Festival ROBOT 2026, Bologne, Italie

• 13 septembre 2026
  Date de l'événement :
• 10 octobre 2026
  Fin de l'événement :

ROBOT Festival returns for its 17th edition in 2026, bringing its pioneering blend of electronic music and digital arts to Bologna under the thematic banner “?Syntax Error.” This year’s festival spans multiple dates across September and October, utilizing a diverse range of venues from historic palazzos to industrial ex-hospital spaces and archaeological parks. The festival continues to position itself at the forefront of experimental and electronic music culture in Italy, showcasing a lineup that balances legendary figures with emerging talents. For anyone planning to attend, understanding the festival’s unique structure, with events spread across different dates and locations, is essential for navigating the experience.

À quoi s’attendre en 2026

The 2026 edition of ROBOT Festival, titled “?Syntax Error,” invites attendees to reflect on the disruptions and glitches of contemporary language and communication. The curatorial concept suggests that true listening begins when communication breaks down, offering a stimulating intellectual framework for the auditory experiences on offer. The festival continues its tradition of occupying unconventional spaces, from the archaeological ruins of Kainua to the sprawling DumBO district.

Attendees can expect a program that spans live audiovisual performances, DJ sets, hybrid acts, and experimental electronic music across multiple genres. The lineup features a mix of established pioneers like Autechre and Moodymann alongside boundary-pushing contemporary artists such as Actress, Marina Herlop, and Mykki Blanco.

The festival is structured across several distinct dates rather than a single continuous weekend. The September dates serve as an opening phase with events at Palazzo Re Enzo and an archaeological park preview. The October dates constitute the main festival period, concentrated at DumBO and the Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini, with a major headlining performance at Estragon Club.

Dates des événements

The festival unfolds across the following dates in 2026:

• 13 September
• 25 September
• 27 September
• 8 – 10 October

The September events function as a prelude and preview phase, while the October dates (8-10) represent the core festival experience with the most extensive programming. The 8th and 9th of October are concentrated at DumBO and Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini, while the 10th expands to include Estragon Club for the Autechre performance.

Vous visitez cet événement ? Ne manquez pas ces activités et expériences locales étonnantes pendant votre séjour.

Lieu et site du festival

ROBOT Festival 2026 utilizes multiple venues across Bologna and its surrounding area, each offering a distinct atmosphere. This multi-site approach is central to the festival’s identity, encouraging attendees to explore different corners of the city and its cultural heritage.

Bastardini (Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini) serves as a key October venue for intimate and experimental performances. Located at Via d’Azeglio 45, this former hospital provides a historic and atmospheric setting for the festival’s more introspective acts.

DumBO is the central hub for the main festival nights on October 9 and 10. Located at Via Camillo Casarini 19, this former railway yard and industrial district hosts the largest portion of the lineup across multiple stages.

Estragon hosts the festival’s largest-scale event on October 10. Located at Via Stalingrado 83, this renowned Bologna music venue provides the capacity and technical infrastructure required for a headline performance of Autechre’s caliber.

MAST.Auditorium appears in the festival’s venue listings, indicating a space for perhaps lectures, screenings, or specialized audiovisual presentations connected to the festival’s digital arts component.

Palazzo Re Enzo hosts the September 25 event. Located in Piazza del Nettuno in the heart of Bologna, this medieval palace provides a striking historic setting for a lineup featuring Sam Ruffillo and Carla Dal Forno.

Parco Archeologico di Kainua – Marzabotto serves as the site for the September 13 opening event. This Etruscan archaeological park, located at Via Porrettana Sud 13 in Marzabotto, hosts an outdoor performance amid ancient ruins. The September 13 event features Marta Salogni & Stefano Pilia presenting Phren at 19:00, followed by Kevin Richard Martin presenting Sub Zero at 20:30. Entry is free with museum ticket purchase, with capacity limited to 500 people.

TEST Nuovo Prototipo Urbano is listed among the festival venues, suggesting a space for experimental or workshop-based programming.

Programmation complète

The 2026 lineup reflects ROBOT Festival’s continuing commitment to presenting a diverse spectrum of electronic and experimental music, from established icons to emerging voices.

• Actress presents Radical Frame — Live A/V
• Aho Ssan — Live
• Ana Roxanne
• Autechre — Live
• Baronato Quattro Bellezze
• Batu b2b CEM
• Blawan — Live
• Bochum Welt
• Boys Noize — DJ
• Carla Dal Forno — Live
• DJ MELL G b2b DJ Stingray 313 — DJ
• feeo
• Filibalou
• Front de Cadeaux W/ Gabor — Hybrid
• Kevin Richard Martin presents Sub Zero
• Kratu
• Lawrence English — Live
• Luca Maria Baldini / Salvatore Insana – Nessun Cielo È Senza Luce
• MACE — DJ
• Marina Herlop — Live
• Marta Salogni & Stefano Pilia present Phren — Live
• MDX
• Memoryman aka Uovo
• Moodymann — DJ
• Mykki Blanco — Live
• Noémi Büchi
• Sam Ruffillo
• Space Afrika
• Suz & Giuseppe Franchellucci
• upsammy & Valentina Magaletti — Live
• ÜRE | Conservatorio di Pescara

Têtes d’affiche et artistes invités

Autechre stands as the festival’s marquee headliner for 2026, performing live at Estragon Club on October 10. The legendary UK electronic duo’s appearance at a venue of this scale represents a significant moment for the festival, which has chosen Estragon specifically to accommodate an event of this magnitude. Their performance is scheduled for a 21:00 start.

Moodymann brings Detroit house and techno heritage to the festival, performing as a DJ across the October dates. His presence adds a crucial historical throughline to the lineup, connecting contemporary experimental practices to the foundational Black American electronic music traditions.

Actress presents Radical Frame offers a live audiovisual experience, representing the more conceptual and abstract end of the festival’s spectrum. The “Radical Frame” presentation suggests a work that engages deeply with visual and sonic interplay.

Blawan performs live, bringing his distinctive brand of visceral, texture-driven techno to the festival. Boys Noize appears as a DJ, representing the more high-energy, electro-influenced end of the electronic spectrum.

Mykki Blanco performs live, bringing their genre-defying approach to rap, performance, and electronic music. Marina Herlop performs live, offering her singular Catalan-inflected experimental pop. upsammy & Valentina Magaletti collaborate for a live performance that promises to merge experimental electronic production with percussion-driven improvisation.

Scènes et zones de spectacle

The festival’s multi-venue structure means that “stages” are defined by the distinct character of each location rather than a traditional multi-stage festival layout.

DumBO functions as the primary festival hub with the most extensive programming. The industrial ex-railway yard setting allows for multiple performance areas, accommodating both large-scale DJ sets and more intimate live performances. The venue hosts the Night Pass holders across October 9 and 10.

Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini provides an intimate, historically resonant space for the festival’s more experimental and seated performances. The former hospital’s architecture creates a unique acoustic and visual environment, particularly suited to artists like Aho Ssan, Front de Cadeaux, and Noémi Büchi.

Estragon Club serves as the site for the festival’s largest single performance, Autechre, on October 10. This established Bologna venue offers professional-grade sound and lighting infrastructure for a headline event of this scale.

Palazzo Re Enzo hosts the September 25 event in a Renaissance-era setting that contrasts sharply with the festival’s industrial and archaeological venues. The ticket for this event grants single entry only.

Parco Archeologico di Kainua hosts the September 13 outdoor opening event. The archaeological park’s ancient Etruscan ruins provide a unique backdrop for the audiovisual performances by Marta Salogni & Stefano Pilia and Kevin Richard Martin.

Programme étape par étape

8 October at DumBO and Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini marks the beginning of the main festival period. Programming begins at 19:30 and features a lineup including Blawan, Boys Noize, feeo, Lawrence English, Moodymann, Marina Herlop, and more.

9 October continues at DumBO and Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini with performances starting at 19:30 at the Ex Ospedale and 21:00 at DumBO. The Ex Ospedale lineup includes Aho Ssan, Noémi Büchi, Front de Cadeaux W/ Gabor, and Baronato Quattro Bellezze. The DumBO lineup features upsammy & Valentina Magaletti, Boys Noize, Batu b2b CEM, Blawan, Space Afrika, Mykki Blanco, Moodymann, Marina Herlop, DJ MELL G b2b DJ Stingray 313, and Actress.

10 October sees the festival expand to three venues. The Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini programming concludes, while DumBO hosts its final night. Estragon Club hosts the Autechre headline performance at 21:00. The DumBO Saturday lineup includes Actress, DJ MELL G b2b DJ Stingray 313, Moodymann, Marina Herlop, Noémi Büchi, and more.

Temps de set

While the festival has not published a complete minute-by-minute schedule for all artists, several key performance times are confirmed:

• 13 September at Parco Archeologico di Kainua: Marta Salogni & Stefano Pilia present Phren at 19:00; Kevin Richard Martin presents Sub Zero at 20:30.
• 25 September at Palazzo Re Enzo: Programming begins at 19:00.
• 8 October at DumBO and Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini: Programming begins at 19:30.
• 9 October at DumBO: Programming begins at 21:00.
• 9 October at Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini: Programming begins at 19:30.
• 10 October at Estragon Club (Autechre): Doors at 20:00, main event at 21:00.
• 10 October at DumBO: Programming begins at 21:00 and runs until 04:00.

Attendees should expect set times to be staggered across venues on the multi-venue nights, requiring careful planning to move between locations.

Types de billets

ROBOT Festival offers several ticket and pass options designed to accommodate different attendance patterns and budgets. Prices below are converted from euros to USD based on the original pricing information.

Full Pass provides access to all festival nights at DumBO (October 9-10) and Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini (October 8-9). The pass allows free entry and exit from venues on the indicated days. Food and beverages are not permitted. The Full Pass is available in tiers:

• Early Bird: approximately $64
• First Release: approximately $75

Night Pass is valid for October 9 and 10 at DumBO, allowing free re-entry. Pricing tiers:

• Early Bird: approximately $42
• First Release: approximately $53

Saturday Pass for October 10 grants access to both DumBO and Estragon. Pricing tiers:

• Early Bird: approximately $53
• First Release: approximately $64

Single tickets are available for specific venues and dates:

• Regular ticket for Estragon (October 10, Autechre): approximately $38
• First Release for DumBO (October 10): approximately $29
• Ticket for Ex Bastardini (October 9): approximately $11

A Season Pass option is also available, though specific pricing details for 2026 have not been fully published. Previous editions have offered season passes that provide access to all festival events across all dates.

Options VIP et premium

ROBOT Festival does not emphasize traditional VIP packages with dedicated viewing areas or hospitality perks. The festival’s ethos is oriented toward accessibility and community rather than tiered exclusivity. However, the Full Pass functions as a premium option by providing comprehensive access across multiple venues and dates, allowing attendees to experience the festival in its entirety without purchasing separate tickets for each night. The free re-entry policy attached to the Full Pass and Night Pass adds convenience value for attendees who wish to move between venues or take breaks.

Règles de l’épreuve

Attendees should be aware of the following policies:

• Food and beverages are not permitted inside the venues.
• The Estragon event on October 10 is an 18+ event.
• Single-entry tickets do not allow re-entry once you have exited the venue. This applies to the Palazzo Re Enzo event, the Estragon regular ticket, and the DumBO First Release ticket.
• The Full Pass and Night Pass allow free entry and exit at the designated venues on the specified days.
• Capacity at the Parco Archeologico di Kainua event is limited to 500 people.

Comment y arriver

Bologna is well-connected by air, rail, and road, making it accessible for both domestic and international attendees.

Par avion : Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) serves the city with connections to major European hubs. From the airport, the Marconi Express monorail connects to Bologna Centrale station in approximately 7 minutes.

Par train : Bologna Centrale is a major Italian railway hub with high-speed connections to Milan, Florence, Rome, Venice, and other cities. The station is centrally located and well-connected to the city’s public transport network.

En voiture : Bologna is accessible via the A1, A14, and A13 autostrade. However, driving within the city center is restricted by limited traffic zones (ZTL), and parking is limited. For festival attendees, using public transport or staying within walking distance of venues is recommended.

Transports en commun et stationnement

Bologna has an extensive public transport network operated by TPER, including buses and trolleybuses that connect the city center with venues like DumBO and Estragon. The city is also compact enough that many central locations are walkable.

DumBO is located at Via Camillo Casarini 19, in the northern part of the city. It is accessible by bus, and the surrounding area has limited street parking.

Estragon is located at Via Stalingrado 83, in the eastern part of Bologna. The venue has its own parking area, but capacity may be limited on event nights.

Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini at Via d’Azeglio 45 is in the city center, easily reached on foot from Bologna Centrale or by bus.

Palazzo Re Enzo is in Piazza del Nettuno, the heart of Bologna’s historic center, best accessed on foot or by bus.

For the Parco Archeologico di Kainua in Marzabotto, attendees will need to arrange transport from Bologna. The park is approximately 25 km south of the city and is reachable by train to Marzabotto station, followed by a short walk or local transfer.

Zones d’hébergement

Bologna offers a range of accommodation options suitable for festival attendees:

• City Center (Piazza Maggiore area): Ideal for accessing Palazzo Re Enzo and central venues, with a wide range of hotels and apartments.
• Zone de Bologne Centrale : Convenient for train travelers and those using public transport, with numerous hotels and easy bus connections to DumBO and Estragon.
• Bologna Fiera district: Located near the exhibition center, this area offers modern hotels and is well-connected by bus.
• DumBO vicinity: Limited accommodation options directly in the district, but the area is a short bus ride or taxi from the city center.
• Marzabotto: For those attending the September 13 opening event, staying in Marzabotto or nearby towns may be convenient, though most attendees will likely travel from Bologna.

Nourriture et boissons

Food and beverages are not permitted inside festival venues. Attendees should plan to eat before arriving or during breaks between performances at the multi-venue October dates. DumBO and the surrounding area have some dining options, though the selection is more limited than in the city center. The Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini and Palazzo Re Enzo are both located in areas with abundant restaurants and bars. Estragon has a bar on-site, but food options may be limited. Given Bologna’s reputation as a culinary capital, attendees are encouraged to explore the city’s trattorias, osterias, and markets during their visit.

Accessibilité

ROBOT Festival does not explicitly advertise comprehensive accessibility information on its main channels. The historic nature of several venues, particularly Palazzo Re Enzo and the Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini, may present physical accessibility challenges. The Parco Archeologico di Kainua includes uneven terrain typical of archaeological sites. Attendees with specific accessibility needs are strongly advised to contact the festival directly at info@robotfestival.it to inquire about accommodations at specific venues and events.

Meilleurs jours à assister

The optimal days to attend depend on individual priorities:

• For the fullest lineup: October 9 and 10 at DumBO offer the most extensive programming across the festival’s largest venues.
• For Autechre: October 10 at Estragon is essential for fans of the headlining duo.
• For intimate and experimental performances: October 8 and 9 at Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini offer a more focused and atmospheric experience.
• For a unique setting: September 13 at Parco Archeologico di Kainua offers a one-of-a-kind performance environment amid Etruscan ruins.
• For a taste of the festival in the city center: September 25 at Palazzo Re Enzo provides a manageable introduction to the festival’s aesthetic.

Faits marquants de l’année précédente

ROBOT Festival has built a reputation over 16 previous editions for presenting groundbreaking electronic and experimental music in unconventional spaces. The festival has consistently attracted major international artists while maintaining a curatorial focus on artistic innovation and digital arts. The 2026 edition’s expansion to Estragon for the Autechre performance represents a scaling up of the festival’s ambitions, while the continued use of venues like DumBO and the archaeological park at Kainua demonstrates its commitment to site-specific experiences that integrate music with Bologna’s architectural and historical heritage.

Billets officiels

Tickets for ROBOT Festival 2026 are available through the festival’s official website and authorized ticketing platforms. The primary official channels are:

• ROBOT Festival official website: www.robotfestival.it
• Xceed: The festival’s ticketing partner for passes and multi-day tickets
• Estragon Club box office: For the Autechre performance on October 10
• Bologna Welcome Ticket: Located in Piazza Maggiore, for in-person purchases

Attendees are advised to purchase through official channels only to avoid invalid tickets and to ensure access to the most current pricing and availability information.

Vidéo

Localisation

FAQ