After two years of silent but constant work between Italy and Euskadi, the project initiated in 2024 by Outdoor Arts Italia and Artekale enters its active phase with the first public event: Street Basque Italia 2026, the focus dedicated to Basque performing arts in public space, hosted by Terminal Festival in Udine in June 2026. It's not just an artistic showcase. It's a meeting device. Street Basque Italia stems from the shared need to build a stable bridge between the two territories, strengthening artist mobility, opening new circulation opportunities and creating a structured dialogue among programmers, networks and institutions.
A focus that unites scene and system
On June 18 and 19, 2026, Terminal Festival will host a selection of companies from the Basque street arts scene, bringing to Udine languages that represent the vitality and artistic research of Euskadi. Alongside the programming, the focus introduces a structured B2B format, designed to accompany companies not only on stage, but in activating professional collaborations in the territory. Meetings between artists and Italian artistic directors are planned, along with project presentation moments and discussion sessions on production models and international circulation. The objective is to transform artistic presence into a concrete collaboration opportunity, going beyond the episodic dimension of touring.
Professional delegations and reciprocity
Street Basque Italia 2026 is based on a clear principle of reciprocity in professional mobility between Italy and Euskadi. In May 2026, a delegation of Italian programmers will once again be present in Leioa, on the occasion of the XVI edition of Umore Azoka (May 14–17), continuing the dialogue path initiated and strengthening dialogue with the Basque public space arts system. In a mirror action, in June, within the Terminal Festival in Udine, a delegation of Basque programmers will be hosted, creating a double exchange movement that allows not only viewing of works, but also deepening of organizational practices, production models and cultural policies of the two territories. This crossed mobility mechanism represents one of the central elements of the project: not a simple artistic presence, but a structured relationship path between cultural systems, capable of generating circulation opportunities, co-programming and shared development.
A network looking forward
Street Basque Italia is the first chapter of a three-year path that includes in 2027 a mirror action in the Basque Country, with a focus dedicated to Italian companies. The ambition is clear: to build cooperation that is not only an exchange of performances, but an exchange of practices, visions and tools, strengthening the role of intermediate associations as facilitators of dialogue between territories and cultural markets. At a time when arts in public space are seeking new connections and new alliances, Street Basque Italia represents a concrete example of how networks can generate real opportunities, strengthen territories and open shared horizons.
The program for Udine June 18-19, 2026 is being finalized.