| X Edition | Verdi Street Parade – Everything in the world is a joke!
Over 190 events in 30 days, more than 2,500 artists and 90 associations, companies and cultural institutions involved, in 9 new locations in Parma, Busseto, and 22 municipalities in the province, reaching schools, 25 nursing homes, hospitals and prisons: these are the figures for the 10th Edition of Verdi Off, which, from 20 September to 19 October 2025, on the occasion of the Festival Verdi, will once again joyfully invade the streets, squares and neighbourhoods of Parma and the surrounding area with multidisciplinary, free and widespread performances involving visitors, families, children, enthusiasts and curious people of all ages, to discover and rediscover the music of Giuseppe Verdi from ever new and surprising perspectives.
Produced by the Regio Theatre of Parma, with the contribution of the Municipality of Parma, the support of the Association “Parma, io ci sto!” and Production Partner DS Solutions, Verdi Off will embrace every neighbourhood of Parma, the town of Busseto and the municipalities of Basilicanova, Castellina di Soragna, Collecchio, Felino, Fidenza, Langhirano, Montechiarugolo, Polesine Zibello, Sala Baganza, Sorbolo Mezzani, and Traversetolo, thanks also to the agreement that increasingly binds the Regio Theatre of Parma, the Province of Parma, and the municipalities of the Pedemontana Parmense Union.
There are many new features and surprises in store for this tenth edition, which will kick off in spectacular way with the Verdi Street Parade – Everything in the world is a joke! (Saturday 20 September 2025 from 6 p.m.), a musical celebration inspired this year by Falstaff, which will take over the streets of the city from the centre to Oltretorrente on the opening day of the Festival Verdi and Verdi Off. Over 1,000 artists, choral ensembles, bands, singers, actors, dancers, acrobats and visual artists will bring to life a widespread show with performances inspired by the music and figure of Giuseppe Verdi and dedicated to audiences of all ages. The parade, entirely dedicated to Falstaff and created in collaboration with Francesca Pasquinucci and Davide Giannoni – Imaginarium – with the artisans of the Viareggio Carnival and choreography by Elodie Lebigre, will take place. The School of Europe, the State Art High-School Paolo Toschi and the Parma Federal Youth Centre will also feature in the festive parade, coordinated by Laura Panizza, with Verdi-inspired creations specially made during the year through dedicated workshops. The parade will culminate in Piazzale della Pace with the video mapping show 22.2.22 (from 8 p.m. to 12.30 a.m., repeated every 30 minutes), created by Karmachina with music by Giuseppe Verdi arranged by Optogram.
Among this year’s new features is “Il sonno uccidesti” (You killed Sleep), the new commission by Verdi Off to artists Damiano Michieletto and Paolo Fantin, which will take shape and space in the Galleria San Ludovico in Parma from 21 September to 19 October 2025.
– Opening Ceremony Sunday, 21st September at 6:00 p.m.
– From 22 September to 19 October
– Tuesday – Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
– Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
– Saturday – Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.