“In/Canti & Banchi 2026”, with a view to establishing a cultural brand for the town as a bastion of theatrical culture, in the wake of Castelfiorentino’s centuries-old tradition of the performing arts (“a village of comedians, musicians and storytellers”), will seek to revive its essence and the town’s traditions by focusing on storytellers, puppets, folk music, street performances, vintage culture and cuisine, drawing on all the local organisations and associations, as well as theatrical and musical groups, as if in a collective effort.
Starting from the natural commercial centre, the streets will be enlivened by short theatrical performances dedicated to the tradition of storytellers, fairy tales and street music.
There will be both travelling and stationary performances that will transport young and old alike into a festive atmosphere with surprising, playful and stimulating artistic content suitable for everyone.
EXHIBITIONS AND FRINGE EVENTS
In this community story that is In/Canti&Banchi, among the many pieces that make up this mosaic: exhibitions, events, tributes, a wine tasting and open museums for a weekend in Castello (and beyond) full of dreams.
- NICO PALADINI. GENESI DEL METROPOLISMO
Art exhibition by Nico Paladini
19–31 May 2026
Oratorio S. Carlo, Via Testaferrata
- I CANTINI
Photography exhibition curated by the Giglio Rosso Photography Group
21–31 May 2026
“Il Progresso” Cultural Club, Corso Matteotti
- STREET. FROM THE WORKSHOP WITH UMBERTO VERDOLIVA
Photographic exhibition curated by the Giglio Rosso Photography Group
23–24–25 May 2026
Piazza del Popolo, 6
- ART EXHIBITION CORTI CIRCUITO
Graphic art exhibition curated by Teatrocastello and the Enriques Institute
23–24–25 May 2026
Via Tilli
- CENTO OPERE
Collection of work by Alberto della Ragione
Art exhibition
Cambio Cultural Centre
- MARKET WITHIN MARKET
Wine market and tasting + Aperitif and music selection curated by Lami Social Club
23 May 2026, 11.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m.
Piazza Gramsci
DIS-INCANTI
Back To The 90s Boys
23 May 2026
“In/Canti&Banchi 2026” takes on a magenta hue this year, for a night of DJ sets, dancing and singing starting at 11.45 p.m. on Saturday 23 May.
BACK TO THE 90’S BOYS, from the balcony of the Teatro Del Popolo, will liven up Piazza Gramsci and the night in Castello, for a huge community party.
A MARKET OF IN/CANTI
23–24 May 2026
This year, the traditional market will run from early afternoon on Saturday 23rd until the evening of Sunday 24th, and will be organised by Pinocchio3000, a multi-purpose market bringing together exhibitors of antiques, vintage items, design and crafts.
If you would like to take part in the market as an exhibitor, please contact:
– infopinocchio3000@gmail.com
– +39 0572 1913547
– +39 3285924115
– +39 3914121018
MANGIATOIA – STREET FOOD
22–23–24 May 2026
Culture is also about good food, and there can be no celebration without flavours, both traditional and modern.
In the upper village, Piazza delle Stanze Operaie will become “La Mangiatoia” for Incanti&Banchi 2026, featuring some of the region’s finest eateries (Ristorante Pizzeria Gli Scugnizzi and Pasticceria Napoletana, Caffè & Bollicine, Birra Lira), Stefano Tafi’s amazing food truck, desserts from the San Martino family home, and Alsatian delicacies from Guebwiller presented by the Castelfiorentino Twinning Committee.
There will be flavours from our region, starting with tripe, prepared according to the local recipe, featuring new recipes and lively reinterpretations, as well as sausages, porchetta and gourmet calzoni.
VISIONI
The theatre company Terzostudio
22–23–24 May 2026
“In/Canti&Banchi 2026”, following in the footsteps of Castelfiorentino’s centuries-old tradition of performing arts (“a village of comedians, musicians and storytellers”), revives the essence of the local tradition by focusing on storytellers, puppets, folk music, street performances, vintage culture and cuisine, drawing on all the local organisations and associations, as well as theatrical and musical groups, in a collaborative effort.
Starting from the natural commercial centre, the streets will be enlivened by short theatrical performances dedicated to the tradition of storytellers, fairy tales and street music.
There will be travelling and fixed-venue shows that will transport young and old alike into a dreamlike atmosphere with surprising, playful and stimulating artistic content suitable for everyone.
NEW VOICES
Performances by Associations and Theatre Companies in Castelfiorentino
22–23 May 2026
CORTI CIRCUITO
Organised by Teatrocastello
24 May 2026
The Sunday programme of “In/Canti&Banchi 2026” sees the return of “Corti Circuito”, now in its 4th edition, a marathon of short plays featuring no fewer than eight companies from across Tuscany, as part of a programme organised and coordinated by Teatro Castello. The poster, meanwhile, is by Sofia Luchini, chosen from among those created by the students of the graphic design course at the Enriques Institute in Castelfiorentino, based on the wonderful drawings by the artist Andrea Nicita, coordinated by Prof. Ilaria Leganza. The posters will be displayed in an exhibition in the upper historic centre during the festival.
The performances are scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. in the streets of the upper historic centre, with non-stop performances until 7:00 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony in Piazza del Popolo for the best acts, which will be judged on Sunday morning at the Ridotto del Teatro del Popolo by a jury chaired by the Councillor for Culture, Franco Spina, and representatives of the Castelfiorentino theatre companies.
- 𝐓𝐔 𝐇𝐀𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓? (Staircase Via Attavanti)
I Postumi Teatro - 𝐋’𝐎𝐑𝐒𝐎 (Arch di Via Tilli)
Gli Avanzati - 𝐔𝐍𝐀 𝐆𝐈𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐀 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐄 (Piazza del Popolo – Registry Office)
Compagnia Unicorno - 𝐈𝐋 𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐎 𝐒𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐒𝐎 (Piazzetta dell’Olio – Via Attavanti)
La Cattiva Compagnia - 𝐑𝐈𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐎 𝐋𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐍𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐄 (Garden Via San Lorenzo)
Ipotesi Teatrale - 𝐏𝐀𝐙𝐙𝐈 𝐃’𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 (Via Attavanti)
I Cettardini Associazione Culturale Compagnia Teatrale - 𝐈𝐋 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐎 (Via Adimari)
Tommaso Belcari, Andrea Colzi e Francesco Merlino - 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐙𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐈 (Via San Lorenzo)
Rachele Rossi & Simone Cecchi
You can follow all the latest updates on the Festival’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
To view the full programme for the event, click here
On Tuesday 12 May, the presentation of the 2026 edition took place at the Regional Council of Tuscany. Here is the press release.