If you can’t stretch your budget for a round trip to the Eternal City in July, don’t worry: Rome is coming directly to you. For its 5th edition, the Dolcevita-sur-Seine festival is back in the absolutely magical and historic setting of the Arènes de Lutèce.
Do we really need to reintroduce the concept to you? Alright then! For several years, Dolcevita-sur-Seine has been celebrating the historic partnership between Paris and Rome with a program designed as a cultural bridge between the two capitals. A lively, festive, and deeply cinematic artistic exchange that makes the City of Light pulse to the Italian rhythm.
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And this year, the atmosphere promises to be even crazier than usual. Why? Because we're celebrating in style the 70th anniversary of the exclusive partnership between Paris and Rome, the famous saying: "Only Paris is worthy of Rome, only Rome is worthy of Paris." Let me tell you, the organizers have really pulled out all the stops.
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Masterpieces Under the Stars and Five-Star Guests
The concept is simple yet perfect: five days of outdoor festivities to vibe with the rhythm of Italian cinema. Every evening, as the sun begins to set, the Arènes come alive. The highlight of this 2026 edition will be a chance to rediscover the absolute masterpiece by Sergio Leone, Once Upon a Time in the West, on a giant screen and in the presence of Claudia Squitieri. Excitingly, the festival will also feature some wonderful premieres, like the film Three Goodbyes by Isabelle Coixet, screened with the talented actress Alba Rohrwacher present.
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But that's not all! The strength of Dolcevita-sur-Seine is its Italian mirror. At the same time, across the Alps, the twin festival Nouvelle Vague sul Tevere will be taking place in Rome.
Concerts, fashion expo and spritz in the sun
Because we don't live just on love and film, the festival offers a true immersion into the Italian way of life. From the late afternoon, the festivities begin. Between screenings, you can stroll by the photographic exhibition "Roma, città luce" created in collaboration with the Cineteca di Bologna. And when we talk about dolce vita, we definitely mean sociability. A bar and dining area will be set up among the Gallo-Roman ruins, allowing you to sip a drink and snack on delicious treats.Italian specialties.
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The best part about all of this? It’s totally free while spots last, so make sure to arrive early! Only a few specific sessions at partner cinemas in the neighborhood will have a small fee. So, let's meet at the beginning of July for the hottest festival of the Parisian summer. See you there!
Festivat Dolcevita-sur-Seine
The Arenas of Lutetia
49, rue Monge – 5th
From July 2 to 6, 2026
Free entrance while seats last
More info