White Night of Cultures
The multicultural White Night closing the Festival of Cultures in the heart of L'Aquila, Italian Capital of Culture 2026
About White Night of Cultures
A White Night dedicated to the meeting of peoples
The White Night of Cultures is a grand, city-wide festival that transforms L'Aquila's historic center into a mosaic of languages, music, and traditions from around the world, from afternoon until midnight. Squares, courtyards, bookstores, foundations, and museums across the Abruzzo capital host dozens of free or low-cost events designed to showcase the richness of intercultural dialogue and the city's welcoming spirit.
The event closing the Festival of Cultures
The festival was born as the closing event of the Festival of Cultures, a series promoted by the L'Aquila Film Festival association and supported by the Department of Human Sciences of the University of L'Aquila. Focused on multiculturalism and an increasingly participatory, workshop-based approach, the festival features young foreigners living and studying in L'Aquila as protagonists, bringing their own unique stories and perspectives. The White Night is also part of the L'Aquila Italian Capital of Culture 2026 calendar, one of the most anticipated events of the year for the municipality and the entire Abruzzo region.
Music, art, and flavors of the world
The heart of the evening is roaming music: ensembles and artists traverse the city streets, performing world music repertoires, traditional songs, and sounds from every continent. Alongside the concerts, there are photography exhibitions, themed guided tours, book and comic presentations, theater workshops, multi-ethnic tastings, and social gatherings. Highlights include the Piazza Palazzo Policultural Orchestra, a symbol of integration in L'Aquila that brings together musicians of diverse backgrounds, and the international karaoke, an evening open to songs and languages from all over the world.
A widespread European project
The White Night of Cultures brings a truly international dimension to L'Aquila thanks to the European BIP (Blended Intensive Program) project of the EULiST alliance, involving students and professors from universities in Spain, Sweden, Slovakia, Germany, and Greece. Museums like MAXXI L'Aquila, the Giorgio de Marchis Bonanni d'Ocre Foundation, independent bookstores, and cultural spaces across the city become stops on a journey that blends contemporary art, literature, cinema, and live performance.
An event for the whole city
With most activities free of charge, the White Night of Cultures is an invitation to experience L'Aquila's historic center in a new way, strolling from square to square and letting yourself be surprised by the sounds and colors of world cultures. It is a unique opportunity for residents and visitors alike to discover the new cultural vitality of the Abruzzo capital in a year that sees the city center stage on the national scene.
White Night of Cultures — edition 2026
The first edition of the White Night of Cultures
On Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 3:30 PM to midnight, L'Aquila's historic center hosted the first edition of the White Night of Cultures, the closing event of the Festival of Cultures promoted by the L'Aquila Film Festival with the University of L'Aquila. The program featured 17 widespread events with 14 partners, as part of L'Aquila Italian Capital of Culture 2026.
The program
The evening opened with a multi-ethnic breakfast in Piazza Duomo and traversed the city with guided tours, theater workshops, and book and comic presentations. At 5:00 PM, at the Auditorium del Parco, there was a meeting with Licia Colò titled "Traveling to move towards the Other." From 6:00 PM, the center was animated by roaming musicians Discanto, Eoan O'Dean, Vlada Shamova, I Refusi, and Mikorizo, with world music performances.
Music and world cultures
- Concert by the Piazza Palazzo Policultural Orchestra (9:00 PM, Auditorium del Parco)
- International karaoke at I Due Magi, free admission
- Special guided tours in English at the MAXXI L'Aquila Museum (Ai Weiwei: Aftershock exhibition)
- Photography exhibition "Imagining the Invisible" dedicated to Japan and Noh theater, with a shakuhachi performance
- Activities of the European EULiST BIP project with 22 international students from Spain, Sweden, Slovakia, Germany, and Greece
The final jam session at I Due Magi, featuring food and music, closed a night dedicated to dialogue between peoples in the heart of the Abruzzo capital.
Programme White Night of Cultures 2026
Saturday, June 6, 2026 - L'Aquila historic center (3:30 PM - midnight)
- 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - Piazza Duomo: multi-ethnic breakfast/tasting at Gelateria Duomo with special "L'Aquila 2026" and "Duomo" flavors
- 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM - Giorgio de Marchis Bonanni d'Ocre Foundation: guided tours of the photography exhibition "Imagining the Invisible" (Fabio Massimo Fioravanti), dedicated to Japan and Noh theater
- 4:00 PM - Spazio Teatro 26: theater workshop, improvisation, and stand-up
- 5:00 PM - Auditorium del Parco: meeting with Licia Colò, "Traveling to move towards the Other"
- 6:00 PM - De Marchis Foundation: shakuhachi (Japanese flute) performance by Fabrizio Valente
- 6:00 PM onwards - Historic center: roaming world music with Discanto, Eoan O'Dean, Vlada Shamova, I Refusi, Mikorizo
- 6:00 PM - City bookstores: book and comic presentations (Polarville, Colacchi, Liberamia) and reading-tastings
- 7:00 PM - MAXXI L'Aquila Museum: special guided tour in English of the "Ai Weiwei: Aftershock" exhibition
- 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM - I Due Magi / CAI headquarters: Multicultural Trivial and EULiST BIP 2026 project activities
- 8:00 PM - I Due Magi: international karaoke, free admission
- 9:00 PM - Auditorium del Parco: concert by the Piazza Palazzo Policultural Orchestra
- 10:30 PM - I Due Magi: closing jam session, food & music
Highlights White Night of Cultures 2026
- First-ever edition: 17 widespread events with 14 partners
- Meeting with Licia Colò at the Auditorium del Parco
- Piazza Palazzo Policultural Orchestra
- International karaoke and roaming world music
- European EULiST BIP project with students from 5 countries
Prices White Night of Cultures 2026
Practical information — White Night of Cultures
Getting there
L'Aquila's historic center can be reached by car via the A24 Rome-L'Aquila-Teramo motorway (L'Aquila Ovest or Est exit) and by bus via regional and national connections stopping at the Collemaggio Terminal. From there, the heart of the city is within walking distance.
Hours and locations
Events take place from the afternoon until midnight, spread across squares, bookstores, museums, and foundations in the historic center (Auditorium del Parco, MAXXI L'Aquila Museum, Giorgio de Marchis Foundation, city bookstores).
Admission and reservations
Most activities are free; some events (workshops, tastings) require a small contribution. Several events require mandatory booking through the organization's channels. Full program and reservations are available on the website www.laquilafilmfestival.it.
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Where does it take place — White Night of Cultures
Centro storico dell'Aquila