:00 PM in the setting of Castello di Ivano: a journey through famous arias and pages designed to engage with the manor's atmosphere. The second is one of the performances of the production of Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro", on stage on December 10th in the hamlet of Spera, as part of a cycle of five performances (from December 9th to 13th) that the opera will have between Borgo Valsugana, Castel Ivano, Tezze, Castello Tesino, and Pergine Valsugana.
The protagonists are the young international artists of the Belcanto Academy Opera Studio 2026, joined on some evenings by the Young OperaLab Orchestra. The entire festival is free of charge and carries the Eco Eventi Trentino label.
Programme Valsugana and Vigolana Festival 2026
Castel Ivano stops in 2026
- July 1st, 9:00 PM — Castello di Ivano: "Intrigues and Power within the Manor Walls" (opera concert)
- December 10th — Spera (Castel Ivano): Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro"
Within the context of the entire festival
- June 30th — Levico Terme: inaugural concert "Opera under the stars"
- September 15th-18th — stops in Vigolo Vattaro, Grigno, Roncegno Terme, and Levico Terme
- November 12th and 15th — Calliano and Borgo Valsugana
- December 9th-13th — five performances of "The Marriage of Figaro" in Valsugana
Highlights Valsugana and Vigolana Festival 2026
- Concert "Intrigues and Power within the Manor Walls" at Castello di Ivano (July 1st)
- Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" in Spera (December 10th)
- 500th anniversary of the Peasants' War as the edition's theme
- Young international artists from the Belcanto Academy Opera Studio
- Free admission and Eco Eventi Trentino label
Prices Valsugana and Vigolana Festival 2026
Practical information — Valsugana and Vigolana Festival
Where
The Castel Ivano events are held at the Castello di Ivano (in the hamlet of Ivano-Fracena) and, for operatic productions, in the hamlet of Spera. Other concerts of the festival take place in the other municipalities of the Valsugana valley, on the Vigolana Plateau, and in Calliano.
How to get there
Castel Ivano is located in the lower Valsugana valley, in the province of Trento. It can be reached by car via the SS47 Valsugana state road; the reference railway station is on the Trento-Venice line (Valsugana line).
Admission
All events are free of charge. As this is a traveling festival, it is recommended to check the times and venues for each individual concert.
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Where does it take place — Valsugana and Vigolana Festival
Castello di Ivano