[Zoom-in] Conflictual Reconciliations: festivals & current issues
Geopolitical hostilities, climate change, technological shifts, fragmented societies, disinformation, and growing inequalities. As spaces of connection, exchange and creative thinking, festivals and cultural networks across Europe address the pressing issues concerning nowadays multifaceted circumstances. Facing the responsibility of understanding the role of the arts in these challenging times, artistic freedom and cultural rights are the main focus of the European Festivals Association in 2025: learn more in the dedicated section.
Festival della Valle d’Itria – 51st edition
18 July - 3 August 2025 | Martina Franca, Italy
Current events resonate in the hills and views of the Itria Valley - in the baroque city of Martina Franca - as the festival rediscovers rare or undervalued opera masterpieces under the theme War and Peace. The programme offers a musical journey through tensions, conflicts and hopes for reconciliation, exploring the scars of past and current History. Not only Opera: the programme alternates concerts - with a focus on XX and XXI centuries - and events diving into the theme of war and peace through the lenses of History in all their declinations, supported by the participation of renowned cultural professional and scholars spanning musicology, literature and more.
For more info click here.
Photo credits: Festival Valle d'Itria website
Arcadia
17 May - 24 August 2025 | Leeuwarden, Netherlands
As Arcadia refers to the dream of humankind’s harmonic relationship to unspoiled nature, every three years Friesland becomes a creative meeting space, to discuss and explore our past, present and future footprints.
In time of climate and environmental crisis, the festival challenges you to think about the major social transitions of our time. Connecting artists and scientists, supported by research and a multi-voiced network of experts, the festival explores case studies related to the fast-paced evolving environmental and social (dis)equilibriums and difficult attempt to reconciliations.
100 days to reflect and rethinking ways of being a community stimulating creative resilient societies through workshops, exibitions, lectures, poetry, food, dance, arts and music.
For more info click here.
Photo credits: Festival Arcadia Website
60th International Festival Wratislavia Cantans “Paradise Lost”
4 - 14 September 2025 | Wrocław, Poland
Could art and community help in finding the paradise lost? Envisioning music as a space for understanding in times of division, the festival invites to reflect on the duality of human nature and the way we shape our surroundings, resonating in the musical perfection set in an imperfect reality. Encompassing a diverse programme, among others, the festival remembers the innocent victims of wars through the notes of a commissioned Requiem.
For more info click here.
Photo credits: Festival Cantans Website
58° Festival delle Nazioni
28 August - 12 September 2025 | Città di Castello, Italy
The 58th edition of the Festival delle Nazioni (Festival of the Nations) is the first chapter of the festival trilogy dedicated to European cultural traditions. This year’s edition will focus on French-Italian artistic dialogue, while the next chapters will focus on Germany first, and in 2027 on the celebration of Europe as a whole. The festival confirms its core intention to bridging international excellence and local heritage, entrusting contemporary composers to connect tradition and innovative music expressions, with artistic choices spanning the broadest geographical and political-cultural horizons.
For more info click here.
Photo credits: Festival delle Nazioni Website
