With the second part of the 2025-2026 season, the FOCE of Lugano consolidates its increasingly leading role in the city and cantonal culture, presenting a calendar that from February to June offers 160 new proposalsConcerts, theatrical performances, film festivals, meetings, dance and recreational activities make up a mosaic designed for different audiences, in line with the idea of a accessible and participatory culture.
This year's program also stands out for a significant anniversary: the twentieth anniversary of Agorateca, the City of Lugano's media library, has been a hub for local cultural life for two decades. Originally conceived as a walkable, open space, Agorateca has gradually expanded its scope, transforming into a meeting place where film and reading become shared experiences. To celebrate its anniversary, the season features a special program of meetings and screenings, naturally engaging with the other arts programs hosted at FOCE.
A programming built on the plurality of languages
The 2025-2026 FOCE season is structured around several thematic events, each with its own identity. Home, dedicated to local theater companies, offers 19 new productions Between February and May, for a total of 35 performances. The focus is on local creativity, with a broad and diverse presence of Ticino producers, from experimental theater to family-friendly offerings.
On the musical front, Random actively involves young people and local associations in developing its program, with 25 events spanning different genres and languages. Alongside this program, Raclette hosts established artists from the contemporary scene, offering a cross-section of singer-songwriters, experimental sound, rap, and art-pop. Jazz Me Up! rounds out the program with two events dedicated to jazz piano, featuring internationally renowned performers such as Francesca Tandoi and Aaron Parks.
Between emerging music and big names of the contemporary scene
Inside Random There are evenings showcasing local talent and bands, with a particular focus on the younger generations. Highlighted events include performances by Ticino art collectives and events dedicated to hip-hop, metal, and the intersection of music, art, and independent cinema. The Fresh Festival also returns, a three-day event showcasing diverse artistic languages and emerging and established artists.
The Raclette festival opens with Giorgio Poi, who presents his new album as a duo Splinters, then traversing the Italian rap scene with DJ Shocca alongside MadBuddy and Ensi. This is followed by concerts by Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys, an art-pop project balancing introspection and experimentation, and the return to Studio FOCE of harpist Kety Fusco, engaged in a sonic exploration that redefines the possibilities of the electric harp. The series concludes with a double date by The Zen Circus, who kick off their European tour celebrating the tenth anniversary of their album. The Third World War.
Musical residencies and support for local creativity
Alongside the concerts, the 2025-2026 FOCE season confirms its attention to musical residencies at Studio FOCEThe project offers local musicians time and space to develop new ideas, from the research phase to public presentation. Supported by the Republic and Canton of Ticino – DECS / DCSU / Swisslos Fund – the residencies represent a structural investment in local talent. The projects selected for 2025-2026 are Mortòri, Infesta, and Moltomale, with final concerts open to the public and free of charge.
Theater, childhood and institutional collaborations
The Home festival sees the participation of numerous Ticino theatres, alongside the proposals curated by LAC and the SOLOinscena recitals. Established events also return, such as the Il Maggiolino early childhood festival and the Senza Confini festival, organized in collaboration with LAC edu. Together, they offer a theatrical panorama that combines experimentation, education, and a focus on younger audiences.
Cinema and Agorateca: Twenty Years of Images and Words
Agorateca's twentieth anniversary is also the focus of its film offerings. The program features screenings for a variety of audiences, from family films like Ernest and Celestine: The Adventure of the 7 Notes to documentaries like Billie by James Erskine, dedicated to Billie Holiday. The Club Cult Original Version series features great cinema classics in their original language, from Chaplin to Hitchcock, from Kurosawa to Wyler. Collaborations with Cinema dei Ragazzi and Lugano Animation Days are also included, enriching the program with workshops and screenings for children and families.
Meetings, dance and participation
Cultural events celebrating Agorateca's twentieth anniversary include staged readings, public discussions, and events dedicated to promoting reading. These are complemented by the series "L'Impronta," inaugurated by Rosita Celentano, which features intimate interviews on ethical, social, and cultural issues.
Ample space is also reserved for dance and contemporary dance, with evenings dedicated to different styles and events that reflect on the present, such as Rimaye – A material revelation by the AZIONIfuoriPOSTO company. Also returning is the Festa danzante, a national project promoted by Reso – Rete Danza Svizzera, which every year involves numerous cities across the country.
A cultural center rooted in the territory
In outlining the overall meaning of the season, the Deputy Mayor and Head of the Department of Culture, Sport and Events of the City of Lugano Robert Badaracco It emphasizes how FOCE remains an open and inclusive space, capable of speaking to different generations. The 160 scheduled events showcase a vibrant culture, in dialogue with contemporary life and deeply rooted in the local area, while the celebration of Agorateca's twentieth anniversary represents a symbolic milestone in this journey.
