The “67 Colonne per l’Arena di Verona” project is growing

The Fondazione Arena project, whose founders include Pastificio Rana and Oniverse, is setting an example in Italy. In 2026 it records a 25% increase
Sponsorships are also growing: +12%

Guest of the evening reserved for patrons was Paralympic champion Renè De Silvestro
Also on stage were the Arena Children's Choir and several workers

With the innovative fundraising project "67 Columns for the Arena di Verona", an initiative launched in 2021 with the aim of strengthening the bond between the cultural world and the local economic fabric, the Arena di Verona confirms itself as a cultural, social, and economic icon of Italy around the world. It is also setting an example in Italy, where other projects based on the same model are emerging.

Six years after its creation, the project has reached an extraordinary milestone, nearing 12 million euros raised (11.8 million to be precise) thanks to the contribution of major companies, entrepreneurs, institutions, and supporters who believe in the value of the Arena as a heritage to experience, preserve, and pass on.

In 2026 alone, from January to today, 2.6 million euros have been raised, a result marking a +25% increase compared to the already excellent milestone achieved in 2025, when fundraising exceeded 2 million euros, demonstrating the growing enthusiasm of the business world toward a project that combines culture, identity, and social responsibility. Sponsorships are also growing: +12% for a total additional fundraising amount of 2.6 million euros.

NOMISMA STUDY. A recent study commissioned to Nomisma, a leading economic research company, provided an in-depth analysis capable of measuring the economic impact of the Arena Opera Festival on the territory. The figures confirm the return on investments in the Arena. The survey highlighted the uniqueness of Fondazione Arena compared to the Italian opera-symphonic landscape: 71% of production value comes from ticket sales, sponsorships, and private contributions. Only 29% derives from public funding, unlike other ordinary statutory foundations, which have an almost opposite situation, with an average of 25% own resources and 75% public contributions. (data referring to the 2025 season, editor's note).

The Arena di Verona is therefore not only one of the symbolic places of Italian culture worldwide, but also a model of virtuous synergy between public and private sectors. Fondazione Arena di Verona, through the Opera Festival, generates 2 billion euros in economic impact for the Italian economy, nearly 6 thousand jobs, and 206 million euros in taxes. A multiplier effect that benefits the entire country: every euro invested in the Arena corresponds to 6.3 euros returned to the country.

The 67 Columns project, born thanks to the foresight of Gian Luca Rana, CEO of Pastificio Rana, and Sandro Veronesi, Founder and Chairman of Oniverse, the first to join the project, together with the media partnership of the Athesis Group, embodies this vision, shaping a community of supporters driven by the desire to "be there" for an initiative that strengthens the local economy, enriches cultural offerings, and opens international perspectives.

Numerous organizations and institutions support the Festival in various capacities, including the Chamber of Commerce, companies starting with Main Partner UniCredit, which this year celebrates 30 years of supporting the Festival, as well as Professional Associations and Trade Associations, first and foremost Confindustria Verona. They are joined by major supporters including MAGIS, the Arena's green energy partner, Fondazione Cariverona, which supports Arena Young, and Generali Italia, Education Partner of the Festival. In addition to the essential support of BBC Veneta for the Teatro Filarmonico, and Vivaticket, Major Partner of the Festival and ticketing manager.

WORLD TOUR. The Arena is strengthening its international profile with the World Tour of the Arena Opera Festival, which in the last year reached Algiers, New York, London, Brussels, and Warsaw, with institutional events and concerts contributing to promoting Italian artistic and musical heritage worldwide, as well as trade fairs in Milan, Berlin, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo, Toronto, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Muscat aimed at the international tourism sector.

The success of 67 Columns demonstrates that culture is a strategic investment, capable of generating lasting value and inspiring new forms of civic and entrepreneurial participation. Fondazione Arena di Verona looks to the future with ambition and gratitude, aware that the strength of the Arena lies not only in its history, but above all in the people, companies, and institutions that choose to support it every day.

PATRONS' EVENING. Last night at the Arena, the event dedicated to the 2026 patrons: 'Trust that generates the future'. Guest of the evening was Paralympic champion Renè De Silvestro, interviewed by Telearena director Mario Puliero. During the evening, the Arena Children's Choir performed. Also on stage were some of the Arena's workers, who shared how personal talent can become shared value.

Damiano Tommasi, Chairman of Fondazione Arena and Mayor of Verona

"This is the sixth edition of a wonderful project that we inherited. You, our patrons, are an example of a dynamic social network, of a civil society that wants to play an active role in generative actions. But this evening is also an opportunity to say that Verona does not forget. That we continue to cherish the wonder of recent months, of the Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies right here in the Arena. Moments that travelled around the world. That is why we decided to honour all the Olympic and Paralympic medallists who gave us so many emotions with 'Arena for you' — a card that will give champions the opportunity to return to Verona and attend opera performances until the next Olympics, so they too can experience equally unforgettable emotions."

Cecilia Gasdia, Superintendent of Fondazione Arena

"Our thanks go to all the Arena's patrons, who grow in number year after year. This atmosphere of enthusiasm toward the Festival and Fondazione Arena's activities fills us with pride and confidence in the future. This evening I would like to remember the first great patron in the history of the Arena Opera Festival: Giovanni Zenatello. It was he who invested a large part of his savings to bring our story to life in 1913. Zenatello received everything from Opera and wanted to give Opera to everyone. Just as you are doing through your commitment, supporting culture and art with dedication and vision."

Gianmarco Mazzi, Minister of Tourism

"The Arena is the symbol of the most flourishing form of tourism there is: cultural tourism. The audience figures confirm this, as do the numbers of international visitors. Opera has the capacity to attract large flows of visitors, including from new markets. 2027 will be the year of culture and tourism between Italy and India — an important opportunity to seize right now. Italy is a cultural powerhouse in the world, and on 5 June we will celebrate its heritage. One hundred UNESCO delegates will attend. There will be a grand opera performance, we will celebrate Italian cuisine and launch the candidacy of the classical Neapolitan song. In Piazza Bra, the luminarie of Scorrano will be displayed and the vineyards of our hills will be recreated. Inside the Arena, we will attempt the largest toast in history, live on television. Extraordinary images that will travel around the world. And which I hope will reach the 80 million people of Italian descent living on every continent, of whom only 6 million have visited Italy."

Gian Luca Rana, CEO of Pastificio Rana

"I firmly believe in the value that arises when business and culture unite: together they create an exceptional lever for growth and development for the entire country. With the same conviction, I am certain that the most solid and visionary companies have a social responsibility toward the territory and the realities that make it unique. This is why I tirelessly support the 67 Columns project for the Arena di Verona: this extraordinary monument, where multiple artistic talents and professional skills intertwine, is the centre of a virtuous ecosystem capable of attracting tourism, strengthening the identity of our territory, and generating employment. The data confirms it: according to Nomisma's analysis, the overall economic impact generated by Fondazione Arena's activities approaches two billion euros, testament to how culture is a powerful multiplier of economic and social value. But this result goes beyond numbers: it is crucial for nurturing skills, keeping knowledge alive and passing it on, offering new opportunities to the creative excellences that art expresses with its deepest force. As an entrepreneur, I am proud to support the artistic talent and professionals who make opera a living and strategic organism, helping to propel it forcefully toward the future. Culture represents for Italy not only a heritage to be preserved, but a strategic asset and a uniquely distinctive factor. From major international events such as the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the Venice Biennale and Film Festival, it is abundantly clear how central our cultural capital is in telling and promoting our country to the world. Today more than ever it is essential to regard it not only as a legacy to be protected, but as a strategic lever upon which to build competitiveness, development, and long-term vision, founded on the enhancement of people and their talent."

Sandro Veronesi, President and Founder of Oniverse

"We have been supporting Fondazione Arena di Verona for twenty years, fully aware of the unique cultural and identity value that the amphitheatre represents for the city and for our country. We have been alongside the '67 Columns' project since its first edition in 2021, seeing it as a concrete example of how collaboration between businesses can generate real growth, born of a shared vision. For us, this commitment means both awareness and trust: the desire to preserve an incomparable heritage while creating a bridge with the contemporary, in order to keep this legacy alive and relevant over time. In our company, we approach every project with the goal of continuously improving ourselves, overcoming the challenges we face. The driving force is ideas and the desire to realise them, by trusting and empowering those who accompany us. The path of growth also passes through the courage to make mistakes, provided one has the capacity to face them, learn, and keep moving forward. As the Arena context reminds us, it is people who truly make the difference. Their talent, their expertise, and their passion are the ingredients that give soul and uniqueness to what is created every day. Supporting the opera festival therefore also means protecting this extraordinary heritage of knowledge and human excellence, promoting cultural, social, and economic development founded on trust in people, in their abilities, and in the possibility of building lasting value for the future together."

Andrea Pietro Faltracco, CEO of Athesis

"We have reached the sixth edition of this extraordinary Corporate Membership initiative, born in 2021 from the collaboration between Fondazione Arena di Verona and the Athesis Group, with results that grow more significant each year. The success of 67 Columns demonstrates how a winning project must be founded on high-quality content, such as that represented by the Arena di Verona and the Arena Opera Festival. Creating, enhancing, and conveying content is Athesis's core business: we do it every day through our publications, digital channels, podcasts, events, and the Group's new ventures such as Zeep! and Spotlight, supporting companies and institutions in their communication strategies. This is the value that, together with Fondazione Arena, we have sought to build through the 67 Columns project."

Stefano Trespidi, Deputy Artistic Director of Fondazione Arena

"'Trust that generates the future' — we felt these words best describe the farsightedness with which sponsors and 67 Columns believe in and invest in the Arena, in the values that Fondazione represents, and in the workers who create, year after year, extraordinary performances. A bond and a trust that grows ever stronger. So much so that this year we are recording a record: our renewal rate is close to 100%. A result we are proud of, which attests to the presence of an ever more solid and united community. All of this is also thanks to our two founders, Sandro Veronesi and Gian Luca Rana, who accompany us on this journey. The opening night of La Traviata on 12 June is already sold out, and this is another attestation of trust — from the audience that supports us, follows us, and loves the Arena that we love so dearly."

The Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2026 counts on the support of numerous sponsors, led by Main Partner UniCredit, with thirty years of collaboration, Premium Partners Calzedonia and Pastificio Rana, and also Volkswagen Group Italia, DB Bahn, Forno Bonomi, Genny, RTL 102.5, Müller, which supports accessibility projects for people with disabilities. Magis is confirmed as the Festival's Green Energy Partner and Generali as Education Partner. Among the official partners are historic names such as Veronafiere, Air Dolomiti, A4 Holding, SABA Italia, SDG Group, Sartori di Verona, Palazzo Maffei, and Mantova Village. As well as Manpower Group, Ferroli, and the Consorzio di Tutela dell'Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP. New entries in 2026 include Nardi outdoor among the official partners and Vivaticket as Major Partner. In addition to companies, private individuals, and professional associations that make up the ranks of the 67 Columns for the Arena di Verona Membership, founded by Gian Luca Rana of the eponymous pasta company and Sandro Veronesi, patron of the Oniverse Group.

INFORMATION
Press Office Fondazione Arena di Verona

Via Roma 7/D, 37121 Verona

tel. (+39) 045 805.1861-1905-1891-1939

ufficio.stampa@arenadiverona.it

Press Office Bistoncini Partners

Matteo Montanaro Beltotto

montanaro@bistoncinipartners.it | +39 335 87 57 328