The LAC looks at the present

“Theatre is a statement of position; it is not just pure entertainment. We live in a fragile civilisation: law, peace, trust in institutions, coexistence—these are values that today seem to be under constant pressure. There is a risk of slipping towards unsettling forms of social brutality.” Carmelo Rifici, Artistic Director of Performing Arts at LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, does not mince words and speaks naturally as he presents the 2026/27 season to the press, sponsors, and loyal audience. Titled, not by chance, In/Civiltà, it is a striking title and a curatorial project reflecting on the fragilities of the present and on the role of art as a space for civic dialogue. The result is a major programme featuring 82 productions, 19 productions and co-productions, and 165 curtain raisings. The heart of the Performing Arts season is Oresteia, the great Greek tragic poet Aeschylus’ masterpiece: Mythos (Part One) and Logos (Part Two), a new production directed by Rifici in its world premiere from 15 to 17 January 2027, alongside a series of productions that explore themes of justice, memory, and contemporary conflict. These include Il prodigio by Fabrizio Sinisi (7–8 November), Anni Settanta. Terrore e diritti with Mario Calabresi and Benedetta Tobagi (16 November), Guerra civile (12–13 December), and The Body of an American (16–17 February).
The season also confirms LAC’s strong commitment to production with new stagings of major classics, including An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde (19–21 October), Six Characters in Search of an Author (3–4 December), The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (22–23 December), and Saturday, Sunday and Monday by Eduardo De Filippo (27–29 April). Among the most anticipated events are the return of Romeo Castellucci with Faust. Acted, Not Spoken (22–23 February), the appearance of Stefano Accorsi in Nessuno. The Adventures of Ulysses (28–31 January), Sonia Bergamasco in Oscar (24–25 November), Gabriele Lavia in After the Rehearsal (9–10 March), and Silvio Orlando in The Madman’s Hat by Luigi Pirandello (5–7 April). International dance brings some of Europe’s most prestigious companies to Lugano, including Nederlands Dans Theater NDT 2 (27 January), Angelin Preljocaj with Soulèvement (14 March), The Firebird by the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb (28 February), and the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company (25 April). LAC’s own production of The Nutcracker also returns (19–20 December).
There is also ample space for music and major live events, with Fiorella Mannoia (23 October), Arisa (23 November), Massimo Ranieri (28 November), the musical Chicago (16–21 March), Beauty and the Beast (6–7 March), and Stomp (13–15 April). The programme is completed by initiatives dedicated to the new Swiss scene, the dialogue between art and science, contemporary dramaturgy, and international training, including the announcement of the future European School of Advanced Training “Renato Palazzi”, which will launch in 2027. Full programme at www.laclugano.ch