Nell’Arena delle balle di paglia
4th July and from 8th to 14th July 2026
The straw bales arena in Cotignola is made completely out of natural materials and hosts artists, musicians and poets. In a natural landscape that through music, art, and poetry evokes the visible and invisible.
4th July at 6am – Farm between Via Peschiera and Via Ponte Pietra, near the Fornace
Omar il Pianista sul maggiolone
Concert at dawn during the baling harvest
8th July
Opening ceremony with Gnit di Esperanza to explore the land art of the Arena
At 7.15pm Meeting point: Via Zanzi 28
Segreti d’arte povera nelle case abbandonate
Bike tour with Gianandrea Nadiani and Mario Baldini to discover the hidden art and stories in Cotignola and arrive at the Arena del Gnit.
Everyone must bring their own bicycle.
Info and reservations: arenadelleballedipaglia@gmail
Admission: donation-based
9th July
8 pm Oscar Simonetti “Piotr e i treni” – WRITERS
9 pm Gaia Banfi – MUSIC
10 pm Krano – Composer of the soundtrack for the film “Le città di pianura” – MUSIC
10.45 pm Teho Teardo in “Concerto al buio” – MUSIC
Admission: 2 euros
10th July
8 pm Ermanno Cavazzoni “Storia di un’amicizia” – WRITERS
9.15 pm Alessandro “Asso” Stefana – MUSIC
9.30 pm Andrea Cosentino in “Primi passi sulla luna” – THEATER
10.30 pm Zu – MUSIC
12 am Don Antonio – MUSIC
Admission: 5 euros
11th July
8 pm Performance by the Scuola Teatro la Bassa Association – THEATER
9.15 pm “L’aviatore errante e il Piccolo Principe” by Il Teatro dei Venti – THEATER
10.30 pm Santamarea – MUSIC
11.30 pm Mood – MUSIC
Admission: 5 euros
12th July
7 pm Luisa Cottifogli in “Anita sulla battana” – THEATER
815 pm Compagnia Begherè in “Rendez-Vous!” – CIRCUS
9.15 pm Luisa Cottifogli and Sacred Waters – MUSIC
9.30 pm Lorenzo Carpinelli in “Ombrelloni” – THEATER
10.30 pm Nuvola – MUSIC
Admission: 5 euros
13th July
8 pm Nicola Lagioia in “Presto saprò chi sono” – WRITERS
9.15 Patrizia Laquidara – MUSIC
9.30 pm Ivan Talarico in “La cantautrice fantasma” – THEATER
10.30 pm Moder in an acoustic set “tra tasti e corde” – MUSIC
Admission: 5 euros
14th July
8.15 pm Gobbi – MUSIC
9.30 pm Sandro Joyeux – MUSIC
9.15 pm Luigi Ciotta in“Abbattoir Blues” (recommended for ages 8 and up) – CIRCUS
11 pm Final auction of the Balle!
Admission: 5 euros
Every evening from 9th to 14th July
from 7 pm to 9 pm
Workshops and shows for children
Info and reservations: arenadelleballedipaglia@gmail.com
FILI DI ESPERANZA
From 9th to 14th July 8pm to 9.30 pm
Foglie di poesia
by Sofia Zoli
11th July at 9.15 pm, 10.30 pm, 12 am
12th July at 8.30 pm, 10 pm, 11.30 pm
13th July at 8.30 pm, 10 pm
Amleto nella miniera delle immagini
Traveling performance curated by Teatro Zigoia
Info and reservations: arenadelleballedipaglia@gmail.com
From 12th to 14th July 8 pm to 11 pm
IPNO, Theater in 5 Minutes
by Silvano Voltolina and Babboo
12th July at 9.30 pm
Movie “La corazzata Potemkin” – Golena dei morti felici
Useful information
The straw bales arena
Address: Via Cenacchio – 48033 Cotignola
E-mail: info@primolacotignola.it
URL: http://www.primolacotignola.it/
Cotignola, Arena delle balle di paglia
An ephemeral Greek arena immersed in the countryside. Concerts, theatre, storytelling, exploration and poetry.
Info: www.primolacotignola.it, info@primolacotignola.it
How to get there
The arena is in the countryside of Cotignola, where the canal Canale Emiliano Romagnola meets the river Senio.
You can park in the sports ground in via Cenacchio and then walk or cycle for just less than 1km.
The will be a bus shuttle service for people with reduced mobility (reservations: tel. 333 4183149 whatsapp)
