Veria Fest — Widespread Festival of Equal Opportunities and Sense of Community

A widespread festival in the heart of Sannio

Veria Fest is the "Widespread Festival of Equal Opportunities and Sense of Community" held in Pago Veiano, a town of just over two thousand inhabitants in the province of Benevento, in the inland Sannio area of Campania. The concept of a "widespread festival" is more than just a label: there is no single stage here, as the program is distributed throughout the historic center and the town's iconic landmarks—Palazzo Casalbore, the Church of San Michele, the Fontanelle, the municipal gardens, and Piazza Madonna del SS. Rosario—turning the entire village into a walkable path of encounters.

The event was launched in 2025 by the Artemide APS Association, a local all-female organization, and returned in June 2026 for its second edition. In a region marked by the depopulation of inland areas, the festival has quickly become a symbol of local identity. The mayor of Pago Veiano, Mauro De Ieso, described it as "a beautiful event that brings prestige to our town, placing us at the center of a fundamental cultural and social debate."

Equal opportunities, psychological well-being, community

Veria Fest revolves around five key words declared by the organizers: transformation, emancipation, resistance, lasting impact, and inclusive hospitality. The common thread is gender equality viewed alongside individual and collective psychological well-being, inclusion, and the strengthening of the social fabric. It is not merely an entertainment festival: alongside shows and music, there are discussion circles, student debates, book presentations, and round tables with psychology and mental health professionals active in Campania and nationwide.

What to expect in the program

• Experiential workshops — Gyrokinesis, yoga, dance therapy, photography, readings against gender stereotypes, women's wellness, and female entrepreneurship: activities with limited spots, usually concentrated in the early morning.
• Talks and women's circles — Meetings with psychologists, anthropologists, university researchers, and entrepreneurs on leadership, language, social image, and participation.
• Performances — Dance choreography, monologues, evening theater at Palazzo Casalbore, performances by the Artemide choir, and themed parades on equal opportunities.
• Local territory — Guided tours curated by the Pro Loco, excursions, climbing, and food and wine workshops.
• Conviviality — The community lunch in the square, open to everyone, is one of the festival's rituals, along with the community dinner featuring live music.

The 2026 edition

The second edition took place from Friday, June 19 to Sunday, June 21, 2026. It was presented on June 17 at the Sala dell'Assunta in Palazzo San Domenico, home to the University of Sannio in Benevento, in the presence of Rector Maria Moreno, Equal Opportunities Delegate Daniela Zuzolo, Artemide APS President Stefania Mercuri, and Artistic Director Lucia De Rosa. Three days marked by workshops for all ages, the presentation of the "Donne in Essere" project, the "Il Suono delle Parole" writing contest, and evening performances at Palazzo Casalbore.

A network of associations and institutions

The festival is promoted by Artemide APS in collaboration with CSV Irpinia Sannio ETS, the Youth Forum, the Pro Loco, and the Municipal Administration of Pago Veiano, involving schools, professional orders, and the #IDonna network of Confindustria. The event is also endorsed by the Order of Psychologists of the Campania Region, reflecting the professional quality of its content.

Why it's worth visiting

Veria Fest is one of the most interesting examples of a civil festival born in a small Campanian town: free, participatory, and capable of fostering dialogue between the local community and researchers, associations, and guests from outside the region. Visitors from afar will find a dense yet village-scale three-day event, where one can move in minutes from a dance therapy workshop to a community lunch in the square, and where the Sannio region tells its story without superficial folklore.