AstiTeatro
One of Italy's longest-running theatre festivals, held by the Comune di Asti every June since 1979: about ten days of new Italian and international theatre, dance and street performance in the city's theatres, palazzo courtyards and piazzas.
Why it's special
AstiTeatro has run since 1979 and has always leaned towards new writing and mixed forms, so the programme is mostly premieres, young companies and work you won't see in a regular season, played in places like the courtyards of Palazzo Ottolenghi and the Biblioteca Astense. The festival closes with Scintille, a competition for theatre companies under 35 where eight shortlisted groups play twenty-minute excerpts around the courtyards of the old palazzi and the audience helps pick the winner.
Programme · 2026
48th edition, titled 'Una città da vivere', on the relationship between citizens and urban spaces. Artistic directors Mario Nosengo and Eugenio Fea; festival image by Elisabetta Serra. A new Dopofestival after the shows.
- Several shows are free, including (in 2026) the opening night in the streets; in 2026 a pass for five shows of your choice cost €40, and under-35s paid €3 for most shows.
- Book the small-capacity shows early: some site-specific pieces take only 20 or 30 spectators per performance.
- Tickets are sold at the Teatro Alfieri box office (open every day 10:00–17:00 during the festival in 2026) and online on Biglietto Veloce.
- Box office: +39 0141 399057.
- During the festival the Diavolo Rosso and the osteria Il Gat Rustì have offered menus for spectators.
AstiTeatro began in 1979, and the Comune counts it among the Italian festivals with the longest unbroken history. It is organised by the Comune di Asti together with Spazio Kor and the Teatro degli Acerbi, the three partners of the PATRIC network for contemporary theatre in Asti.
The festival has always been interested in new writing and in theatre that crosses into dance, circus, music and installation. A typical edition mixes established names, young companies and foreign productions, with shows for all ages. Only some of it happens on the stage of the Teatro Alfieri. The rest takes place in the city: in the courtyards of Palazzo Ottolenghi and the Biblioteca Astense, in rooms of Palazzo Alfieri, at Spazio Kor, in squares and among apartment blocks. In 2026 the opening night was a free show in the streets.
The last days belong to Scintille, a competition for professional companies under 35 run with Tieffe Teatro Milano. Eight groups chosen from across Italy show twenty minutes of a new piece in a 'theatre walk' through the courtyards of the historic palazzi, and the winner receives a grant to finish the show and tour it.
The city presents it as part of a summer that runs through AstiLirica and AstiMusica to the Palio in September. See what else there is to do in Asti.
Past editions
| Year | Dates | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10–20 June 2026 | 48th edition, titled 'Una città da vivere', on the relationship between citizens and urban spaces. Artistic directors Mario Nosengo and Eugenio Fea; festival image by Elisabetta Serra. A new Dopofestival after the shows. Wed 10 Jun, 21:30–23:00 – Opening: MEMORIÆ, a site-specific contemporary circus piece by Milo Scotton (Compagnia Materiaviva and Artemakia) through four squares from Piazza Roma to Piazza San Secondo; national premiere, free 10–12 Jun – Creative writing workshop 'Mapping Asti' with Viennese playwright Bernhard Studlar, at EO Arte (free, in English, booking required) 11–18 Jun – 'Sofonisba. Dentro il sogno di Cabiria', an immersive installation in Palazzo Alfieri on Pastrone's silent film Cabiria Thu 11 Jun, 22:00 – 'Banksy. Peace&revolution', courtyard of Palazzo Ottolenghi Fri 12 Jun – 'Perspectiva', urban dance among apartment blocks, Piazza Scirè Risichella (free) Sat 13 Jun, 21:00 – 'La tragédie de Carmen', Peter Brook's version of Bizet, Spazio Kor (shared with AstiLirica) Sun 14 Jun, 22:00 – 'Bandiera', national preview, courtyard of the Biblioteca Astense Wed 17 Jun, 19:30 – 'En el sueño de la muerte', national premiere, Palazzo Ottolenghi 19–20 Jun – Scintille, 16th edition: eight under-35 companies play 20-minute excerpts in the courtyards of historic palazzi; the winner gets €8,000 towards the finished show (finals also at Teatro Menotti, Milan, 20–21 June) |
| 2025 | 15–29 June 2025 | 47th edition, organised by the Comune di Asti with the PATRIC network; artistic direction by Mario Nosengo and Eugenio Fea. Scintille, the under-35 companies' competition, in its 15th edition |