Villa Ada Rome Meets the World

Villa Ada Rome Meets the World: music that unites people

Villa Ada Rome Meets the World is one of the most iconic events of the Roman summer. Born in 1995 as a world music and cultural festival, for nearly thirty years it enlivened the nights in the vast Villa Ada park, in the Trieste-Salario district, becoming a landmark for those seeking live music, civil engagement, and cross-cultural dialogue. It is produced by Arci Rome, the association network that brings together about 90 local circles and over 100,000 members in the capital.

From Villa Ada park to Parco delle Valli

After being centered in Villa Ada from 1995 to 2021, the festival changed location. Born from the synergy with the Arci Rome Circles Festival, since 2024 it has found a new home at the Arena Rino Gaetano, in the heart of Parco delle Valli, in the Conca d'Oro area, within Rome's Municipio III. In 2026, the historic Villa Ada park remained off-limits for large events due to green maintenance work, and the festival confirmed its new dimension at Parco delle Valli, a spacious and well-connected green area in the northern quadrant of the city.

The 2026 Program

The third edition of the Arci Rome event took place from June 16th to 21st, 2026: six evenings, ten live concerts, and a packed calendar of talks, DJ sets, and workshops.

• Tuesday, June 16: Opening with Giulia Mei and Selton, preceded by a tambourine workshop, the Arcobaleno Rome multi-ethnic orchestra, and a public dialogue with Pier Luigi Bersani.
• Wednesday, June 17: The most anticipated night, featuring 99 Posse and Asian Dub Foundation on the same stage.
• Thursday, June 18: Bandabardò, touring for the 25th anniversary of their live album "Se mi rilassa… collassa", with Aldolà Chivalà opening.
• Friday, June 19: Frankie hi-nrg mc with the "Voce e batteria" project, featuring vocals and acoustic drums without loops or sequences.
• Saturday, June 20: Pride day, featuring Priscilla and the Calabrian producer Sarafine.
• Sunday, June 21: Grand finale with Fucksia and the Palestinian collective 47Soul.

World music and social commitment

The festival has always combined great music with social reflection. Alongside the concerts, the lineup offers political debates, discussions on rights, DJ sets, and artistic workshops. Themes such as peace, social justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and solidarity with Palestine run through the six days, faithful to the spirit with which the festival was born: music as a tool for encounter and care.

Rome and Municipio III

With the move to Parco delle Valli, the festival has also become a cultural hub for Municipio III and the northern quadrant of Rome, between Conca d'Oro and Monte Sacro. The Arena Rino Gaetano, named after the Roman singer-songwriter, offers an open-air stage immersed in greenery, easily accessible by subway and urban train.

A free and participatory festival

True to its popular vocation, the festival remains free of charge: all evenings can be accessed with an Arci membership card, which can also be purchased on-site. The area opens in the afternoon with bars, stands, and activities, while concerts on the main stage animate the night until late.