The Herculaneum Archaeological Park opens its doors at night: theater, dance, and live music in the evocative setting of one of the world’s most beloved UNESCO sites.
Tickets available online, two viewings per evening.
Summer evenings in Ercolano continue to light up with light, music, and ancient lyrics. The successful “I Venerdì di Ercolano” (Fridays in Ercolano) festival, now in its ninth year, continues: see you on Friday, July 17th, when the Archaeological Park will once again transform into an open-air stage among the ruins of the ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is another unmissable event for a different kind of evening, among the illuminated alleys of a city that is two thousand years old and shows no signs of wear.
The evening slot chosen for the event—from 8:00 PM to midnight—offers visitors the most pleasant time of day for an outdoor stroll: the warm light of sunset and the suspended atmosphere of the Herculaneum domus, artfully illuminated for the occasion, create a scene that is more than a visit, it’s an experience to be enjoyed with all the senses.
The underlying theme of the 2026 edition, Love and War, runs through seven site-specific performances spread across the archaeological site’s various spaces. Audiences will be able to move freely along an illuminated path, encountering the performances one after the other, each repeated cyclically throughout the evening: a free and immersive experience, perfect for those who wish to discover archaeology in a new light.
With “Fridays in Herculaneum,” the Park renews its commitment to making its archaeological heritage a living space, open to dialogue with the languages of the present. The ancient city becomes a meeting place between memory and creativity.
— Federica Colaiacomo, Director of the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum
Un appuntamento che arriva in un momento positivo per il Parco Archeologico di Ercolano: a giugno 2026 gli ingressi hanno raggiunto quota 45.860, in crescita di oltre il 5% rispetto allo stesso mese del 2025 (43.659 visitatori). Il trend si conferma anche a maggio (60.173 ingressi, +4,4% sul 2025) e porta il bimestre maggio-giugno oltre i 106.000 visitatori complessivi, circa 4.800 in più rispetto allo stesso periodo dello scorso anno (+4,7%).
The next dates
After the evening of Friday 17 July, the festival will continue on Friday 24 and 31 July and Friday 7 August 2026, with a further special date on Saturday 26 September 2026, on the occasion of the European Heritage Days.
Practical information and tickets
| Opening hours | From 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM, in two shifts (8:00 PM–9:30 PM and 10:00 PM–11:30 PM) |
| Entrances | Corso Resina 187 and Via dei Papiri Ercolanesi 19 |
| Full ticket | € 10,00 |
| Reduced ticket | €5.00 (18-25 years old, EU citizens) |
| Free | Minors, disabled people, and their companions (reservations required) |
| Purchase | Online.ercolano.coopculture.it or call center +39 081 0106490 (monday–saturday 9:00–17:00, excluding holidays) |
| Advice | Comfortable, low-cut shoes and insect repellent: to make the most of your evening outdoors. |
An evening in Herculaneum, amidst the soft lights of the ancient domus and the sounds of live music, is the best way to rediscover the charm of the city buried by Vesuvius in a completely new light. Tickets are available online; advance reservations are recommended, given the limited availability for each session.
For further information on the programme and booking methods: ercolano.coopculture.it — +39 081 0106490.
Photo: ANNA ABET.
