Vicenza becomes the meeting point between Italian and American culture —
a multidisciplinary, international event that explores, celebrates, and strengthens historical, artistic, culinary, sporting, social, and economic connections.
when
When does it take place?
September
12 – 13 – 14
2025
September 12 – 13 – 14, 2025
The first edition of the Italy–America Friendship Festival will take place over the weekend from Friday, September 12 to Sunday, September 14, 2025.
Three days filled with events, talks, performances, and tastings will turn Vicenza into a privileged meeting point between Italian and American culture.
The main event will be preceded by a rich calendar of preparatory and sporting initiatives starting as early as May 20, 2025.
Conferences, lectures, film screenings, workshops, and digital content will guide the public on a journey toward the festival, offering a gradual and engaging exploration of its central themes.
These preliminary events will allow for a deeper look into the topics addressed, involving both the local and international community in anticipation of the September festival.
20
MAY
This isn’t New York
Monte di Pietà - Sala Pegni
18:30
Evening Guests:
M.T. COMETTO & GLAUCO MAGGI
10
JUNE
Marketing e brand activism
Monte di Pietà - Sala Pegni
18:30
Evening Guest:
ROMANO CAPPELLARI
24
JUNE
Screening of the Documentary: “Cries from the Cotton field”
Monte di Pietà - Sala Pegni
18:30
Evening Guests:
LUCIANO CALEFFI & LARRY FOLEY
4
JULY
INDEPENDENCE DAY: From Star Wars to the Risorgimento: Freedom in Film, Comics, and TV
Monte di Pietà - Sala Pegni
18:30
Evening Guest:
Mondoserie
15
JULY
Promised Land — Chasing the American Dream: Stories of Emigrants from Recoaro and the Valli dei Signori in the Late 1800s
Monte di Pietà - Sala Pegni
18:30
Evening Guest:
Giorgio Trivelli
what
What to expect?
A multidisciplinary festival
Three days of lectures, talks, screenings, concerts, and presentations, featuring special guests and leading voices from both continents, set in Vicenza’s most iconic Palladian landmarks.
A rich program, introduced by the “Towards the Festival” events and accompanied by a food village in the heart of the city — with tastings, culinary excellence, and entertainment.
The themes of the festival
History
A journey through past and present — from stories of migration from Vicenza to the United States to the discovery of Italian-American roots, exploring the events, figures, and contributions that have shaped the relationship between Italy and the USA.
Art
Palladio’s legacy as an ideal bridge between Vicenza and the United States — celebrating the influence of Palladian architecture on major American public works and deepening the visual dialogue between the two cultures.
Music
Concerts and talks exploring the musical bond between Italy and America — from Ennio Morricone’s iconic soundtracks to the influence of American hip hop on today’s Italian music scene.
Culture
Cinema, literature, and television to explore the mutual cultural influence — with directors, writers, and critics sharing how Italy and the United States have portrayed and inspired each other’s imagination.
Food and Wine
A gastronomic and sensory journey through tastings, show cooking, and masterclasses — with chefs and producers sharing stories of exchange between Italian and American culinary traditions.
Sport
Sporting events and friendly matches to foster exchange between the two communities — and to discover new disciplines ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
where
Where will the event take place?
In Vicenza!
In the city’s most iconic landmarks, where history and culture come together.
The festival will unfold across Vicenza’s symbolic locations, offering an immersive experience of architecture, food and wine, and live entertainment.
why
Why a festival in Vicenza?
Vicenza is the ideal place to host the first Italian festival dedicated to relations with the United States:
An internationally oriented city, home to the largest American community in Italy. In 2025, the American presence in Vicenza — counting around 13,000 people — will celebrate its 70th anniversary.
Palladio and American Architecture: Vicenza, the world capital of Palladianism, is the place of inspiration behind the “Federal Style” that, in the early 1800s, shaped American public architecture — from the White House to the Capitol.
In 2010, the U.S. Congress officially recognized Palladio as the “father of American architecture.”
A local economy deeply tied to the United States, with many Vicenza-based companies already operating in the American market and significant opportunities for expanding bilateral partnerships.
who
Who will take part in the festival?
Italian and American institutions, prominent figures from the cultural, artistic, and economic worlds, as well as internationally renowned experts and professionals.
A unique opportunity to meet special guests — including writers, filmmakers, historians, artists, Michelin-starred chefs, and leading voices from the Italian-American scene.
