by Nina Vaclavikova
On Aug. 15, many Italians will celebrate Ferragosto, the traditional midsummer holiday, with a day of relaxation, food and time outdoors.
In Trieste, residents often head to the beaches of Barcola and Sistiana or escape to the nearby Carso, where walks, local wine and osmize offer a quieter retreat. The city center typically becomes noticeably calmer as businesses and residents take a break.
For those staying in town, Trieste Estate 2026 continues with concerts, theater and outdoor film screenings. Across Italy, Ferragosto is marked by long meals, gatherings and evening celebrations along the coast and in town squares.
Trieste will mark Ferragosto with a four-day program of music, theater and performances as part of the city’s Trieste Estate cultural series, running from Aug. 15 to 18.
On Saturday, Aug. 15, Piazza Verdi will host Brazilian singer Fabio Allman and Banda Berimbau at 8:45 p.m., bringing samba and Afro-Brazilian rhythms to the city center. Allman, originally from Rio de Janeiro and a former lead singer of Monobloco, has performed across Brazil and Europe.
The evening will also feature theater at the J.J. Winckelmann Museum and the Sartorio Museum Garden, including performances inspired by the works of Stefano Benni and Franca Rame.
On Sunday, jazz guitarist and singer Joe Pisto and accordionist Fausto Beccalossi will present “Ponti,” exploring the connections between jazz, tango and Mediterranean music. Piazza Verdi will host “Playlist Without Borders,” a musical project combining Italian and international repertoire.
Monday will bring the French puppet company Ue Ue Uè to the Sartorio Museum Garden with “Judy & Punch,” a contemporary adaptation of the traditional European puppet theater classic.
The program concludes Tuesday with “Baby Esferic,” the opening performance of the Da Da Dù international children’s theater festival, designed for children from six months old and their families.
