Friday 31st July new appointment with “Fridays in Ercolano”, Sunday 2nd August free entrance to the Archaeological Park with #domenicalmuseo
Herculaneum Archaeological Park · Friday, July 31 (8:00 PM–12:00 AM) · Sunday, August 2 (free admission)
Summer evenings in Ercolano continue to light up with light, music, and ancient lyrics. The “I Venerdì di Ercolano” (Fridays in Ercolano) series, now in its ninth year, continues to enjoy growing success, attracting particularly warm public acclaim this year. A reminder for the next event: on Friday, July 31, the Archaeological Park will once again be transformed 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.
“The public response to this ninth edition of “Fridays in Herculaneum” is filling us with satisfaction. With this event, the Park renews its commitment to making the 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
The first evenings of the festival were packed with spectators and received a very positive response, confirming “I Venerdì di Ercolano” as one of the most popular events of the Campania summer.
The next dates
After the excellent reception given to the first evenings, the series will continue on Friday 31 July and Friday 7 August 2026, with another 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 (Mon–sat 9:00–17:00, excluding holidays) |
| Advice | Comfortable, low-cut shoes and insect repellent: to make the most of your evening outdoors. |
Sunday, August 2nd: Free admission to the Park
This weekend, the evening event “Fridays in Herculaneum” is accompanied by another opportunity to discover the site: on Sunday, August 2nd, the first Sunday of the month, the Herculaneum Archaeological Park is participating in “Domenica al Museo” (#domenicalmuseo), the Ministry of Culture’s initiative that allows free admission to state museums, archaeological parks, and cultural sites every first Sunday of the month.
Admission will be free during the park’s usual daytime opening hours. Online reservations are neither required nor available for free Sundays: free admission tickets must be picked up on the same day directly at the park ticket office.
An evening in Herculaneum, amid the soft lighting of the ancient domus and the sounds of live music, and a Sunday of free time to explore the ruins of the city buried by Vesuvius: two different ways, on the same weekend, to rediscover the charm of one of the world’s most extraordinary archaeological sites. Tickets for “Fridays in Herculaneum” are available online; advance reservations are recommended, given the limited space available for each session.
