by InTrieste
The final day of Folkest 2026 on Sunday, July 5, will bring together international performers, industry discussions, family entertainment and one of Italy’s leading showcases for emerging folk musicians, culminating with the 22nd edition of the Alberto Cesa Prize and a performance by Italian rock singer-songwriter Omar Pedrini.
Held in the medieval town of San Daniele del Friuli, the closing program highlights the festival’s long-standing role as a meeting point for European folk traditions and contemporary Italian songwriting. Events will take place across several historic venues, including the Biblioteca Guarneriana, the churches of San Antonio Abate and Santa Maria della Fratta, and Piazza Pellegrino.
The day reflects the festival’s two defining strands: Folkest Showcase, an international platform supported by the European Union-backed UpBeat network, and the Alberto Cesa Prize, a competition dedicated to emerging voices in Italian folk music.
The program begins at 10 a.m. at the Biblioteca Guarneriana with a workshop led by music industry professional David Sierra on organizing international concert tours. Performances by Estonian duo Lennak and Finnish act Junna follow later in the morning, offering audiences a glimpse of Northern European folk traditions.
In the afternoon, the festival shifts toward professional networking with its Speed Meeting sessions, bringing together artists and music industry representatives. A separate discussion examines the role of Italian public radio in preserving collective memory following the devastating 1976 Friuli earthquake, featuring broadcaster Elisabetta Malantrucco of Rai Radio Techetè.
Families are also part of Sunday’s program, with a performance by the Catalan company L’Arte del Gioco at the Loggia Guarneriana designed to encourage participation and creativity among children and adults alike.
International performances continue throughout the afternoon with Polish ensemble Chrust, Spanish musician Jorge Garrido and Polish group Jarzmo, reinforcing Folkest’s emphasis on cultural exchange through music.
The evening program in Piazza Pellegrino opens with a performance by Luisa Briguglio, winner of the 2025 Andrea Parodi Prize, before attention turns to the Alberto Cesa Prize final.
Five finalists, selected from more than 150 applicants across Italy following a series of qualifying events, will compete for the award: Natalia Abbascià from Puglia, Lindal from Piedmont, Ensemble du Sud — a multicultural project involving musicians from Italy, China and Argentina — Friuli-based I Cani Sciolti del Mondo Roverso, and Sardinian singer Elisa Carta.
As part of the competition, each finalist has been asked to compose and perform music for a poem written in the Friulian language by poet Federico Tavan, highlighting the festival’s commitment to preserving regional linguistic and cultural heritage. The top three finishers will automatically earn invitations to perform at Folkest 2027, while the winner will also receive support from Nuovo Imaie and an invitation to perform at the Ethnos Festival in Torre del Greco. A separate jury prize will recognize the best interpretation of Tavan’s work.
The awards ceremony will be hosted by Martina Vocci of TV Koper/Capodistria and Duccio Pasqua of RAI Stereonotte.
The festival concludes with a concert by Omar Pedrini, whose career spans more than three decades. Best known as the founder and frontman of the influential Italian rock band Timoria before launching a solo career, Pedrini has remained an active figure in music, broadcasting and cultural projects. In 2024, he received the Rosa Camuna Award from the Lombardy regional government in recognition of his artistic achievements.
