The Arena per Tutti project of the Fondazione Arena di Verona, dedicated to making cultural experiences more accessible, has entered its fourth year with record participation and new multisensory activities. The initiative, which promotes access to opera and performing arts for people with sensory and intellectual disabilities, was presented on 11 July 2026 in a press conference bringing together institutions, businesses and professionals around a shared objective: making culture genuinely accessible to everyone.

Almost 1,200 people had registered even before the activities began, highlighting the growing interest in the initiative. Launched in 2023 with approximately 760 participants, Arena per Tutti has experienced continuous growth, reaching almost twice that number in 2026. According to Elena Di Giovanni, Professor of English Language and Translation at the University of Macerata and the project's scientific coordinator since its establishment, this development reflects the growing network of collaborations surrounding the initiative and its dialogue with organisations working on accessibility at both national and international levels.

New multisensory experiences in 2026

Following the success of workshops focusing on backstage activities and opera singing, the 2026 edition introduces two new multisensory experiences designed to bring audiences closer to the different elements of a performance. One activity focuses on the orchestra, allowing participants to discover instruments, sounds and the work of musicians, while the other explores dance, offering an insight into how movement is created and developed on stage.

The objective is not simply to enable people to attend an opera performance, but to allow them to experience and understand the different components that contribute to the production. In this sense, accessibility becomes an opportunity for active participation and engagement with the artistic experience.

Accessibility throughout the entire experience

Arena per Tutti extends beyond the workshops themselves and aims to make the entire theatre experience more accessible. The initiative provides live audio descriptions, subtitles, accessible trailers and digital programme books, available in Italian, English and German.

The project also includes 2,600 seats in the auditorium reserved for people with sensory and intellectual disabilities and their companions, in addition to the spaces already provided for people with physical disabilities. These measures are intended to offer participants different tools through which they can experience performances according to their individual needs and preferences.

People at the centre of the project

According to Elena Di Giovanni, one of the project's most important strengths is the people involved in its implementation. Staff members of the Fondazione Arena di Verona contribute their time and professional expertise to accompany participants throughout the experience, helping to create an environment based on cooperation, openness and participation.

The growth of Arena per Tutti therefore cannot be measured only through the increasing number of participants. Its significance also lies in a broader understanding of cultural accessibility: rather than focusing exclusively on removing physical or sensory barriers, the project seeks to create opportunities for people with disabilities to actively experience, understand and participate in cultural life.

Arena per Tutti thus represents an example of how cultural institutions can develop more inclusive approaches to participation, demonstrating that accessibility can become an integral part of the cultural experience rather than an additional or separate service.