Acoustic Guitar Village

Dear friends,
We are still working on finalizing the 2026 edition of the Acoustic Guitar Village at Cremona Musica Expo & Festival. While we are currently processing the data on admissions and attendance, initial findings point to a significant increase in the number of visitors!
Cremona Musica once again confirms its status as the most important event in Italy—and a leader in Europe—dedicated to music and high-quality musical instruments.
The Acoustic Guitar Village remains, as always, the most vibrant section and the undisputed centerpiece of the event, featuring live stage performances, daily activities within the exhibition grounds, and a variety of afternoon and evening programs held in the historic center of Cremona.
An entire pavilion was dedicated to the history of the guitar—showcasing 19th-century Italian and French instruments, classical and modern acoustic guitars, vintage pieces, and high-end electric luthier-crafted guitars, all featured within the new and increasingly successful “Electric Sound Village” area.
Historical exhibitions of antique instruments and vintage rock-music memorabilia complemented one another perfectly, once again establishing Cremona as a permanent laboratory for research into the crafting and presentation of high-end string instruments—from the time of Stradivari to the present day, and with an eye toward the future.
A great number of models and new products were presented by various manufacturers and distributors, alongside numerous instruments exhibited by master luthiers—who could be found both in the “Vicolo dei Liutai” (Luthiers’ Row) and in a special hall dedicated to the classical luthiers belonging to the Italian Luthiers’ Association (Associazione Liutaria Italiana).

Yet another confirmation of great vitality was the presentation of various plectrum and plucked string instruments—with the mandolin taking center stage, both in the exhibition area and on the performance stages—alongside the presence of numerous mandolin orchestras and ensembles from Italy and abroad. The performances by the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra—a 26-member group that traveled from the United States to celebrate their 125th anniversary—were truly exceptional, both at the exhibition venue and in the historic center of Cremona!d in the historic center of Cremona!
“Cremona Mandolini in Mostra” (Cremona Mandolins on Display) grows year after year, thanks to the tireless efforts of Maestro Carlo Aonzo.

As is the case every year, the guitar-making masterclass has once again proven to be a success—this year featuring American master luthiers Doug Proper, Sharon Proper, and Ian Davlin. For 20 years now, we have hosted top international master luthiers, providing both Italian and international builders with valuable insights and opportunities for professional growth in the art of crafting stringed instruments.

The exhibition area, featuring various companies, and the “Luthiers’ Row”—showcasing a wide array of beautiful instruments such as guitars, mandolins, ukuleles, and charangos—were vibrant hubs filled with presentations and meetings. Throughout these interactions, it was clear that the exhibitors were highly satisfied, with many musicians taking the opportunity to test out and share feedback on the new creations.
The room dedicated to classical guitar makers—organized by the A.L.I. (Italian Luthiers Association)—was also very lively and well-attended, to the evident delight of both the luthiers and the public. For the 2027 edition, we will continue to champion makers of classical and modern guitars by providing them with dedicated spaces and specific opportunities to showcase their work.

Over the course of three days, a vast array of events took place—supported by more than 300 musician passes—featuring four non-stop live stages. These hosted the 2026 edition of the “New Sounds of Acoustic Music” competition for emerging artists; the 13th Italian Bluegrass Meeting (comprising 16 bands and approximately 70 musicians); demonstrations and performances on the “Open Stage”; the increasingly remarkable showcase of mandolin ensembles and orchestras on the “Classic Stage”, alongside individual classical guitarists; and a new addition for 2026, the “Cremona Acoustic Blues Meeting”, which included an in-depth lecture on the origins of the Blues, its history, and its evolution into contemporary music.

The two evening concerts in the historic center of Cremona were extraordinary—held on Friday evening at the Violin Museum Auditorium and on Saturday evening in the Cortile Federico II in Piazza Duomo; we provide a report on them later in this newsletter.

Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who contributed their time and effort: exhibitors, collaborators, speakers, musicians, communications partners, technical partners, and the public. It was a highly successful edition, rewarding the hard work put into the presentation and elegance of the spaces, as well as the significant step up in the event’s communication and promotion.
Many thanks to the management and staff of Fiera di Cremona for their tremendous work in organizing and setting up the venue, despite the catastrophic weather and the destruction that occurred shortly before the start of Cremona Musica…; to Carlo Aonzo and Giulia Alliri for their dedication and the success of “Cremona Mandolini in Mostra”; to Danilo Cartia for coordinating the 13th Italian Bluegrass Meeting; to all the participants in the Cremona Acoustic Blues Meeting; to Lorenzo Frignani for the exhibition of historical instruments; to Fausto Cacciatori for coordinating the event on 19th-century French and Italian guitars, held in collaboration with the Civic Museum of Cremona; to Massimo Ottini for “Cremona Musica Downtown Giovani”; to Achille Zoni for “Charango Presente”; and to our association’s staff—including the administrative team and sound engineers—for their excellent organization and coordination of the entire AGV.

A special mention and our sincere thanks go to our top-tier technical partners: Acus-sound Engineering and Bespeco for providing sound systems and acoustic guitar amplifiers, and Taylor Guitars, Martin Guitars, and the Deering Banjo Company for the instruments and accessories made available as prizes for the various events.

We are pleased to report the success of the two concert evenings held in the historic center of Cremona: the “Special Night” on Friday evening at the G. Arvedi Auditorium in the Violin Museum, and the Saturday evening event in the Cortile Federico II, opposite Piazza Duomo.
What spectacular performances!

In the magnificent setting of the Museum’s Auditorium—which saw a delighted Bob Taylor receive the Cremona Musica Award—we enjoyed performances by Francesco Taranto, playing a historic Guadagnini guitar; the Quartetto Italiano a Pizzico, featuring virtuosos of the mandolin and mandola; the ever-enchanting melodies of Franco Morone; and the chitarra battente duo of Francesco Loccisano and Marcello De Carolis. It was a beautiful and, for the American Bob Taylor, highly unusual spectacle, offering him the chance to admire and listen to instruments quite different from his own—excellent though they may be—American-style acoustic guitars.

On Saturday evening, we moved to the heart of Cremona’s historic center—specifically to the Cortile Federico II, a magnificent historic courtyard located across from the city’s cathedral square. On the large stage, we had the pleasure of seeing the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra, which traveled to Italy especially to celebrate its 125th anniversary (having been active since 1908!). The ensemble—comprising twenty-six musicians playing mandolins, mandolas, guitars, and double bass—was masterfully conducted by the Cuban maestro Rene Izquierdo. The evening also featured the duo of Alexey Kolesnikov (violin) and Roberto Palermo (accordion)—who were joined by representatives from the accordion manufacturer Tiranti for an awards presentation—as well as the American duo Ginger Leigh and John Pointer (on guitar and vocals). Special guests from the 13th Italian Bluegrass Meeting, the Czech duo Ondra Kozak and Radim Zenkl, also took the stage, showcasing their versatility across a wide array of string and wind instruments.
It was a wonderful concert, enjoyed by an ever-growing audience that continued to arrive in the courtyard throughout the event.

The event for young musicians held on the “Music Stage” in the Piazza Roma gardens continues to grow each year. “Cremona Musica Downtown Giovani” is an initiative that will increasingly command our attention; it aims to engage and showcase young acoustic guitarists and acoustic bands, integrating them into the international setting of Cremona Musica.

Once again, we thank everyone involved in the Acoustic Guitar Village 2026 at Cremona Musica, and we look forward to seeing you at the next edition, taking place from October 1st to 3rd, 2027. Together, we will celebrate the event’s 30th anniversary—a journey that began in 1998 and has taken us from Sarzana to Cremona!

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For further information, you can contact us at +39 0187-626993 or write to info@acousticguitarvillage.net or info@armadilloclub.org

Warm regards and SEE YOU AT THE NEXT NAMM SHOW, JANUARY 2027!
Staff at Armadillo Club Cultural Association – Sarzana ITALY