A festival that lasts a whole summer: the sixth edition takes over Castelvecchio from 1 August to 12 September 2026, with a pre-festival starting on 11 July. This year's theme is «Nutri_menti_», a play on nourishment and minds — what keeps a life standing: culture, landscape, relationships, thought, food, music.
The programme mixes music, figurative arts, poetry and debate with trekking, guided visits, themed dinners and concerts at dawn served with a Ligurian breakfast. Artistic direction is by Vera Marenco and Manuela Litro; the 2026 line-up includes Sergio Caputo, Gegè Telesforo, Dado Moroni with Max Ionata, Amaro Freitas and Lou Dalfin.
The name plays on the Italian expression for a contrary spirit, and it is no accident that it happens here: tradition places Bastian Contrario at Castelvecchio, the mercenary who raided Genoese convoys from the castle and, when it suited him, his own side's too.
