Festival Ethnos 2026, the 31st edition of the international world music festival, takes place from September 12 to October 10 across Naples and five municipalities in the surrounding Vesuvian area. Directed by Gigi Di Luca and organised by La Bazzarra, the festival brings together musicians and cultural projects from 14 countries, combining concerts with talks, workshops, cinema, dance and a naturalistic itinerary.
The 2026 programme connects musical traditions from Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia with contemporary experimentation. International artists appearing in the programme include Eliades Ochoa, Raül Refree, Aida Tarrío, Kiya Tabassian, Ghalia Benali, Mariaa Siga, Dal, Sara Curruchich, Magalí Sare, Manel Fortià and Bronagh Slevin.
Alongside the concert programme, Ethnos presents the Ethnos e Visioni del Mondo film series, artist talks, the Danzare il Mito dance workshop, a Vesuvian nature itinerary with music and the Ethnos Generazioni World Music final. The festival uses historic villas, churches, museums, outdoor arenas and Vesuvian landscapes as performance and cultural spaces.
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Festival dates: September 12 – October 10, 2026.
The 2026 edition is spread across almost one month, with events in San Giorgio a Cremano, Torre del Greco, Castellammare di Stabia, Portici, Naples and Boscotrecase. The programme combines evening concerts with daytime workshops, talks, cinema and outdoor activities.
Opening: September 12 at Parco di Villa Bruno in San Giorgio a Cremano.
Main concert period: September 12–27.
Cinema programme: October 2–4 in Naples.
Closing activities: October 9–10, including the Nubras Ensemble, a Vesuvian naturalistic itinerary, Assurd Duo and the Ethnos Generazioni final.
Festival Ethnos does not have one permanent festival site. Instead, the 2026 programme uses venues across the Naples metropolitan area and Vesuvian territory.
Parco di Villa Bruno: Via Cavalli di Bronzo 22, San Giorgio a Cremano.
Museo MAC3: Via Circonvallazione 139, Torre del Greco.
Chiesa di Gesù e Maria: Via del Gesù 62, Castellammare di Stabia.
Arena del Parco a Mare: Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi 261a, Portici.
Villa Vannucchi: Corso Roma 47, San Giorgio a Cremano.
Chiesa di Santa Maria Donnalbina: Vico Portapiccola Donnalbina 6, Naples.
Cortile della Chiesa dell’Ave Gratia Plena: Piazza dell’Annunziatella 5, Boscotrecase.
Fonderie di Villa Bruno: Via Cavalli di Bronzo 30, San Giorgio a Cremano.
The 2026 programme also uses the Vesuvian landscape itself for the naturalistic itinerary and musical activities.
The 2026 lineup includes international and Italian artists representing a wide range of world music traditions and contemporary approaches.
International artists
Italian artists and projects
The programme also includes Ethnos Generazioni finalists, film screenings and cultural activities alongside the main concert lineup.
Eliades Ochoa: The Cuban guitarist, singer and songwriter is one of the best-known artists on the 2026 programme. A former member of Buena Vista Social Club, Ochoa brings traditional Cuban son and Caribbean influences to Villa Vannucchi.
Kiya Tabassian, Constantinople & Ghalia Benali: Their project “In the Footsteps of Rumi” explores Persian musical traditions and the poetry of Rumi through setar, ensemble performance and vocal interpretation.
Raül Refree & Aida Tarrío: The Catalan producer and musician joins Galician singer Aida Tarrío for “Gala i Ovidio,” connecting contemporary production with Galician vocal traditions.
Mariaa Siga: The Senegalese singer from Casamance combines West African traditions with soul, folk and contemporary world music.
Sara Curruchich: The Guatemalan singer of Kaqchikel origin presents her music at Villa Vannucchi, following a talk focused on music, identity and memory.
Festival Ethnos uses a network of historic and contemporary performance spaces rather than conventional festival stages.
Villa Bruno and Villa Vannucchi: San Giorgio a Cremano provides two of the festival’s principal settings, hosting the opening, Sara Curruchich, Eliades Ochoa and the closing Ethnos Generazioni programme.
Museo MAC3: The outdoor area of the museum in Torre del Greco hosts Alba Carmona & Jesús Guerrero and Gregory Dargent.
Chiesa di Gesù e Maria: This historic church in Castellammare di Stabia hosts the Bronagh Slevin and Magalí Sare & Manel Fortià performances.
Arena del Parco a Mare: The Portici waterfront setting hosts Underoof, Mariaa Siga and Agricantus.
Chiesa di Santa Maria Donnalbina: The Naples venue hosts several consecutive evenings of concerts, talks and cultural activities.
Vesuvian landscape: Boscotrecase provides an outdoor setting for the naturalistic itinerary and Assurd Duo performance.
Parco di Villa Bruno, San Giorgio a Cremano: The opening begins with Sangennarobar at 8:00 PM, followed by Džambo Aguševi Orkestar at 9:00 PM.
Museo MAC3, Torre del Greco: Alba Carmona & Jesús Guerrero perform at 8:30 PM, followed by Gregory Dargent at 9:30 PM.
Chiesa di Gesù e Maria, Castellammare di Stabia: Bronagh Slevin performs at 8:30 PM, followed by Magalí Sare & Manel Fortià at 9:30 PM.
Arena del Parco a Mare, Portici: Underoof begins at 8:00 PM, Mariaa Siga at 9:00 PM and Agricantus at 10:00 PM.
Villa Vannucchi, San Giorgio a Cremano: Sara Curruchich performs at 9:00 PM, followed by Eliades Ochoa the following evening at the same time.
Chiesa di Santa Maria Donnalbina, Naples: The venue hosts Ensemble Enerbia and Maria Mazzotta, Zero Folk Duo and Dal, Constantinople with Kiya Tabassian and Ghalia Benali, and Raül Refree with Aida Tarrío across four programme nights.
Naples cinema programme: Ethnos e Visioni del Mondo runs across three evenings, with screenings beginning at 8:30 PM.
Boscotrecase: Nubras Ensemble performs at the Ave Gratia Plena church courtyard, while Assurd Duo performs as part of the Vesuvian itinerary.
Fonderie di Villa Bruno: The Ethnos Generazioni World Music final closes the festival programme.
The published 2026 schedule provides the following principal performance times:
Concert tickets: Several 2026 concerts have individual admission prices, with published amounts converted here to approximate USD values.
These USD figures are approximate conversions of the published ticket amounts.
Free events: The cinema programme, the Nubras Ensemble concert and the Vesuvian itinerary with Assurd Duo are listed as free, with advance reservation required for the naturalistic itinerary.
Festival Ethnos does not advertise a conventional VIP ticket, backstage package or premium hospitality pass for the 2026 edition.
The festival is structured around individual concert admission, free cultural activities, workshops, talks and special programmes rather than tiered commercial festival tickets.
Visitors looking for a more complete experience can combine several paid concerts with the free cinema, talks and outdoor activities. The programme also provides opportunities to experience the festival in different historic and cultural settings across the Vesuvian area.
Ticket validity: Paid events require the appropriate admission ticket, while free events can be subject to venue capacity.
Reservations: Some free activities, particularly the Vesuvian naturalistic itinerary, require advance reservation.
Règles du lieu : Visitors must follow the individual rules of churches, museums, villas, outdoor arenas and other cultural sites.
Programme changes: Weather or organisational requirements can result in changes to locations or schedules. Previous editions have demonstrated that outdoor performances can occasionally be moved because of weather conditions.
Ethnos Generazioni: Finalists in the 2026 World Music contest must perform live, and prerecorded backing tracks are not permitted under the competition rules.
Par train : Naples Centrale is the principal railway hub for visitors arriving from other Italian cities. Circumvesuviana services are particularly useful for reaching several Vesuvian municipalities.
Par avion : Naples International Airport is the main airport serving the festival area. From the airport, visitors can continue toward central Naples and connect with local public transport.
En voiture : A car can be useful when visiting several municipalities, particularly Boscotrecase and Vesuvian locations, but visitors should check parking arrangements for each individual venue.
From Naples: Several festival destinations around the Vesuvian coast and foothills can be reached using the regional rail network, buses and local connections.
Because the festival moves between six municipalities, the most convenient route depends on the day’s venue.
Metro: Naples Metro is useful for reaching central Naples and connecting with the city’s wider transport network.
Circumvesuviana: The regional rail network is particularly useful for travel between Naples and several Vesuvian towns.
Local buses: Bus services connect Naples with municipalities including Portici, San Giorgio a Cremano, Torre del Greco and other areas used by the festival.
Marche : Central Naples venues such as Santa Maria Donnalbina can be incorporated into walking itineraries from nearby historic-centre accommodation.
Stationnement : Parking conditions vary considerably between venues. Visitors driving to outdoor sites should check the local parking situation before the performance, while central Naples visitors should consider leaving cars outside the historic centre.
Naples Historic Centre: The most convenient base for the four-night programme at Santa Maria Donnalbina and for combining Ethnos with museums, historic attractions and restaurants.
Santa Maria Donnalbina area: Particularly convenient for visitors attending the late-September Naples concert programme.
Portici: A practical base for visitors focusing on the Vesuvian coast and the Parco a Mare programme.
San Giorgio a Cremano: Useful for visitors attending Villa Bruno, Villa Vannucchi and the Ethnos Generazioni final.
Torre del Greco: Convenient for the MAC3 programme and for exploring the coastal side of the Vesuvian area.
Castellammare di Stabia: Suitable for visitors attending the Chiesa di Gesù e Maria programme and exploring the southern side of the Gulf of Naples.
Boscotrecase: A useful option for visitors particularly interested in the closing Vesuvian activities and naturalistic programme.
Festival Ethnos takes place across an area known for Neapolitan cuisine and Campanian food traditions. Visitors can combine concerts with local restaurants, pizzerias, cafés and food businesses in Naples and the surrounding towns.
Popular local choices include:
Visitors travelling between venues should allow time for meals because the festival programme often begins in the evening and venues are distributed across different municipalities.
Accessibility varies according to the individual festival location because Ethnos uses historic churches, villas, museums, outdoor arenas and natural landscapes.
Urban venues: Central cultural locations may offer easier access, but historic buildings can have steps, narrow entrances or uneven surfaces.
Outdoor venues: Parks, arenas and courtyards can have different ground conditions and accessible routes.
Naturalistic itinerary: The Vesuvian itinerary involves an outdoor route and may not be suitable for every mobility requirement.
Individual assistance: Visitors who require specific accessibility arrangements should contact the festival team before attending and provide the details of the venue or activity they plan to visit.
The organisers can be contacted at +39 081 882 3978 or info@festivalethnos.it.
September 12: Best for the opening atmosphere, Sangennarobar and Džambo Aguševi Orkestar at Villa Bruno.
September 18: A strong multi-performance evening at Portici, with Underoof, Mariaa Siga and Agricantus scheduled consecutively.
September 20: Suitable for visitors specifically interested in Cuban music and Eliades Ochoa.
September 24–27: Ideal for experiencing the Naples concert series at Santa Maria Donnalbina, including Maria Mazzotta, Dal, Ghalia Benali and Raül Refree with Aida Tarrío.
October 2–4: Best for visitors interested in world-music cinema and the Danzare il Mito programme.
October 9–10: Suitable for visitors wanting to experience the closing Vesuvian activities, Assurd Duo and the Ethnos Generazioni World Music final.
The 2025 edition marked Ethnos’s 30th anniversary and featured artists and projects from different world music traditions across the Vesuvian area and Naples. The programme included Ndima, Mari Kalkun, Luciana Elizondo, Alkantara MediOrkestra, Davide Ambrogio, Ambrogio Sparagna and Orchestra Popolare Italiana, Márcio Faraco, Hugo Arán, Marco Oliveira with Joe Barbieri, Ernst Reijseger & Cuncordu e Tenore de Orosei, Rusan Filiztek, Söndörgő, Hysterrae, Stefano Saletti & Banda Ikona, Ensemble Chakâm and Caamaño & Ameixeiras.
The 2025 programme also included workshops covering Aka Pygmy dance and polyphonic singing, a traditional Sardinian singing workshop, a naturalistic and musical itinerary in Boscotrecase, Ethnos Cinema and the Ethnos Generazioni final.
The festival’s broader history dates to 1995, when it was established to recover and promote the traditional culture of the Vesuvian area. It has since expanded into an international world music festival connecting local heritage with artists and traditions from around the world.
Tickets for the paid 2026 performances are available through Azzurro Service and at box offices established at the festival venues. The festival’s published information identifies Azzurro Service as the ticketing circuit for the 2026 edition.
https://www.azzurroservice.net/stagioni-teatrali/ethnos/
Festival Ethnos 2026
Festival: Festival Ethnos – International World Music Festival
2026 dates: September 12 – October 10, 2026
Artistic director: Gigi Di Luca
Festival organisation: La Bazzarra
Festival office: Via Cimaglia 60, Torre del Greco, Italy
Phone: +39 081 882 3978
Courriel : info@festivalethnos.it
Tickets are easily acquired online through the Azzurro Service distribution network or directly at the box offices set up at individual venue locations. Advance online booking is strongly encouraged for popular international headliner shows due to limited seating capacities in historic venues. Complete presale contacts and direct booking links are conveniently updated on the official festival web portal.
The festival events take place across six distinct municipalities nestled between Naples and the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. These host locations include Naples, San Giorgio a Cremano, Portici, Torre del Greco, Boscotrecase, and Castellammare di Stabia. Each participating town contributes its own historic villas, churches, and public plazas to house the traveling schedule.
The festival features specialized daytime workshops dedicated to traditional dance, international folk instruments, and creative arts for young minds. Dedicated educational spaces are organized specifically to introduce children to ethnic sounds through playful, hands-on activities. These family-friendly sessions are designed to be fully inclusive and welcoming to participants of all skill levels.
Visitors can utilize regional train lines like the Circumvesuviana and local municipal bus networks to travel conveniently between the participating towns. Most primary venues, such as Villa Bruno in San Giorgio a Cremano, are situated within short walking distance from local transit stations. Official visitor guides provide detailed transit directions to help attendees navigate easily between evening concert sites.
Emerging musical groups can submit their portfolios and original tracks to compete for inclusion in the annual Ethnos Generazioni Award showcase. Open calls and submission guidelines are published directly on the official festival website following the conclusion of each autumn edition. Independent acts focusing on world music roots and original compositions are strongly encouraged to apply.
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