Serravalle Jazz returns for its 26th edition in 2027, continuing its quarter-century tradition of bringing world-class jazz to the medieval heart of Tuscany. Set within the ancient walls of the Rocca di Castruccio in Serravalle Pistoiese, this intimate festival has established itself as one of the most anticipated appointments of the Tuscan summer, offering four days of concerts, cultural encounters, book presentations, and seminars.
Organized by Fondazione Teatri di Pistoia in collaboration with the Municipality of Serravalle Pistoiese and with the artistic and organizational collaboration of Music Pool, the festival combines international jazz luminaries with emerging talents, all within the breathtaking setting of a 14th-century fortress.
What to expect in 2027
The 2027 edition of Serravalle Jazz will mark the festival’s 26th year, continuing a tradition that has made it a point of reference for the Italian jazz scene. The festival is defined by its unique ability to integrate world-class musical performances with intellectual and cultural programming, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the Rocca di Castruccio.
Enjoy Your Event Stress-Free with Italy Travelo
Whether you're traveling for a world-famous festival, live concert, cultural celebration, or business event, Italy Travelo helps simplify every step of your journey. Our team provides personalized travel assistance, allowing you to focus on creating lasting memories.
Attendees can expect four days of carefully curated concerts featuring a balance of established international artists and emerging talents. The festival’s main stage at the Rocca di Castruccio hosts headline performances each evening, while the Torre del Barbarossa provides an intimate setting for sunset concerts, and the Ex-Oratorio della Vergine Assunta serves as the venue for afternoon seminars, book presentations, and thematic encounters.
The festival also maintains a strong commitment to nurturing new generations of jazz musicians through the Premio Renato Sellani, which in recent editions has introduced a dedicated section for emerging creativity. The festival’s atmosphere is relaxed and convivial, with audiences often engaging directly with artists between performances.
Event dates
Serravalle Jazz 2027 will take place in August 2027. Exact dates are to be confirmed and will be announced via the festival’s official website and communication channels. Historically, the festival has occupied a four-day period in late August, typically running from Sunday to Wednesday.
Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.
Venue & festival site
The festival’s primary venue is the Rocca di Castruccio, a medieval fortress located at the western extremity of Serravalle Pistoiese. Built in 1302 following the siege by Florentine and Lucchese troops, the fortress offers a spectacular open-air setting for evening concerts, with views over the surrounding Valdinievole landscape .
Serravalle Pistoiese itself is a medieval borgo perched on the eastern slope of Montalbano, approximately 10 kilometres from Pistoia. The town’s historic centre, with its narrow streets and ancient walls, provides a atmospheric context for the festival’s cultural programming.
Additional festival venues include:
- Torre del Barbarossa, a historic tower offering a dramatic setting for sunset concerts
- Ex-Oratorio della Vergine Assunta, a deconsecrated oratory hosting afternoon seminars, book presentations, and encounters with artists
Full lineup
The full lineup for Serravalle Jazz 2027 will be announced in the coming months. The festival’s programming is developed through a curatorial process that prioritizes artistic excellence and cultural dialogue.
Based on the festival’s established curatorial approach and recent editions, attendees can anticipate a diverse roster spanning:
- Mainstream and contemporary jazz, featuring internationally recognized instrumentalists and vocalists
- Italian jazz excellence, showcasing the country’s most significant contemporary practitioners
- Cross-cultural projects, reflecting the festival’s engagement with jazz as a global language
- Emerging talents, presented through the Premio Renato Sellani’s dedicated young artist section
- Original productions and residencies, created specifically for the festival
Headliners & featured artists
Headline artists for 2027 will be announced as part of the full programme release. The festival has a distinguished history of presenting internationally significant artists. Recent editions have featured:
- Enrico Pieranunzi, the celebrated Italian pianist, presenting his project dedicated to Chet Baker
- Omar Sosa, the Cuban pianist and composer, performing his solo piano project Sendas
- Javier Girotto, the Argentine saxophonist known for his fusion of tango and jazz
- BargaJazz Orchestra, the historic Tuscan ensemble celebrating four decades of activity
- Nico Gori, the clarinetist and festival regular, presenting original productions
- Danilo Rea, the acclaimed pianist, performing projects inspired by Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Eddie Henderson, the legendary American trumpeter
Stages & performance areas
The festival’s multi-venue structure creates an intimate and integrated experience across Serravalle Pistoiese’s historic centre.
Rocca di Castruccio is the main performance area, hosting the headline concerts each evening from approximately 21:00. The fortress’s open-air setting accommodates audiences for major international acts, with the ancient walls providing a unique acoustic and visual environment.
Torre del Barbarossa hosts the festival’s sunset concert, typically scheduled for approximately 19:30. This intimate performance, often featuring solo or small ensemble configurations, offers a distinctive experience within the historic tower setting.
Ex-Oratorio della Vergine Assunta functions as the festival’s intellectual hub, hosting afternoon encounters, seminars, and book presentations from approximately 18:15. These events provide context and depth to the musical programming, featuring critics, authors, and musicians in conversation.
Stage-by-stage schedule
The full schedule for 2027 will be published closer to the event. Based on previous editions, the festival typically follows this daily structure:
Sunday (Opening Day)
- Afternoon: Book presentation or seminar at Ex-Oratorio della Vergine Assunta
- Evening: Opening concert at Rocca di Castruccio, traditionally featuring BargaJazz Orchestra
Monday
- Afternoon: Seminar or thematic encounter at Ex-Oratorio della Vergine Assunta
- Evening: Main concert at Rocca di Castruccio, including Premio Renato Sellani ceremony
Tuesday
- Afternoon: Book presentation at Ex-Oratorio della Vergine Assunta
- Sunset: Concert at Torre del Barbarossa
- Evening: Main concert at Rocca di Castruccio
Wednesday (Closing Day)
- Afternoon: Final encounter at Ex-Oratorio della Vergine Assunta
- Evening: Closing concerts at Rocca di Castruccio
Set times
Specific set times for 2027 will be announced with the full programme. Based on previous editions:
- Ex-Oratorio encounters: approximately 18:15
- Torre del Barbarossa sunset concert: approximately 19:30
- Rocca di Castruccio main concerts: approximately 21:00
Ticket types
Ticket prices for 2027 have not yet been announced. The following prices are based on previous editions and are converted from euros to USD.
Concert tickets (Rocca di Castruccio):
- Single concert ticket: approximately $6
- Season pass for all four evenings: approximately $14
Free entry events:
- Torre del Barbarossa sunset concert: free entry, subject to capacity
- Ex-Oratorio seminars and book presentations: free entry, subject to capacity
Booking information: Tickets are typically available from late May through the Teatro Manzoni box office in Pistoia, online via Boxol and Biglietto Veloce, and at the Serravalle Pistoiese municipal offices. On concert evenings, the Rocca di Castruccio box office opens from approximately 20:00.
VIP & premium options
Serravalle Jazz does not operate a formal VIP programme. The festival’s intimate scale and community-oriented ethos mean that all attendees share the same experience. The season pass represents the best value for those attending multiple evenings.
Event rules
Attendees should be aware of the following policies:
- Food and beverages are not permitted inside the Rocca di Castruccio performance area
- The Torre del Barbarossa concert and Ex-Oratorio events are free entry until capacity is reached
- In case of bad weather, concerts are relocated to the Piccolo Teatro Mauro Bolognini in Pistoia
- Respectful behaviour is expected at all times
How to get there
Serravalle Pistoiese is located in the province of Pistoia, Tuscany, approximately 10 kilometres from Pistoia and 40 kilometres from Florence.
By air: The nearest airports are Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport (approximately 45 km) and Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (approximately 70 km).
By train: The nearest railway stations are Pistoia and Montecatini Terme. From these stations, local buses or taxis connect to Serravalle Pistoiese.
By car: Serravalle Pistoiese is accessible via the A11 autostrada (Firenze-Mare), exiting at Pistoia. The town is also reachable via the SS435 and other regional roads.
Public transport & parking
The festival provides a free shuttle bus service connecting the Masotti station area with Serravalle Paese. This service operates on all four festival evenings from approximately 20:30 to 00:30.
Parking is available in designated areas around Serravalle Pistoiese. Attendees driving to the festival should follow signs for festival parking and use the shuttle service to reach the Rocca di Castruccio.
Accommodation areas
Serravalle Pistoiese itself has limited accommodation options, primarily small hotels and B&Bs. The town’s intimate scale means that most attendees stay in nearby Pistoia or Montecatini Terme.
Pistoia (approximately 10 km) offers a wider range of hotels, from basic to four-star, and is well-connected to Serravalle by bus and car. The city has a charming historic centre with restaurants and cultural attractions.
Montecatini Terme (approximately 15 km) is a historic spa town with numerous hotels, from elegant historic properties to modern establishments. The town is well-connected to Serravalle and offers a range of dining and leisure options.
Agriturismi in the surrounding Valdinievole countryside offer rural accommodation options, often with excellent local cuisine and panoramic views.
Food & drink
The festival area at the Rocca di Castruccio typically features a bar service offering beverages and light refreshments. However, the festival’s intimate scale means that dining options are more limited than at larger events.
Attendees are encouraged to dine before the concerts in Serravalle Pistoiese or Pistoia. Local restaurants in Serravalle offer traditional Tuscan cuisine, while Pistoia has a broader range of options from trattorias to contemporary restaurants. Local specialties include pistoiese crostini, necci (chestnut flour crepes), and the region’s renowned olive oil and wines.
Accessibility
The Rocca di Castruccio and other festival venues are located within Serravalle Pistoiese’s historic centre, which features cobblestone streets and uneven terrain typical of medieval towns. Attendees with mobility limitations should contact the festival directly to inquire about accessible viewing areas and assistance.
Best days to attend
The optimal days to attend depend on individual preferences:
- For the fullest experience: All four evenings offer distinct programming, with the opening night featuring the traditional BargaJazz Orchestra concert
- For the Premio Sellani: The award ceremony typically takes place on the second evening (Monday)
- For the sunset concert: The Torre del Barbarossa performance typically takes place on the third evening (Tuesday)
- For the closing finale: The final evening (Wednesday) features the closing concerts and a celebratory atmosphere
Previous year’s highlights
The 2026 edition of Serravalle Jazz, the 25th in the festival’s history, took place from 23 to 26 August at the Rocca di Castruccio. The edition featured headline performances from the BargaJazz Orchestra with special guest Grégoire Maret presenting “Wonder in Jazz,” Enrico Pieranunzi Quintet performing “Chet Remembered,” Omar Sosa presenting “Sendas,” and Nico Gori with “Music Around the Clarinet.”
The 2026 edition also featured the XI Premio Renato Sellani, awarded to Enrico Pieranunzi and, in the new emerging talent section, to saxophonist Tommaso Mannelli. Javier Girotto performed the sunset concert at the Torre del Barbarossa, while the Ex-Oratorio della Vergine Assunta hosted seminars and book presentations including discussions of Bill Evans, John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme,” Brad Mehldau, and Miles Davis.
The 2025 edition featured Eddie Henderson with the BargaJazz Orchestra, Danilo Rea’s “Sakamoto & Me,” and the Nico Gori Tentet celebrating ten years of swing. The festival confirmed its role as a meeting point for jazz enthusiasts and a showcase for both established masters and emerging talents.
Official tickets
Tickets for Serravalle Jazz 2027 will be available through the festival’s official channels. Based on previous editions, tickets typically go on sale in late May.
Official ticket channels include:
- Teatro Manzoni box office, Pistoia: +39 0573 991609
- Online: Boxol.it and BigliettoVeloce.it
- Serravalle Pistoiese municipal offices: Ufficio Cultura, +39 0573 917204
- On concert evenings: Rocca di Castruccio box office opens from approximately 20:00
For general inquiries, the festival can be contacted through Fondazione Teatri di Pistoia and Music Pool. The official website is www.serravallejazz.it.
Video
Location
FAQ
Is there any charge to enter the festival area or watch the live music performances?
No money is required for entry because the event maintains a strict, unyielding free-access model designed to keep culture open to everyone. Visitors can simply walk right through the open public gates and enjoy all music performances without purchasing any passes.
Where exactly is the open-air venue located within Italy?
The festival takes place inside the historic stone fortifications of Rocca di Castruccio and surrounding scenic areas located in Serravalle Pistoiese, Tuscany. This elevated medieval hilltop location is easily accessible from regional transit hubs via organized shuttle services.
What kind of musical styles can attendees expect to hear during the multi-day event?
The lineup focuses heavily on cutting-edge contemporary jazz, avant-garde improvisations, and classic Mediterranean acoustic fusions. Audiences also get to experience rare exclusive performances from acclaimed international maestros and innovative young artists.
Are there food and drink options available inside the village grounds for visitors?
A wide variety of historic local trattorias and artisanal food stations serve traditional Tuscan street food and regional recipes throughout the venue daily. Attendees can also find independent craft beverages and local regional wines at dedicated village locations.
Can visitors attend academic lectures and book presentations during the daytime hours?
A bustling schedule of literary meetings and archival jazz history lectures operates every afternoon inside the historic oratorio space. Musicologists and authors lead engaging public discussions exploring classic recordings and biographical histories before the evening concerts begin.
Leave a Reply