For 2026, the Comune di Noto has published an extensive programme of events under the name NotOn 2026. The programme covers July through October and includes music, theatre, exhibitions, cultural events, food and wine, sport, religious celebrations and activities for families. Importantly for visitors staying in Noto, the programme extends beyond the historic centre to Lido di Noto and several of the smaller communities within Noto's large municipal territory.
This guide is based on the Comune di Noto's published NotOn 2026 programme. It is intended to help English-speaking visitors understand the events that may be most interesting during their stay rather than reproduce all 39 pages of the municipal calendar. Dates, times and venues below follow the published programme, but events can be changed by the organisers, so it is sensible to check the official programme before setting out.
Programme status: this guide reflects the Comune's published calendar as available on 9 August 2026.
The summer programme at a glance
The strength of NotOn 2026 is its variety. There are large open-air concerts in Piazza Municipio, the 51st Festival Internazionale Notomusica, the 17th special edition of Noto in Jazz, theatre and contemporary performance, film, exhibitions in historic buildings, food and wine events, religious celebrations and a long list of smaller community events.
The programme does not end with Ferragosto. Events continue through August and September and into October, making the calendar useful not only for traditional summer holidays but also for guests visiting Noto in the shoulder season.
The official programme uses the symbol € to indicate events that are listed as paid. Where the programme gives a specific starting time, that time is included below.
Major concerts in Piazza Municipio
There is something particularly memorable about hearing live music in Piazza Municipio. The Cathedral of San Nicolò rises above the square, Palazzo Ducezio faces it from the opposite side, and the surrounding Baroque buildings create a natural setting for large public performances.
The 2026 programme includes a substantial series of concerts and large-scale performances in the square. Earlier highlights included the Orchestra Bellini on 1 August, a symphonic tribute to film music on 5 August and LDA and AKA7EVEN on 6 August.
For the remainder of August, the programme lists RAF on 10 August at 21:00, Bellamorèa on 12 August at 21:00, Carroccia canta Battisti on 14 August at 21:00 and Ferragosto Italiano, a 1990s dance night with DJs Eraldo, Maio and Micio, on 15 August from 21:00 until 01:00.
The second half of the month continues with the Giacinto Festival on 17 August, Culture – DJ Set with special guest Silvie Loto on 22 August from 18:00 until 01:00, a K-Pop International Tribute Show on 23 August at 21:00, I Replay Pooh – 60 anni di emozioni on 24 August at 21:00, a Dire Straits Tribute on 25 August at 21:00, and Mario Biondi on 26 August at 21:00.
The programme also lists the traditional San Corrado concert on 27 August at 21:00 at the Palchetto della Musica in Piazza Trigona.
Local tip: plan around the big concerts
If you are attending a major concert, arrive in the historic centre early enough to enjoy Piazza Municipio before the performance begins. Noto is especially beautiful as daylight fades and the Baroque façades begin to illuminate. On major concert evenings, it is also sensible to book dinner in advance and allow additional time for pedestrian and traffic restrictions.
Notomusica: 51 years of classical music and jazz
For guests who enjoy classical music or jazz, the 51st Festival Internazionale Notomusica is one of the most important events in Noto's summer calendar. The 2026 festival runs from 25 July through 19 August and brings classical, orchestral and jazz performances to the historic setting of the Cortile del Collegio dei Gesuiti, listed in the municipal programme as Teatro Noto d'estate. Performances begin at 21:15, and the festival's paid events are marked accordingly in the programme.
The festival opened on 25 July with violinist Alessandro Quarta, pianist Giuseppe Magagnino and the Orchestra Filarmonica Franco Caracciolo under Cristian Lombardi, in I 5 Elementi e la loro creazione. Other August performances include Giuseppe Gibboni and Carlotta Dalia on 1 August, Dado Moroni and Max Ionata on 4 August, Raphael Gualazzi on 7 August, Fabrizio Bosso Quartet on 11 August, and the Sinfonica Bellini del Conservatorio V. Bellini di Catania, with pianist Daniele Petralia and conductor Epifanio Comis, on 19 August.
The Comune describes the festival as a programme moving between symphonic music, jazz, classical repertoire and contemporary crossover. The official Notomusica organisation also maintains its own website with information about the festival and the wider musical activity of the Associazione Concerti Città di Noto.
Local tip: a special evening in a historic setting
If you choose a Notomusica concert, consider making the evening part of a longer walk through Noto. Explore the historic centre in the late afternoon, have an early dinner or aperitivo, and then continue to the concert. The relatively intimate setting of the former Jesuit college gives these performances a very different character from the large concerts in Piazza Municipio.
Noto in Jazz
The 17th special edition of Noto in Jazz is another important strand of the summer programme. Rather than concentrating on one large festival venue, the series uses smaller settings and brings jazz into the historic centre.
The programme includes Bach in Jazz, musica senza confini with Antonio Canino on piano on 30 July at 22:00 in the Cortile Convitto delle Arti – Noto Museum. Later appointments include Niwas 4et on 13 August at 22:00 and Merides on 21 August at 22:00, both at the same courtyard.
The jazz programme continues into September with Improgressive Trio on 5 September at 22:00 and further performances later in the month. The smaller scale of these events makes them particularly attractive if you prefer live music in an intimate setting rather than a large public concert.
Film, theatre and contemporary culture
Noto's summer calendar is not simply a programme of concerts. The city also has a strong cultural programme involving theatre, film, contemporary performance, literature and discussion.
The Noto International Film Festival, or N.I.I.F., took place from 3 to 9 August at the Cortile del Complesso Museale del Barocco on Via G. Garibaldi, with the 2026 edition carrying the Premio Mario Monicelli alla miglior regia.
The Giacinto Festival, directed by Luigi Tabita, is scheduled for 17 and 18 August, with events at Piazza Municipio and the Convitto delle Arti – Noto Museum. The programme describes it as a festival of information and cultural discussion focused on LGBT+ themes.
The Teatro Tina Di Lorenzo also features prominently in the later programme, particularly during the September and October dates of the XIV edition of the Codex Festival. On 18 September, Codex presents Sutta scupa at 21:00; on 19 September, La Sparanoia at 21:00; on 30 September, Antigone, esercizi di Democrazia is scheduled at 09:30, 11:30 and 21:00; on 1 October, La Divina Commedia raccontata ai bambini is scheduled at 09:30 and 11:30 followed by Poetry Slam at 21:00; on 2 October there is a daytime discussion followed by Amarene at 21:00 and an electronic/polyphonic performance at 22:30; and on 3 October, La classe is scheduled at 21:00.
Official Teatro Tina Di Lorenzo website
Local tip: use culture to escape the midday heat
If the afternoon is particularly hot, an exhibition, museum visit or indoor cultural event can be an excellent way to break up a day of sightseeing. Save the long walks along Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the evening passeggiata for the cooler hours.
Food and wine events
The NotOn programme also gives food and wine a place in the summer calendar. These events can be particularly enjoyable for visitors because they combine local products with the informal social atmosphere of an Italian summer evening.
On 9 August, #bevovaldinoto Summer Edition 26 is scheduled at the Loggia del Mercato from 19:30 to 23:30, with tasting stands, wine tastings, music and local products organised by Strada del Vino Val di Noto.
The programme also includes food-centred events in several of the surrounding communities. Testa dell'Acqua hosts a sagra della ricotta e del panino con salsiccia on 13 August, accompanied by music, while Santa Lucia di Mendola has a sagra dei cavati on 12 July. Granieri's July programme includes a sagra dei cavati and later food stands with arancini and sandwiches.
Local tip: look beyond the restaurant menu
If you have already enjoyed several restaurant dinners, an outdoor food event can provide a completely different experience. These occasions are less formal and more social, and they give visitors a chance to encounter dishes and products in the context of local community life.
Summer by the sea: Lido di Noto
Noto's summer programme extends naturally from the Baroque centre down to the coast. The dedicated Lido di Noto calendar is centred around the Belvedere and includes music, dance, family activities and other evening events.
During August, the Belvedere hosts a children's entertainment evening on 22 August at 20:30 and a musical evening with ABC Music Band on 26 August at 21:00. Earlier events included dance, karaoke, live music and other community performances.
One of the most atmospheric events is scheduled for 16 August: L'alba dentro l'imbrunire, an evening concert for piano and string quartet dedicated to Franco Battiato and Ennio Morricone, with compositions by Corrado Neri. The municipal programme lists the performance at 21:00 at the Lido di Noto Belvedere.
The programme also lists International Street Food from 7 to 10 August, from 17:30 to 24:00, at the Hotel Ionio car park on Viale Lido. It is a food event dedicated to national and international street food organised by the Associazione Italiana Ristoratori di Strada.
On 10 August, the Belvedere hosts Notte di San Lorenzo – El Deseo Prohibido from 21:30 until 02:00. Other August events include Il ritmo delle parole, divagazioni sul tema on 13 August, piano bar on 15 August, a guided holistic meditation on 18 August, BalFolk on 21 August, children's entertainment on 22 August and live music on 26 August.
Local tip: combine the coast with an evening event
Lido di Noto works particularly well as an evening excursion. Spend the afternoon by the sea, stay for sunset, have dinner nearby and then attend an event at the Belvedere. It is an easy way to experience a completely different side of the Noto area without giving up the convenience of staying close to the historic centre.
San Corrado: one of Noto's most important celebrations
The end of August brings the celebrations for San Corrado, the patron saint of Noto. These events are important not simply because they are part of the tourist calendar, but because they remain part of the religious and social life of the city.
The main Festa di San Corrado is listed for 30 August at 19:00 in the historic centre. The following day, 31 August, the programme lists the Festa del lunedì di San Corrado, with Michele Zarrillo performing at 21:00 in Piazza Lido di Noto and fireworks over the sea at midnight.
The celebrations continue with the Ottava di San Corrado on 6 September at 19:00 in the historic centre.
Local tip: expect the city to change its rhythm
Religious celebrations can bring processions, music, crowds and temporary changes to traffic and pedestrian movement. If you are staying in Noto around these dates, this is not something to avoid; it is an opportunity to see the city participating in a tradition that is much older than the modern tourism calendar. Simply allow a little extra time when moving around the centre.
September in Noto: the programme continues
One of the most useful aspects of the 2026 programme is that September remains busy. The end of August is not the end of Noto's cultural season.
On 4 September, the programme includes Blue Train Jazz 4et at 20:30 in Piazza Trigona and the opening events of the XIV Codex Festival at the ex Magazzini Stazione. On 5 September, Noto in Jazz presents Improgressive Trio at 22:00 at the Convitto delle Arti, while Codex continues at the former station.
On 18 and 19 September, Codex returns to the Teatro Tina Di Lorenzo with theatre performances, while further events take place at the Convitto delle Arti. On 20 September, the programme includes Circo Mix and an alternative rock concert at the Convitto delle Arti.
Notte Barocca
On 26 September, Noto hosts the fourth edition of Notte Barocca. The municipal programme lists the main event at 21:00 in the historic centre, alongside Armonie di fine estate at 21:00 in the Cortile Convitto delle Arti and an 80s music evening at 22:00 in Via Fratelli Bandiera.
This is one of the events that feels particularly appropriate for Noto because the historic centre itself becomes part of the experience. The Baroque architecture is not simply a backdrop to the evening; it is part of the reason the event works so well.
October: Codex carries the season forward
The programme continues into October with the Codex Festival at the Teatro Tina Di Lorenzo. On 1 October, the programme includes a children's presentation of La Divina Commedia raccontata ai bambini in the morning and a Poetry Slam at 21:00. On 2 October there is a discussion, a staged reading of Amarene at 21:00 and an electronic/polyphonic performance at 22:30. The festival concludes this part of the published calendar on 3 October with La classe at 21:00.
For guests travelling in September or early October, these events are a useful reminder that Noto remains culturally active well beyond the peak beach season.
Events in the smaller communities around Noto
Noto's municipal territory is much larger than the Baroque historic centre, and the NotOn programme reflects that. Events are also scheduled in Lido di Noto, Santa Lucia di Mendola, San Corrado fuori le mura, Testa dell'Acqua, Granieri, Rigolizia, Calabernardo and Villa Vela.
These events are generally smaller and more community-oriented. They include local food festivals, music, dancing, theatre, religious celebrations and family activities. Because many of them are outside the historic centre, they are most practical for visitors with a car.
Testa dell'Acqua is particularly interesting for guests who would like to see a more rural side of Noto. Its programme includes a July evening combining music with tastings of cavati and cannoli, a folk music evening on 31 July, a local-history and dialect presentation on 7 August, a ricotta and sausage sandwich festival on 13 August, and the Trofeo Sant'Isidoro running event on 29 August at 18:00.
September brings further celebrations in Testa dell'Acqua, including theatre, children's games, music and the 109th edition of the Gran Galà degli Asini on 13 September, followed by a procession dedicated to Sant'Isidoro Agricola and fireworks.
Granieri's programme includes food, music, children's entertainment and religious celebrations, while Rigolizia and Calabernardo have their own smaller calendars of theatre and musical events. These are not the events most international visitors will find through a standard Noto travel guide, which is precisely why they can be interesting for guests who want to see something beyond the postcard version of the city.
Exhibitions in Noto's historic buildings
The 2026 programme also includes a substantial exhibition calendar, allowing visitors to combine contemporary art and photography with Noto's historic architecture.
LEGS – Viaggio in Italia, a photography exhibition by Gianluca Baronchelli, is listed from 5 June to 30 July at the former Convento di Santa Chiara. Asì Es: Corpi nel tempo e nello spazio, a personal exhibition by Rita Gilberto, runs from 4 to 24 July in the lower level of Palazzo Nicolaci.
Donne: Vietato morire and Henosis by Giuseppe La Spada, dedicated to the symbolic and spiritual relationship between woman and sea, are listed from 6 to 21 July in the lower level of Palazzo Ducezio.
From 31 July to 30 August, the lower level of Palazzo Nicolaci hosts the NOTOARTE Gallery, while the NOTARTE Festival Open Gallery is scheduled from 7 to 23 August at the Esedra in Piazza Trigona, beginning at sunset. An abstract contemporary art exhibition by Nunzio Fisichella is listed from 7 to 30 August at the former Convento di Santa Chiara.
AI CONFINI, a photography exhibition by Massimo Cappuccio, is listed from August through September at the lower level of Palazzo Ducezio. Fragile, a painting exhibition by Andrea Parisio, is listed from 2 to 13 September at the lower level of Palazzo Nicolaci.
Local tip: exhibitions are ideal for hot afternoons
During the hottest part of the day, exhibitions can be an excellent alternative to walking in the full sun. They also give you an opportunity to see some of Noto's historic interiors while encountering contemporary Sicilian artists and photographers.
How to choose an event during your stay
With such a large programme, there is no reason to try to attend everything. A better approach is to choose one or two events that fit naturally into the rest of your day.
For classical music: look first at Notomusica, particularly the concerts on 11 and 19 August.
For a large summer evening: choose one of the Piazza Municipio concerts and combine it with dinner in the historic centre.
For jazz: look at Noto in Jazz on 13 or 21 August, or the September performances.
For a night by the sea: combine an afternoon at Lido di Noto with the 16 August Battiato and Morricone tribute or another Belvedere event.
For food and wine: the #bevovaldinoto evening on 9 August and the smaller community sagre are particularly interesting.
For local traditions: the San Corrado celebrations at the end of August and the September events in the surrounding contrade provide a very different experience from the main tourist attractions.
For contemporary culture: follow the Codex Festival programme through September and early October.
A few practical things to know
The Comune's programme is a published calendar, but event arrangements can occasionally change. We therefore recommend checking the official programme before attending, especially if an event is central to your plans.
Paid events are marked with the € symbol in the municipal programme. For ticketed concerts, particularly those with well-known performers, it is sensible to arrange tickets in advance rather than assuming that seats will be available on the evening.
Major events can also change the normal rhythm of the historic centre. Piazza Municipio concerts and religious celebrations may bring additional crowds and temporary traffic or pedestrian restrictions. If you have a restaurant reservation, allow extra time.
For events outside the historic centre, check the location carefully before leaving. Lido di Noto is a short drive from the centre, while the smaller contrade such as Testa dell'Acqua, Granieri, Rigolizia and Calabernardo require a car or other suitable transport.
The official NotOn 2026 programme
The Comune di Noto's official programme is the definitive reference for the 2026 calendar. It covers events throughout the municipal territory from July through October and includes the complete day-by-day schedule, times, venues and indication of paid events.
View the official NotOn 2026 programme (PDF)
View the Comune di Noto events and news pages
The best thing about summer in Noto
The most enjoyable way to use the NotOn programme is not as another list of attractions to tick off, but as an invitation to experience Noto after the day's sightseeing is finished.
A concert feels different when the Cathedral of San Nicolò forms the backdrop. A jazz performance takes on another character in the courtyard of a historic building. A food and wine evening becomes an opportunity to encounter local products in a social setting, while a small community celebration outside the centre can reveal a side of the Noto area that most visitors would never otherwise discover.
For guests staying at Casa Bandello, this is one of the great advantages of having Noto as a base. You can spend the day exploring the Baroque centre, the beaches, Vendicari or the surrounding towns and then return home before heading back out for an evening event.
As the heat of the day disappears and the limestone façades begin to glow beneath the evening lights, Noto becomes less of a monument and more of a living city. The summer programme simply gives visitors more opportunities to become part of it.