Montefeltro Festival 2026
Tuesday, June 16th, 2026
23rd Edition
A travelling Festival held across Novafeltria, San Mauro Pascoli, Cattolica, Sant'Agata Feltria, Villagrande di Montecopiolo, Montefiore Conca and Verucchio.
The 23rd edition of the Montefeltro Festival, co-produced with the prestigious American Summer Programs La Musica Lirica (USA) and Classic Lyric Arts (USA), continues to shine as a beacon of the art of Bel Canto. This travelling festival offers an exceptional launching pad for international artists aspiring to perform on some of the world's most renowed stages. By immersing themselves for several weeks in the culture, language and traditions of Italian opera, participants gain a life-changing experience that has already helped shape the artistic careers of many young performers.
From its very beginning, the Festival has sought not only to engage opera enthusiasts, but also to reach those who may feel distant from the world of opera. Following their intensive training at the opera academy, these young international artists develop the ability to communicate words, music and gesture with remarkable clarity, drawing audiences directly into the stories being told, where singing and music amplify every emotion and dramatic nuance. Opera is one of the richest legacies of the Italian Renaissance, a period that placed humanity in all its complexity at the center of artistic axpression. Today, perhaps more than ever, those human values are challenged by forces that limit personal freedom and self-determination, whether through oppression, social conventions or ideological constraints.
The performers presented in the historic theaters and artistic venues of Romagna are all live productions, carrying with them the unique charm of authenticity and the excitement of the unexpected.
The operas presented in July explore themes that challenge social conventions. Domenico Cimarosa's L'impresario in angustie offers an ironic and witty glimpse behind audiences to reflect on the complexities of love and gender roles; and Giacomo Puccini's La Rondine tells a poignant love story set against a society whose conventions are beginning to crack and transform.
Two special concerts expand beyond the boundaries of Bel Canto. On July 4th, a distinguished musical theater performer and faculty member of our summer program will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, a nation long regarded as a symbol of individual freedom. On July 10th, audiences will embark on a musical journey around the world through songs from the artists' countries of origin. This programme reveals how human emotions, though expressed in many different ways, remain fundamentally the same across cultures and continents, reminding us of our shared humanity beyond all borders.
Through ProgettOperinfanzia, children are given the opportunity to discover what happens behind the scenes of an opera production after first hearing the story presented as a fairy tale specially adapted for young audiences.
In August, Classic Lyric Arts, New York, presents three semi-staged concert evenings in which voice, text and gesture come together to highlight the powerful dramatic core of the Bel Canto repertoire. These performances are complemented by an artists' showcase concert and a festive farewell event featuring Broadway songs and music from the performers' home countries. A sparkling goodbye to the welcoming town of Novafeltria.
Many of the artists appearing at this year's Festival will go on to become the next stars of the international music scene. For that reason, we prefer not to reveal their names in advance: it is far more exciting to discover them unexpectedly at one of our performances. Allow yourself to be captivated by these emerging talents as they reveal the results of their dedication and intensive training throughout the Festival.
Who knows? One day you may find yourself saying:
"I heard that voice at the Montefeltro Festival long before the rest of the world did".