Once again, the Caracalla Festival 2026 promises to be one of the must-see events for lovers of art and performance.
The Roman summer is preparing to welcome one of the most anticipated cultural highlights of the year: the summer season of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.
For this edition, the festival changes setting: no longer the historic Terme di Caracalla, currently under restoration, but the extraordinary backdrop of the Circo Massimo, one of the city’s most iconic locations, capable of transforming into a vast open-air stage.
The Teatro dell’Opera at the Circo Massimo will run from 29 June to 31 July 2026, offering a full month of performances that bring together opera, dance, and music in a continuous dialogue between history and contemporaneity.
This move is not only logistical but also symbolic: the Circo Massimo enhances the monumental scale of the festival, offering audiences an even more immersive experience, where the power of music meets the millennia-old grandeur of the city.
A programme designed to move and surprise, crossing genres and artistic languages, turning every evening into a unique event.
Let’s take a closer look at the programme of the Caracalla Festival 2026.
Caracalla Festival 2026: must-see events
The Caracalla Festival 2026 was officially presented on 10 March 2026, alongside the appointment of the new Artistic Director Alessandro Galoppini, marking the beginning of a new phase for the summer programming of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.
The undisputed highlight of the Festival is Aida by Giuseppe Verdi, conceived for the monumental scale of the Circo Massimo and set to be the most spectacular moment of the season. Alongside the opera, the gala Roberto Bolle and Friends, featuring Roberto Bolle, brings the excellence of international dance to the stage, while Romeo and Juliet restores the full narrative power of the great classical repertoire.
On the musical side, Carmina Burana by Carl Orff represents one of the most intense and engaging moments, capable of transforming the space into an immersive sonic experience. The festival also opens up to contemporary languages with events such as Il Gladiatore in a film-concert version and the participation of historian Alessandro Barbero, offering a cross-disciplinary programme that blends culture, performance, and storytelling.
Let’s now explore all the events in detail.
Caracalla Festival 2026: Opera
At the heart of the Caracalla Festival 2026 remains Opera, conceived to engage in dialogue with monumental spaces and striking stage designs.
The absolute protagonist of this edition is Aida by Giuseppe Verdi, presented in a new production directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca. An iconic title that finds its ideal dimension in the Circo Massimo: the vastness of the space enhances the visual power of the staging, transforming the performance into an immersive and spectacular experience.
Here, opera moves beyond the boundaries of the traditional theatre to become a total event: light, music, and architecture merge into a narrative that engages the audience in a direct and contemporary way.
Opera Calendar – Aida
12 July 2026
15 July 2026
18 July 2026
22 July 2026
26 July 2026
28 July 2026
Six performances designed to enhance the monumentality of the venue and offer a unique experience under the summer sky of Rome.
An unmissable event for those who wish to experience opera in an emotional, powerful, and extraordinary dimension.
Caracalla Festival 2026: Dance
Alongside opera, dance plays a central role in the programme of the Caracalla Festival 2026, confirming itself as one of the pillars of the season.
Among the most anticipated events, the gala Roberto Bolle and Friends, featuring Roberto Bolle, brings some of the most renowned international dance stars to the Circo Massimo, in an evening that combines virtuosity, elegance, and powerful stage presence.
The programme is completed by a great classic of the repertoire, Romeo and Juliet set to music by Sergej Prokof’ev, performed by the Ballet Company of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. A production that fully expresses the narrative and visual strength of dance, blending emotional intensity with technical perfection.
In this unique setting, dance becomes an immersive experience: movement, music, and space merge into a performance designed for Rome’s summer nights.
Dance Calendar
14 July 2026 → Roberto Bolle and Friends
24 – 25 July 2026 → Romeo and Juliet
Two key events that combine great classical repertoire with contemporary spectacle, offering audiences moments of deep emotional engagement.
Caracalla Festival 2026: Music
The musical programme of the Caracalla Festival 2026 stands out for its wide-ranging and engaging offering, alternating major symphonic-choral works with concerts of strong emotional impact.
Among the most anticipated moments is Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, one of the most celebrated and powerful compositions in the repertoire, capable of transforming the Circo Massimo into a vast, immersive soundscape. The Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma guide the audience through an intense experience where music, rhythm, and staging merge into a single grand sonic fresco.
Concert Calendar
31 July 2026 → Carmina Burana
The grand finale of the festival, designed to leave a spectacular impression through the combined power of orchestra, choir, and visual installations.
Alongside the operatic and symphonic programme, the Circo Massimo also hosts a series of concerts dedicated to contemporary music, featuring internationally renowned artists such as Riccardo Cocciante (6 July 2026), Edoardo Bennato (20 July 2026), and Patti Smith (27 July 2026).
A cross-disciplinary programme that broadens the festival’s audience and transforms the Circo Massimo into a meeting point for different genres, languages, and generations.
Caracalla 2026: Cinema and Special Events
The Caracalla Festival 2026 expands its artistic language and opens up to contemporary forms of expression, with events that bring together cinema, music, and storytelling.
Among the most anticipated highlights is the screening of Il Gladiatore in a “film in concert” version: the iconic movie comes to life through the live performance of its soundtrack, transforming the viewing into an immersive and engaging experience capable of attracting an international and diverse audience.
Alongside this format, the programme is enriched with talks and special events, such as the appearance of historian Alessandro Barbero, who opens the festival with a narrative dedicated to Francesco. Un santo scomodo, adding a cultural and educational dimension to the entire event.
Special Events Calendar
29 June 2026 → Francesco. Un santo scomodo – Alessandro Barbero
3 – 4 July 2026 → Il Gladiatore in concert
A programme that confirms the festival’s vocation to go beyond genre boundaries, offering hybrid experiences where performance, history, and music meet under the Roman sky.
Caracalla Festival 2026: Tickets
Tickets for the Caracalla Festival 2026 will be available for purchase at the box office of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and through traditional online channels, with variable pricing.
Where to stay in Rome for the Caracalla Festival 2026
If you are looking for a hotel in a prime location to attend the Caracalla Festival, the FH55 Grand Hotel Palatino is an ideal choice.
The hotel is just a 6 minute walk from the Basilica of Massenzio and 20 minutes from the Baths of Caracalla. On your way, you can take in the sights of the Eternal City, including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and more.
If you prefer to take the metro, thanks to the proximity of the Cavour metro station, you can reach the “Circo Massimo” stop in just a few minutes, within walking distance of the Baths of Caracalla.
The rooms of the FH55 Grand Hotel Palatino are tastefully decorated and equipped with every comfort.
After a long day at the festival, you can relax and enjoy the view of the cobblestone streets of Rione Monti or the Colosseum.
So don’t hesitate to book the best rates on our official website.
FH55 Grand Hotel Palatino awaits you for an unforgettable experience during the Caracalla Festival.