From March 13 to 15, 2026, JAF2026 – Jazz Accordion Festival returned to Castelfidardo and Sirolo. Devised by Ruben Cittadini (Castelfidardo City Councillor for Culture, Tourism, and Youth Policies), the annual event was promoted by the Department of Culture and the Municipality of Castelfidardo in collaboration with accordion manufacturing companies, and benefited from the artistic direction of maestro Simone Zanchini who curates the programming.
The Jazz Accordion Festival (JAF) is an internationally recognised festival dedicated to presenting the accordion in contemporary jazz and experimental music contexts. First launched in 2016 in Castelfidardo — a town internationally celebrated as a centre of accordion craftsmanship — the festival has grown into a respected event on the European jazz calendar.
JAF 2026 continues this tradition, with a programme focused on exploratory, artist‑driven music rather than commercial appeal. The festival maintains free admission in alignment with its educational and community‑oriented mission, aiming to broaden appreciation of the accordion’s expressive range. It was also held at the same time as the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) Winter Congress.
Friday, 13 March – Opening Night
- “Mantici” Sara Calvanelli (accordion, voice, live electronics), Gianfranco Gori (narration) (Italy): A contemporary ensemble blending composition, free improvisation, electronic elements and creative timbral uses of the accordion.
Venue: On Stage
The opening night of the 2026 Jazz Accordion Festival features the show Mantici: The Accordion, A Wandering Goddess through Eras and Lands.
The sensitivity and feminine touch of Tuscan accordionist-composer Sara Calvanelli (vocals, accordion, live electronics) combined with the narrator Gianfranco Gori create a “geo-musical” journey in which freedom, improvisation, and creativity merge with real and imaginary tales. The breath of the bellows and the voice are thus described by ancient Mediterranean songs, the swirling rhythms of the Balkans, baroque dances, and contemporary jazz, alternating rigorous composition with extemporaneous improvisation for an evening of experimentation and originality with original music composed by Sara Calvanelli and texts written by Gianfranco Gori.
After the interval, the festival evening resumed with a lively jam session that brought the first event to a fitting close.
Saturday, 14 March – Second Evening
- Nikita Kuznetsov (Russia) – A young Russian accordionist who won the Coupe Mondiale Virtuoso Entertainment category in 2024.
- Federico Gili Trio (Italy) – Represents vibrant currents in Italian jazz, combining dynamic interplay with expressive accordion work.
Venue: On Stage
The first half featured Nikita Kuznetsov, delivering a compelling program featuring jazz standards and classical influences. His playing balanced rhythmic energy with more lyrical moments, with clear shifts in character and colour across the programme.
The second act featured the Federico Gili Trio, a jazz trio including Federico Gili (accordion), Ares Tavolazzi (double bass) & Lorenzo Brilli (drums). The trio presents a repertoire that blends original compositions from Gili’s latest album La Lanterna (selected by Jazzit among the 100 Greatest Jazz Albums of 2024) with jazz standards and personal reinterpretations.
Their performance unfolded as a sonic journey where lyricism and melodic sensitivity intertwine with improvisation and moments of intense rhythmic energy. Through the expressive voice of the accordion and the deep interplay of the trio, the music moves freely between tradition and contemporary jazz language, creating an engaging and evocative experience.
The evening resumed with another lively jam session that featured well known Italian Jazz accordionists.
Sunday, 15 March – Closing Concert
- João Barradas Trio (Portugal): Featuring João Barradas, one of Europe’s leading jazz accordion voices, merging virtuosic technique with compositional depth and improvisational freedom with André Rosinha (double bass) & Bruno Pedroso (drums)
Venue: Teatro Cortesi, Sirolo
João Barradas stands out as one of the most creative musicians on the European accordion scene, moving simultaneously between classical and improvised music. His trio includes André Rosinha (double bass) &
Bruno Pedroso (drums), two of the most sought after Portuguese jazz musicians.
João gave the first-ever accordion recitals in concert halls such as the Wiener Konzerthaus, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence and performs as a soloist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich, the Symphoniker Hamburg, the Orchestra della Toscana, the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, the Porto Symphony Orchestra Casa da Música and the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, under the direction of prestigious conductors such as Edward Gardner, Alondra de la Parra, Sylvain Cambreling, Douglas Boyd, Christoph Poppen, Joana Carneiro and Pedro Neves.
Throughout his career, João has won numerous international accordion and instrumental competitions, including First Prize at the 63rd Junior Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Competition.
Photos by Lorenzo Gagliardini
