European Folk Music and Dance Festival 2026 in Cortona

Summer in the Valdichiana is the perfect time to enjoy traditional local festivals, rediscover regional customs and spend pleasant evenings outdoors. Squares and villages come alive with music, performances and events that bring together people and cultures from around the world.

Among the highlights of Cortona’s summer calendar is the European Folk Music and Dance Festival, now celebrating its 21st edition. Organised by the Compagnia Il Cilindro, the festival will feature two evenings dedicated to international folklore:

• Wednesday, 12 August 2026, in Piazza Sergardi, Camucia;

• Thursday, 13 August 2026, in Piazza Signorelli, Cortona.

The performances will begin at 9:30 pm, and admission is free.

A Journey Through Traditional Music, Dance and Costumes

The festival will welcome Italian and international folk groups, taking the audience on a journey through the music, dances and traditional costumes of different cultures.

Alongside the Compagnia Il Cilindro, the programme will feature the Gruppo Folkloristico Pavullese from Emilia-Romagna, the Gruppo Sammarcoro from nearby Alberoro, the Folk Ensemble Skalican from Slovakia and, as the festival’s international guest, the Colombian group Otrora Integración Folclórica Colombiana.

Two lively and engaging evenings in which Tuscan traditions will meet those of Italy, Europe and South America, all set against the evocative backdrop of the squares of Camucia and Cortona.

A Final Dance Open to Everyone

As tradition has it, each performance will end with a large group dance involving both artists and spectators. Everyone is welcome to join this joyful celebration of music, friendship and cultural exchange.

The European Folk Music and Dance Festival is a wonderful opportunity to experience the Cortona area on a summer evening, discover its traditions and enjoy the rhythms and colours of international folklore.

Useful Information

Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Camucia – Piazza Sergardi
9:30 pm

Thursday, 13 August 2026
Cortona – Piazza Signorelli
9:30 pm

Free admission