The Festival
The thirteenth edition, the third organised by Fondazione Entroterre,
of the International Ocarina Festival, in Budrio.
The event takes place from April 16 to April 19, 2026. It constitutes an important opportunity to celebrate the symbolic instrument of Budrio’s cultural heritage in all its forms and the social and musical community that carries on its artisanal tradition and memory, enchanting generations of fans and professionals worldwide.
Submit your proposal
Do you play or build ocarinas and want to show your vision and art to the Festival audience?
Apply for the year 2026!
The world of ocarina is extremely rich and is a continuous advocate of new points of view and artistic possibilities.
Show us yours: write your chapter in its history.
News
Program
Oca Lab
18 Apr 2026 h 10:00 am | Budrio - Town Auditorium, Via Aurelio Saffi, 50
Educational workshop organized by Diapason Progetti Musicali APS, introducing the Budrio ocarina to children (ages 9–11) through a playful and inclusive approach.
The tuning of the ocarinas
18 Apr 2026 h 10:00 am | Budrio - Water Towers
A workshop to uncover the secrets of the "perfect sound." Austrian master Kurt Posch reveals the technical challenges behind his renowned concert ocarinas, from breath balance to the boldest experiments.
Guided tour of the Consortium Theatre of Budrio
18 Apr 2026 h 10:00 am | Budrio - Consortium Theatre
The Consortium Theatre of Budrio has been the beating heart of the city’s cultural life since 1672. Born from Paolo Sgargi’s private passion and later becoming a symbol of the Partecipanza Agraria, this historic venue has hosted legends like Pavarotti and Gaber, and in 2022 it was reborn as a key hub for theatre, opera, and music.
Sister Lands
18 Apr 2026 h 11:00 am | Budrio - Water Towers
"Sister Lands" celebrates the bond between Bologna and Kosovo, reciprocating the hospitality received by the Ocarina Ensemble of the G.B. Martini Conservatory. On stage, alongside the Ensemble, special guest Gent Hoxha, followed by the documentary Ocarina of Runik, rediscovering a millenary Neolithic heritage.
Guided tour of the Ocarina Museum
18 Apr 2026 h 11:00 am | Budrio - Museum of the ocarina and terracotta musical instruments, Via Garibaldi, 35
An interactive one-hour journey through history and music, designed for families and the community. Guided by experts, you’ll explore the origins of the instrument with live sound demonstrations, hearing clay come to life as melody.
Alessio Collina DJ set
18 Apr 2026 h 11:00 pm | Budrio - Water Towers
A vinyl enthusiast and house music devotee, Alessio delivers a dynamic sound through his Trend Records imprint and his HILL alias. A fixture in the club scenes of Berlin, Ibiza, and London, his productions have earned the backing of heavyweights like Kerri Chandler and Honey Dijon. His live sets showcase a constantly evolving selection of original edits.
Bolero
18 Apr 2026 h 6:30 pm | Budrio - Antonio da Budrio Square
Bolero opens the evening with the A/M Project collective and Studio del Movimento Danza: a multi-part performance on Ravel’s obsessive crescendo, balancing technique and improvisation. Following this, the excellence of the Ocarina Ensemble Budrio (OEBU) will transform breath into music with its unique timbre.
Ocarina's Gran Gala
18 Apr 2026 h 9:00 pm | Budrio - Consortium Theatre
The annual magical meeting between history and the future. The Gruppo Ocarinistico Budriese, the centuries-old heir to Donati’s genius and a global ambassador of the ocarina, performs in dialogue with the excellence of the Orchestra Giovanile BenTIVoglio. A special concert where the terracotta legend meets the symphonic talent of a new generation.
Guided tour of the "Domenico Inzaghi" Art Gallery
19 Apr 2026 h 10:00 am | Budrio - Via Mentana, 32
A guided tour exploring the extensive repertoire of Bolognese-Emilian painting from the 14th to the 19th century, along with numerous collections of drawings and prints.
The Zither and the Ocarina
19 Apr 2026 h 10:00 am | Budrio - Water Towers
A journey from European monasteries to Japan to discover the charm of the zither. With builder Luca Panetti and performer Asaka Shirai, we’ll explore technical secrets and ancient repertoires. A dynamic workshop filled with opportunities to play, sing, and have fun together!
The Ocarina through Time
19 Apr 2026 h 11:30 am | Budrio - Water Towers
David Erick Ramos, musician and educator, also promotes the ocarina as an author. He wrote How to Play Ocarina, a widely used instructional method, and is preparing The Ocarina Through Time, a historical volume documenting the evolution of the instrument and its makers.
Breath of the Ocarina: The Spirit of Music
19 Apr 2026 h 12:00 pm | Budrio - Water Towers
Il Respiro dell’Ocarina is the heartbeat of the Backstage Project: the young participants of Fondazione Entroterre move from "behind the scenes" to the stage. Through ocarina duets and solo voices, the boys and girls bring to Budrio the emotion of those who have learned to create the magic of the performance.
Mirko Casadei POPular folk Orchestra feat. Ocarinas
19 Apr 2026 h 5:00 pm | Budrio - Consortium Theatre
An explosion of rhythm at the International Ocarina Festival: the Mirko Casadei POPular Folk Orchestra meets ocarina players for a night that reinvents Romagna folk. Between greatest hits and special anniversaries, tradition lights up with new sounds, turning into a vibrant and electrifying celebration.
Gran Finale - Lovesick and Mirko Casadei
19 Apr 2026 h 8:30 pm | Budrio - Water Towers
The Ocarina Festival concludes in style with a spectacular grand finale featuring Lovesick and exceptional guest star Mirko Casadei. A unique fusion of the Bologna duo’s international country-rock sound and the vibrant energy of a leading figure in the Italian music scene.
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