Under the banner of the PIF Castelfidardo, the Jazz Accordion Festival (JAF) has been held in Castelfidardo since 2016, a festival created to appreciate the accordion in its vibrant jazz guise, highlighting further sounds and stimulating opportunities for meeting and contamination. The intention for 2026 is to further expand the educational offering and continue to maintain free admission, in line with the informative spirit of the initiative. Further information at: jazzaccordionfestival.com

From March 13 to 15, 2026 , JAF2026 – Jazz Accordion Festival returns to Castelfidardo and Sirolo , an event now firmly established within the European contemporary jazz circuit for its uncompromising exploration of the many facets of the accordion within jazz and experimental music.

An international festival with a strong curatorial identity, JAF once again confirms a focused, research-driven program, free from commercial concessions: three concerts , featuring original projects by artists selected by artistic director Simone Zanchini .

The first two evenings, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March , will take place at On Stage (9:30 PM), a venue that has become a key reference point for high-quality live music in the area.
The concluding Sunday afternoon concert (6:00 PM) on March 15 will move to the Teatro Cortesi , an ideal setting for a more intimate and attentive listening experience.

Opening the festival on Friday, March 13 , will be the Janez Dovč Trio from Slovenia: a project that combines contemporary composition, improvisation, and a refined timbral use of the accordion, engaging in dialogue with electronics, groove, and the European avant-garde.

On Saturday, March 14 , the stage will host the Federico Gili Trio , one of the most compelling ensembles of the new Italian jazz scene, preceded by a showcase by Russian accordionist Nikita Kuznetsov , a young performer equally at ease between tradition and experimentation.

The festival will close on Sunday, March 15 , with the trio led by Portuguese musician João Barradas , one of the most authoritative voices in today’s European jazz landscape. An eagerly awaited performance, promising a refined balance between virtuosity, composition, and improvisational freedom.

Devised by Ruben Cittadini (Castelfidardo City Assessore for Culture, Tourism, and Youth Policies), the annual event is promoted by the Department of Culture and the Municipality of Castelfidardo in collaboration with accordion manufacturing companies, plus the project also benefits from the artistic direction of maestro Simone Zanchini.

In Castelfidardo, the accordion is not just an instrument: it is culture, craftsmanship, and an identity that has spanned generations. It is from this fertile ground that the Jazz Accordion Festival was born, a jazz festival that in recent years has transformed the “city of the accordion” into an international crossroads of sounds and experimentation.

Adding interest to the 2026 JAF event is the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) Winter Congress which will be held on the same dates in Castelfidardo with the CIA Executive and Delegates taking the opportunity to attend the main concerts and meet with the many accordionists attending.