gARTen - theatre festival in the park
THE FESTIVAL
1- 3 July 2026, from 6:00 p.m.
gARTen summer festival returns for its seventh edition, once again transforming the Foundation’s park into a large open-air stage.
Over three evenings, the garden will come alive with spoken word, physical theatre, dance and music, as young artists transform its every corner into a vibrant stage.
Beyond the performances, the festival offers a space for audiences to meet and connect. Interviews and artist talks hosted from Radio Morcote’s live broadcast booth will offer fresh perspectives on the performances, while the food village will bring together a selection of local food trucks serving throughout the evening. The musical backdrop for each evening will be curated by DJ leMox.
gARTen takes place at the Foundation’s picturesque headquarters, unfolding across its varied natural and architectural spaces, from the park and inner courtyard to the portico of the 19th-century building and the plaza, with the surrounding woods providing a natural backdrop to the performances.
For the second consecutive year, the festival is part of MAPS – Artistic Goals for Sustainability., and supported by Interreg Italy-Switzerland. This cross-border project brings together cultural institutions to create artistic initiatives that promote social inclusion, cohesion, sustainable tourism, and active community participation. gARTen thus becomes a space for exchange and connection, where the performing arts help strengthen the bond between communities, culture, and the local area.
Over the years, the festival has also fostered an ongoing dialogue with various artistic and educational institutions, developing collaborations that help broaden perspectives and create opportunities for interaction among artists, institutions, and the public. Alongside its well-established partnership with the Accademia Teatro Dimitri, the 2026 edition will launch a new collaboration with the Civica Scuola di Teatro Paolo Grassi in Milan. The festival also continues its partnership with Premio Schweiz, a Swiss network dedicated to promoting the performing arts.
- From 6:00 PM, opening with DJ leMox and food village.
- All events are free and open to the public
- Parking available just a few metres from the Foundation.
- Under-25s and visitors arriving by bike or public transport will receive a free drink!
- The festival will take place in all weather conditions.
THE PROGRAM
1 July
The opening night of the festival is dedicated to artists from the Accademia Teatro Dimitri, who present performances with strong emotional and visual impact.
Through a range of artistic forms, including nonverbal theatre, dance, music and acrobatics, the artists invite audiences to reflect on the human experience and the realities of modern society.
2 July
On its second day, the festival continues its exploration of the relationship between human beings and the environment. The performances will reflect on ecology, bodily memory and our ability to imagine the future.
3 July
The final day of the festival examines the tensions of the present through works that consider the relationship between the individual and society, collective memory and the economy.
gARTen has been awarded the EFFE Label (Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe), a European label recognising outstanding festivals for their artistic commitment, community engagement and international outlook.
IN COLLABORATION WITH
SUPPORTED BY
endorsed by
Media Partner
technical partner
