Ragazzi MedFest 2026 in Reggio Calabria: children's theatre festival, 31 October to 8 November

Castello Aragonese · Reggio Calabria, Costa Viola, Calabria

31 October 2026 – 8 November 2026

From 31 October to 8 November 2026 Reggio Calabria hosts the 10th Ragazzi MedFest, the Mediterranean Festival for Boys and Girls run by the cultural association SpazioTeatro, this year under the banner «Theatre and Literature for the young generations». Public events take place at the Castello Aragonese until 6 November, at the Teatro Comunale Francesco Cilea for three shows on 7 and 8 November, and at the Sala SpazioTeatro in Via San Paolo. It opens with the Babafest, three free days of workshops and talks with the children's publisher Babalibri, followed by puppets, marionettes, storytelling and actor-led theatre, with recommended ages from 3 to 10 and several shows meant for adults too. Tickets cost 10 euros, or 24 euros for the three shows at the Cilea; information and bookings on +39 339 322 3262, also via WhatsApp. Morning performances for schools continue until 11 November.

Dates, venues and organisers of the 10th edition

The tenth Ragazzi MedFest, the Mediterranean Festival for Boys and Girls, is open to the public from Saturday 31 October to Sunday 8 November 2026. It is run by the cultural association SpazioTeatro, with Gaetano Tramontana as artistic and organisational director and Anna Calarco in charge of the literature strand and organisation. The poster carries the logos of the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Calabria Region, the City and Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, the European Union and the Development and Cohesion Fund.

There are three venues. The Castello Aragonese in Piazza Castello hosts events from 31 October to 6 November; the Teatro Comunale Francesco Cilea at Corso Garibaldi 325 hosts the shows on 7 and 8 November; and the Sala SpazioTeatro at Via San Paolo 19/A hosts the seminar for educators on 2 November. The poster runs to 9 November, the day of a school performance at the Cilea.

Babafest: free workshops and talks, 31 October to 2 November

The first three days make up the Babafest, run with Babalibri, the picture-book publisher founded in 1999 by Francesca Archinto. On Saturday 31 October at 4pm the Castello Aragonese hosts the workshop «Che paura!» (What a fright!) led by Cristina Zeppini (age 3+): children read two picture books about night-time fears and make a medal of courage. At 6pm I Gatti Ostinati, Davide Fischanger and Cataldo Nalli, present «A caccia di Babastorie», readings and songs based on Leo Lionni's stories for children aged 4 to 8.

On Sunday 1 November at 10:30am the workshop «La vita di un albero» (The Life of a Tree, age 4+, 70 minutes) starts from a wordless picture book by Iela Mari. At 4:30pm according to the programme (the event page says 4pm), Sara Mastrodomenico of Spine Bookstore talks about the illustrator in «Prima delle parole». On Monday 2 November at 5pm, at the Sala SpazioTeatro, Francesca Archinto leads a seminar for educators and teachers on reading in nurseries and pre-schools.

Shows at the Castello Aragonese, 2 to 6 November

On Monday 2 November at 5:30pm SpazioTeatro and I Gatti Ostinati stage «Il sognatore di libri» (The Book Dreamer), a play inspired by Fischanger's story about Aldo Manuzio, the 15th-century Venetian printer who introduced italic type and the pocket book (60 minutes, age 10+). Wednesday 4 November is for children aged 3 to 5 with an adult: readings by the Nati per Leggere volunteers of Reggio Calabria and the Mamma Lingua project, which brings children's books in the languages of immigrant families. Admission is free; the programme says 5pm, the event pages 4pm.

On Thursday 5 November at 5pm Francesco Picciotti of Compagnia Divisoperzero uses marionettes, branches, leaves, stones and iron to tell the myth of «Plutone e Proserpina» (for families and children aged 4+). On Friday 6 November at 5pm Angelo Gallo of Teatro della Libellula brings «Zampalesta, Babbo Natale e l'elfo Lino», 45 minutes of glove puppets, soap bubbles and stage effects for all ages.

The weekend at the Teatro Cilea: 7 and 8 November

On Saturday 7 November at 5pm Teatro delle Apparizioni performs «Kafka e la bambola viaggiatrice» (Kafka and the Travelling Doll), based on the book by Jordi Sierra i Fabra: in a Berlin park in 1923 Kafka meets a girl who has lost her doll, and for three weeks he writes her letters as if the doll had gone travelling. With Desy Gialuz and Valerio Malorni, directed by Fabrizio Pallara and produced by CSS Teatro stabile di innovazione del FVG, it won the 2022 Eolo Award for best puppet and figure theatre show (age 7+, 60 minutes).

On Sunday 8 November at 11am Roberto Anglisani performs «Topo Federico racconta», four Leo Lionni tales about Frederick the mouse, rewritten for solo storytelling (age 6+, 60 minutes). At 5pm Bam!Bam!Teatro closes the festival with «Il libro di tutte le cose» (The Book of Everything), from Guus Kuijer's Dutch novel, directed by Lorenzo Bassotto with sets and costumes by Beatrice Alemagna: Thomas wants to be happy when he grows up (age 8+, 70 minutes).

Tickets, the Cilea package and bookings

Unless stated otherwise, a ticket for one show costs 10 euros. All Babafest events (the two workshops, the talk on Iela Mari, the seminar and «A caccia di Babastorie») are free, as is the reading afternoon on 4 November. For the three shows at the Teatro Cilea there is the «Pacchetto Cilea RMF 2026» at 24 euros, 20% less than three single tickets. Roberto Anglisani's expressive reading workshop for teachers and educators costs 50 euros for both days (the programme lists it at 2pm, its own page from 3pm to 6pm).

For information and bookings call +39 339 322 3262, also on WhatsApp, or email info@ragazzimedfest.it; booking is recommended for the free events. Day centres and youth centres can ask about discounts and free places. The programme may change, so check the official festival website before you set off.

Ten editions of theatre for young audiences

Ragazzi MedFest was born in spring 2017 thanks to a public call by the City of Reggio Calabria funded by the EU: SpazioTeatro designed it to bring Italian and international children's theatre companies to the city, together with talks, readings and performances. From 2018 it became an annual event; it skipped 2020 because of the pandemic, in 2021 it was recognised by the national performing arts fund (FUS) as a theatre festival, and in 2022 it was linked to the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the Riace Bronzes. 2023 had two editions: a spring one and «Cosmo & Comiche», devoted to Italo Calvino and recognised by the Ministry of Culture as a special project.

The festival calls itself «spread out»: besides theatres it uses squares, monuments, museums and schools. This year's partners include SpazioTeatro's Children's Library, now a Mamma Lingua centre, and Nati per Leggere Calabria. The motto stays the same: «Our children's theatre does adults no harm… quite the opposite!».

Getting there and what to see in Reggio Calabria

The Castello Aragonese stands in Piazza Castello in the old town, a short walk from the cathedral and Corso Garibaldi; the Teatro Cilea is on the same street at number 325, and the Sala SpazioTeatro is at Via San Paolo 19/A. From the north, the A2 motorway ends in Reggio Calabria; by train, get off at Reggio Calabria Centrale, and the Strait airport is a few kilometres from the centre. The sources do not mention dedicated parking.

An afternoon at the festival fits easily into a day in the city: the castle itself is a fortress strengthened by the Aragonese in the 15th century, while the National Archaeological Museum, home of the Riace Bronzes, and the Falcomatà seafront are close by. For other events on the same days, see the events calendar.

Frequently asked questions

When is Ragazzi MedFest 2026?

The public programme runs from Saturday 31 October to Sunday 8 November 2026. Morning performances reserved for schools continue until 11 November.

Where do the shows take place?

At the Castello Aragonese in Piazza Castello from 31 October to 6 November, at the Teatro Cilea at Corso Garibaldi 325 on 7 and 8 November and, for the seminar on 2 November, at the Sala SpazioTeatro at Via San Paolo 19/A.

How much are tickets?

10 euros per show unless stated otherwise. The package for the three shows at the Teatro Cilea costs 24 euros; the Babafest events and the readings on 4 November are free.

How do I book?

Call +39 339 322 3262, also on WhatsApp, or email info@ragazzimedfest.it. Booking is recommended for the free workshops and talks.

What ages are the shows for?

Ages are set by the companies: 3+ for the «Che paura!» workshop, 4+ for «Plutone e Proserpina», 6+ for «Topo Federico racconta», 7+ for «Kafka e la bambola viaggiatrice», 8+ for «Il libro di tutte le cose» and 10+ for «Il sognatore di libri». «Zampalesta, Babbo Natale e l'elfo Lino» is for all ages.

Are the shows suitable for adults too?

Yes: «Kafka e la bambola viaggiatrice» and «Il libro di tutte le cose» are aimed at adults and children together, and the festival's motto is «Our children's theatre does adults no harm… quite the opposite!».

Can schools take part?

Yes, with morning performances that schools can book: «Zampalesta 'u cane tempesta» and «Re Pepe» at the Castello Aragonese between 4 and 6 November, «Il cuoco con la gamba di legno» at the Teatro Cilea on 9 November and «Venuti dal mare» at the Auditorium Zanotti Bianco on 10 and 11 November. Information on +39 339 322 3262 or info@ragazzimedfest.it.

Is there anything for teachers and educators?

On 2 November at 5pm the Sala SpazioTeatro hosts a free seminar by Francesca Archinto on reading in nurseries and pre-schools. On 7 and 8 November Roberto Anglisani runs an expressive reading workshop at the Teatro Cilea, costing 50 euros for both days.

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