The Column of Freedom 2026
April 24–25–26 | 18th Edition
Within the landscape of historical reenactments dedicated to the Second World War, The Column of Freedom it is far more than an event. It is a journey through memory, along roads that once witnessed decisive passages between the Apennines and the sea, following the slow and solemn rhythm of historic Allied vehicles and engaging directly with the landscapes of Liberation.
The 2026 edition, scheduled from 24th to 26th of April, promises a brand-new and particularly evocative route: from the plains of Parma to the Ligurian Sea, crossing the Cisa Pass, one of the symbolic mountain passes of the northern Apennines. An itinerary that brings together landscape, military history, and civic memory.
What Is the Column of Freedom?
The event is a travelling historical reenactment that features the participation of original Second World War military vehicles, drawn from private and museum collections, accompanied by reenactors in historical uniform. It is not a simple parade, but a cultural event that engages local communities, museums, enthusiasts, and the general public, symbolically retracing the advance of Allied forces along the routes of Liberation.
Each stop becomes an opportunity for encounter, storytelling, and shared experience, with pauses in towns and villages and moments dedicated to historical remembrance.
The 2026 Program – Day by Day
Friday, April 24
Noceto - Parma - Collecchio
The departure takes place in the heart of the Emilian plain, a region deeply marked by the events of 1944–1945. After Noceto, the column passes through Parma and reaches Collecchio, officially launching the event. It is the first encounter with the public and with places of memory, within an urban setting that still bears the traces of the war’s passage.
Saturday, April 25
Parma - Cisa Pass - La Spezia
The most intense and symbolic day. On Liberation Day, the Column tackles the Apennine ascent toward the Cisa Pass, one of the historic links between Emilia and Liguria, also used for military purposes. From the mountains, the route then descends toward the sea, reaching La Spezia, a strategic port and a city deeply connected to the history of the war and the Resistance. A route that brings together effort, landscape, and memory.
Sunday, April 26
La Spezia - Borgo Val di Taro - Noceto
The return journey follows an equally meaningful route, climbing back through the Ligurian hinterland and re-entering Emilia through Borgo Val di Taro, before concluding once again in Noceto. A final day dedicated to shared moments, farewells, and the official closing of the event.
An Experience to Live and Share
The Column of Freedom is not designed only for participants with historic vehicles, but also for those who wish to watch, photograph, listen, and understand. It is an open event, able to speak to different generations, bringing together a passion for history, respect for places, and emotional engagement.
The registrations will open at the end of January 2026.
If you own a historic vehicle, if you are a reenactor, or simply if you want to follow one of the most significant events on the Italian historical reenactment calendar up close, it’s time to start getting ready.
👉 Follow the official updates
👉 Plan the stages
👉 Take part, along the route or in the town squares
Memory, when it moves, becomes a shared experience.
And in 2026, the Road of Freedom once again runs through the plains, the mountains, and the sea.
