Vignale in Danza on Tour 2026 (Quargnento stop)

Dance arrives in Quargnento

On September 13, 2026, the town of Quargnento, in the province of Alessandria, becomes one of the most evocative stops of Vignale in Danza on Tour, the decentralized section of the International Dance Festival that enlivens the Piedmontese Monferrato every summer. The festival brings great dance out of theaters and into the streets, squares, and heritage sites of small local towns, choosing one of its most beloved monuments as a backdrop in Quargnento: the Basilica of San Dalmazio.

"Emotions in Verse and Dance"

The Quargnento stop is part of the "Emotions in Verse and Dance" project, developed in collaboration with the Associazione Amici di Palazzo Callori. The idea is to weave together three different languages—dance, poetry, and heritage discovery—into a single experience. Alongside the dance performances, the public can participate in a guided tour and, as a major new attraction, climb the 16th-century bell tower of the Basilica of San Dalmazio to admire the village and the Monferrato countryside from above.

The Basilica of San Dalmazio

The Basilica of San Dalmazio is the religious and historical heart of Quargnento. The church was rebuilt starting in 1270 and is completed by an imposing 16th-century bell tower; in 1992, it was elevated to the dignity of a Basilica for its historical, artistic, and spiritual value. Making this place the stage for a dance event means restoring art to its popular and shared dimension, capable of engaging with the identity of a Monferrato town.

A growing festival in Monferrato

Vignale in Danza is a rapidly expanding event, which over the years has grown from a few hundred to over seven thousand attendees. Artistically directed by Michela Maggiolo and organized by the APS Stabilimento delle Arti, in 2026 the festival runs from June 24 to early November, with performances, international competitions, masterclasses, and artistic residencies concentrated in Vignale Monferrato, along with the decentralized stops of "Vignale in Danza on Tour" and "Waiting for Vignale in Danza" reaching towns such as Alessandria, Montecastello, Mirabello Monferrato, and, indeed, Quargnento.

Why it's worth attending

Participating in the Quargnento stop means experiencing dance in an authentic setting, far from major urban circuits, while discovering a corner of Monferrato—a land of hills and vineyards recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a unique opportunity to combine the emotion of live performance with the beauty of a historical heritage that is rarely accessible in such an intimate way, right up to the top of the bell tower.