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The Festival Verdi is run by the Teatro Regio di Parma each autumn, around Verdi's birthday on 10 October. The 26th edition, 'Mondi lontani' (distant worlds), runs from 1 to 25 October 2026 at the Regio and in Busseto.
Below: the programme with dates, how to buy tickets, Aida in Busseto, a plan for a festival trip, where to stay, and what to see in Parma between performances.
The quick answer
The Festival Verdi 2026 runs from 1 to 25 October. At the Regio: Alzira conducted by James Conlon, a new Nabucco staged by Pier Luigi Pizzi and conducted by Francesco Lanzillotta (3, 11, 18 and 24 October, listed sold out), the Gala Verdiano on 10 October and the Messa da Requiem on 23 October under Daniele Rustioni. Aida plays in Busseto, and every ticket comes from the Regio.
When is the Festival Verdi 2026?
From 1 to 25 October 2026, at the Teatro Regio di Parma and the Teatro Verdi in Busseto. It is the 26th edition, titled 'Mondi lontani'.
The festival is built around Verdi's birthday on 10 October, the night of the Gala Verdiano in 2026. Allow at least two nights in Parma if you want an opera and a day out in Verdi country.
What is on at the Festival Verdi 2026?
Alzira and a new Nabucco at the Regio, Aida in Busseto, the Gala Verdiano and the Messa da Requiem.
Dates as published in the festival press in September 2026; check teatroregioparma.it for times and any changes.
| Work | Venue | Dates | Conductor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alzira | Teatro Regio, Parma | 1, 8, 17 October | James Conlon |
| Aida (Franco Zeffirelli's production) | Teatro Verdi, Busseto | 2, 9, 16, 25 October | Giuseppe Mengoli |
| Nabucco (new, staged by Pier Luigi Pizzi) | Teatro Regio, Parma | 3, 11, 18, 24 October, listed sold out | Francesco Lanzillotta |
| Gala Verdiano | Teatro Regio, Parma | 10 October | James Conlon |
| Messa da Requiem | Teatro Regio, Parma | 23 October | Daniele Rustioni, Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini |
How do you buy Festival Verdi tickets?
From the Teatro Regio, which runs the festival: the box office on Strada Garibaldi, teatroregioparma.it or Vivaticket.
No tour includes a festival seat, so buy the performance first and plan around it. Nabucco 2026 was listed sold out on music-opera.com; if the night you want is gone, check the official site again closer to the date, and avoid unofficial resellers.
Between performances, see the Teatro Farnese and Toscanini's birthplace with a licensed guide, in Italian, from $23.
Check dates for the musical Parma walkWhat is Aida in Busseto like?
Franco Zeffirelli's production, fitted onto the stage of Busseto's Teatro Verdi, a theatre of about 300 seats, conducted by Giuseppe Mengoli.
The Teatro Verdi opened in 1868 inside the Rocca Pallavicino, on Piazza Verdi. Hearing Aida in a hall this small is the festival's most intimate night, so book early. Busseto is about 20 minutes by train from Fidenza; after an evening show, check how you will get back to Parma. More in Verdi country from Parma.
See Busseto's Teatro Verdi by daylight on option A of a day with a Parmigiano dairy and a culatello maker, with transport from Parma.
Explore the culatello and Teatro Verdi dayHow do you plan a Festival Verdi trip?
Base yourself in Parma, buy your performance tickets first, then fill the days with the Regio's visit, the city's music sites and a day in Verdi country.
A sample three days; match the evenings to the performance calendar.
| Day | Daytime | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive; the Regio's own guided visit (EUR 12, not on Mondays) | Opera at the Regio |
| 2 | Verdi's birthplace at Roncole and Busseto (EUR 15 combined ticket, not on Mondays) | Aida in Busseto, or dinner in Parma |
| 3 | The Teatro Farnese and Toscanini's birthplace (the house is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays) | The Gala or the Requiem, on their dates |
Where should you stay for the Festival Verdi?
In central Parma: the Regio, the station (about 15 minutes on foot) and the restaurants are all close, and trains reach Busseto via Fidenza.
Staying near the Regio means you can walk back after the curtain. For Aida in Busseto, a car or a taxi is the easiest way home late at night; if you go by train, check the last connection for your date before you book.
A festival afternoon well spent: five tasting stops through the centre with a private guide, rated 5.0.
Check dates for the private food and drink walkWhat else is there for opera lovers in Parma during the festival?
The Regio's own guided visit, the Teatro Farnese in the Pilotta, Toscanini's birthplace, the Casa della Musica and the Verdi monument, all within walking distance.
The Regio's visit costs EUR 12, but its times move with rehearsals and performances, so call the visits office on +39 0521 203995 first. The Teatro Farnese, a wooden theatre of 1618, is on the EUR 18 Pilotta ticket, and Toscanini's birthplace costs EUR 4. The whole route is in the Parma opera walk.
Parma's other great theatre, next door to the Regio: the Teatro Farnese and the Galleria Nazionale with a guide.
Explore the Pilotta and Teatro Farnese tourIs there a tour for the Festival Verdi?
No tour includes a festival performance. The musical Parma walk covers the city's opera sites, in Italian, and sees the Regio from outside.
The musical Parma walk ($23, 1h 30m) meets at the main staircase of the Palazzo della Pilotta, goes inside the Teatro Farnese and Toscanini's birthplace, and passes the Regio and the Verdi monument. It follows a barrier-free route and is new, with no reviews yet; check whether the entry tickets are included. The only tour that goes inside the Regio is the private opera day ($318), which is non-refundable.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Festival Verdi 2026?
From 1 to 25 October 2026, in Parma and Busseto.
Is Nabucco at the Festival Verdi 2026 sold out?
The new Nabucco (3, 11, 18 and 24 October) was listed sold out; check the Regio's official site for availability.
Where do I buy Festival Verdi tickets?
From the Teatro Regio: the box office, teatroregioparma.it or Vivaticket.
Can I visit the Regio during the festival?
Guided visits still run Tuesday to Sunday, but their times move with rehearsals and performances, so call the visits office first.
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Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Musical and Theatrical Parma Walking Tour
- Guided walk in Italian with a licensed local guide
- Teatro Farnese and Toscanini's birthplace inside
- Teatro Regio from outside, and the Verdi monument
Parmigiano, Culatello and Busseto's Teatro Verdi
Verdi's own little theatre, with food
Guided Tour of the Pilotta and Teatro Farnese
Parma's other great theatre, next door
