The Garda Festival – Lake Garda International Music and Dance Festival is preparing to celebrate its third edition, reaffirming its status as one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the Italian—and international—summer cultural calendar. From July 12 to August 14, 2025, some of the most enchanting locations on Lake Garda—including Castelnuovo del Garda, Desenzano del Garda, Lazise, Peschiera del Garda, Sirmione, and Villafranca di Verona—will provide the backdrop for an artistic journey through music, dance, theatre, and cinema. The festival will showcase performances by acclaimed artists and emerging talents from Italy and abroad.

Established in 2023 by the Niccolò Piccinni Fund, under the artistic direction of Maximilien Seren-Piccinni and supported by major national institutions, the festival has seen exponential growth, rapidly becoming a cultural hub of excellence. The 2024 edition welcomed over 1,500 attendees and featured more than 80 participating artists. Among the most notable names from the early editions are David di Donatello award-winner Sandra Milo, violinist Uto Ughi, and Principal Dancers and Soloists from Milan’s Teatro alla Scala.

The 2025 edition, held under the patronage of the Veneto Region, promises to be even more ambitious and diverse, with a program spanning classical and contemporary music, dance, theatre, and interdisciplinary experimentation. Once again, the festival highlights its inclusive and innovative spirit: from a Dance Gala featuring Principal Dancers and Soloists from La Scala, to a concert by Italian music icon Patty Pravo; from celebrated soundtracks of Italian cinema performed with actress Ornella Muti, to Bridgerton-style reinterpretations of pop hits; from musical journeys across Italy and the Austrian imperial courts to evocative soundscapes of China. The program also includes tributes to Pavarotti with tenor Murat Karahan, to the heroines of Romantic opera with soprano Ekaterina Bakanova, to Vivaldi and Debussy, as well as recitals and chamber music concerts.

The rich and multifaceted program is designed to appeal to a broad audience—from professionals and aficionados to curious newcomers who, even for just one evening, want to be moved by great performances set against breathtaking backdrops and historic sites of UNESCO World Heritage value around Lake Garda.

All the details of the new edition were unveiled during the official presentation held this morning at the Brera Art Gallery in Milan.

“The Garda Festival is a bridge between tradition and innovation—a space where the performing arts interact with natural and cultural beauty,” says Maximilien Seren-Piccinni, President of the Niccolò Piccinni Fund and Artistic Director of the Festival. “We envisioned this third edition as a holistic experience—not merely entertainment, but something that stirs the soul, nourishes thought, and celebrates the profound bond between the arts and the land that nurtures them.”

One of the most anticipated moments of the festival will be the Piccinni Prize – For Excellence in the Performing Arts, awarded on July 27 in Lazise. Established in 1967 by Vittorio Piccinni and now in its 43rd edition, the prize is awarded annually by the Comité d’Honneur to a personality who has made a remarkable contribution to the international performing arts scene. This year, the prize will go to Croatian pianist Ivo Pogorelich, whose unconventional artistic vision has profoundly influenced the global music landscape over the past forty years.

“The Comité d’Honneur is deeply honored to once again support the Garda Festival,” says Simone Di Crescenzo, coordinator. “Through the Piccinni Prize, we renew our commitment to safeguarding intangible artistic heritage and defending beauty, which finds one of its highest expressions in the performing arts. Honoring an artist like Pogorelich means recognizing the value of someone who, with courage and authenticity, has redefined the boundaries of musical interpretation.”

The festival will also include the presentation of the Cigno del Garda Award, a recognition for individuals who have demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting art and culture. The inaugural 2024 edition honored Katia Ricciarelli, Fabio Armiliato, and Fabio Testi, artists whose careers have exemplified the importance of artistic dedication.

Banca Ifis, the Main Sponsor of the 2025 Garda Festival, continues to support the initiative:

“The Garda Festival brings world-class Italian art to one of the most iconic locations in our country. As a bank with a strong presence in the region, we understand the importance of culture and entertainment as tools for social cohesion and meaningful recreation—values that align perfectly with those promoted by Banca Ifis through Kaleidos, our Social Impact Lab. In the past three years alone, this initiative has led to over 40 high-impact social projects backed by €7 million in investments. Through Ifis Art, our cultural brand, we’re also proud to open a new exhibition space at Brera in May, dedicated to twelve busts by Antonio Canova that were recovered and restored by the Bank in 2024,” states Fabio Lanza, Deputy General Manager of Banca Ifis.

The Garda Festival 2025 is made possible thanks to the collaboration of numerous partners, institutions, and sponsors. In addition to Banca Ifis, the festival is supported by the municipalities of Castelnuovo del Garda, Desenzano del Garda, Lazise, and Villafranca di Verona, as well as companies including Itas Assicurazioni, RMI, Danipack, Cantine Vitevis, BMW Fimauto, BMW Nanni Nember, Hotel Le ali del Frassino, and Venturo. The event is also under the patronage of the Veneto Region, Destination Verona & Garda Foundation, the Accademia del Cinema Italiano – David di Donatello Awards, Garda Musei, and UNIIC – the Union of Italian-Chinese Entrepreneurs.

For full details on the program, ticket reservations, and participation guidelines, visit the official website: www.gardafestival.com or the ticketing platform www.ticketone.it.