Italy's must-see music festivals this summer From north to south, Italy is filled with music, talented artists, fun and a desire to share
If summer is a state of mind, festivals are the perfect soundtrack to dive into it with both feet—and maybe even a dusty pair of Dr. Martens. From the sonic woods of Umbria to electronic sunsets on the Tuscan coast, through the sizzling squares of northern Italy and starlit arenas in the capital, 2025 is shaping up to be a season to live at full volume. The rule is simple: forget your comfort zone, open your ears, and hit the road. At most, pack some mosquito repellent, a fan, and your favorite concert outfit. Because Italian music festivals this summer are more than just music: they're emotional geographies, temporary tribes, collective rituals. Here are the ones you can’t (and won’t) want to miss.
Music festivals to see in Italy this summer 2025
Rome, mon amour: the endless summer of Roma Summer Fest and Rock in Roma
If Paris has its boulevards and Berlin its clubs, Rome in summer has the Auditorium Parco della Musica and the Ippodromo delle Capannelle. Two hubs staring at each other across the city, ready to gift us three months of jaw-dropping lineups. At Roma Summer Fest (June 5 – September 21), the names roll by like a lucid dream: Sting, the great Nick Cave (two dates), Sigur Rós, Franco126, Afterhours, Black Coffee, Jamie XX, Franz Ferdinand, and even Morrissey. The climax? Ludovico Einaudi with six consecutive nights. Meanwhile, at Rock in Roma (June 18 – August 1), it’s all sweat and dancing with Fontaines D.C., Tananai, Sfera Ebbasta, The Black Keys, Lucio Corsi, and more. The capital becomes a living playlist where the night never ends. And just a bit further south, in Lamezia Terme, the music doesn’t stop. From August 12 to 14, Color Fest brings a lineup including Lucio Corsi, Mace (DJ set), Joan Thiele, and Offlaga Disco Pax.
Milan and its satellites: I-Days, Unaltrofestival, and the Parco della Musica
Milan never sleeps and in summer, it dreams in stereo. At Parco della Musica (June 18 – July 30), rock and electronic giants take the stage: Nine Inch Nails, Massive Attack, Ozuna, The Smashing Pumpkins, and the legendary The Who. I-Days Festival (June 2 – August 27) plays its aces with Gen Z's favorite chart-toppers: Dua Lipa (June 7), Olivia Rodrigo (July 15), and Post Malone (August 27). Meanwhile, between Milan and Sesto San Giovanni, Unaltrofestival (June 5 – July 30) delivers gems and incredible acts like Massive Attack, Fontaines D.C. and Smashing Pumpkins. If you crave hot air and basslines pounding in your chest, this is your golden triangle.
Bologna is calling: BOtanique and Sequoie Music Park answer
The city of Bologna lights up with music under the stars. BOtanique (June 13 – July 19) is the most intimate and enduring showcase, featuring Nada, 99 Posse, Romina Falconi, Delta V and Bandabardò. Just a few kilometers away, in the green setting of Villa Angeletti, Sequoie Music Park (June 17 – July 20) takes on a more international flair. It kicks off strong with Fontaines D.C. on June 17, and keeps going with De La Soul, Skunk Anansie, Gianna Nannini, Capo Plaza, Fabri Fibra, Ben Harper, Baustelle, Afterhours, Psicologi, and fresh off a successful Sanremo, Lucio Corsi. Bologna is ready to make even its porticoes vibrate.
The other unmissables music festivals (spoiler: there are a lot)
Artico Festival
Appointment June 12-14, 2025 on the highest hill overlooking the city of Bra. Here, nestled in the greenery of the Zizzola Park, a stage on which will alternate among others okgiorgio, Cremonese singer-songwriter Alec Temple and La Niña, who will present his latest album Furèsta, including the single that reached number one on the Spotify Viral chart, Figlia d''a tempesta. Artico Festival's plus point? An increasingly sustainable spirit with no single-use plastic, free water from water bottles and vegan offerings in the food area.
Where: Bra
When: June 12-14, 2025
Line-up: okgiorgio, La Niña, Marco Castello, Whitemary, Alec Temple
Wonderlast Festival
On July 12 and 13, 2025, paricularly Wonderlast Park, a 2-hectare green area in the Umbrian landscape, will host the new edition of the Wonderlast Music Festival. It will be two days of freedom and sharing, but, above all, of music thanks to live performances by Rkomi, Clara, Villabanks, Kid Yugi and many others. Those who attend will also have the opportunity to get a makeover in the Beauty Lounge, where make-up and hairstyling professionals will create the perfect festival outfit.
Where: Gubbio
When: July 12 and 13, 2025
Line-up: Rkomi, Clara, Kid Yugi, Villabanks, DJs From Mars, Boro, Ava, Goodboys, Glocky, Low-Red and many others
Marostica Summer Festival
It will be the 11th edition for the Marostica Summer Festival Volksbank, which will be opened on June 30 by Dream Theater, legends of progressive metal, and will close on July 15 with a live performance by Blue, the famous boyband of the early 2000s. Also on stage in Piazza Castello will be Alfa (July 1); Alessandra Amoroso (July 3), who will present her greatest hits and latest single Cose stupide; Skunk Anansie (July 11) and others.
Where: Marostica
When: June 30 to July 15, 2025
Line-up: Dream Theater, Alfa, Alessandra Amoroso, Nile Rodgers, Umberto Tozzi, Skunk Anansie, Gianna Nannini, NAYT, Blue
Lucca Summer Festival
Now a regular event in the Italian summer, the Lucca Summer Festival is appreciated for the striking location in which it takes place (Piazza Napoleone and the historic center of Lucca) and the varied line-up. Again this year there is music for all tastes: from Thirty Seconds to Mars (July 5) to Jennifer Lopez (July 21), from Nick Cave (July 17) to Ghali (July 11), from Alanis Morissette (July 23) to Pet Shop Boys (July 20). The festival is a good opportunity to enjoy some great concerts, but, for those who can, also to stay a few days and explore the Tuscan city.
Where: Lucca
When: June 28 to July 27, 2025
Line-up: Thirty Seconds to Mars, Pet Shop Boys, Jennifer Lopez, Nick Cave, Bryan Adams, Alanis Morissette and many more
Sherwood Festival
Sherwood Festival, one of Italy's longest-running and best-known independent festivals, is now in its 25th edition. As usual, this year's venue at Euganeo Stadium's North Park will be filled with people, music, as well as entertainment, food, talks, debates and cultural activities on topics such as environmental sustainability and social justice. It starts June 11 with Punkreas and Shandon, continues with Casino Royale (June 14), M¥SS KETA (June 24), Fast Animals and Slow Kids (June 26), La Rappresentante di Lista (July 3) and many others. Not to be missed: on July 1, Marlene Kuntz, accompanied for the occasion by the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, conducted by Rodrigo D'Erasmo; and on July 9, the live performance of Afterhours, who celebrate 20 years since the release of Ballads for Little Hyenas and return to the stage with the line-up from that album, consisting of Andrea Viti (bass), Dario Ciffo (violin, guitar) and Giorgio Prette (drums).
Where: Padova
When: June 11 to July 12, 2025
Line-up: Afterhours, Marlene Kuntz, Ghali, M¥SS KETA, La Rappresentante di Lista, Casino Royale, Fast Animals and Slow Kids, Punkreas and many more
Polifonic Festival
Five days of music in the captivating setting of the Itria Valley and four location locations between Brindisi and Bari (Masseria Capece, Cala Maka, Cala Masciola and Le Palme Beach) for an immersive experience among nature, music and art. This is the Polifonic Festival, which, for the 2025 edition, promises lots of fun and more than 60 artists, including Venerus, Samuel, Adiel, Laurent Garnier, Honey Dijon, Quest, CCL and other leading exponents of the international electronic scene. Another good reason to spend the summer vacation in Puglia.
Where: Valle d’Itria
When: July 23 to 27, 2025
Line-up: Venerus, Samuel, Adiel, Laurent Garnier, Honey Dijon, Quest, CCL and many more
La Prima Estate
Two weekends of live music at BussolaDomani Park in Lido di Camaiore, Versilia. From June 20-22 and June 27-29, La Prima Estate Festival is staged with an eclectic cast ranging from St. Vincent to Air, Mogwai to Grace Jones, Lucio Corsi to Nic Cester. The location, a huge green park 50 meters from the sea, will also host many activities, including sports, yoga, cooking classes, as well as hiking and simple relaxation on the beach.
Where: Lido di Camaiore
When: June 20-22 and June 27-29, 2025
Line-up: Mogway, Spiritualized, Yard Act, Air, St. Vincent, Calibro 35, TV on the Radio, Grace Jones, Nic Cester and many more
AMA Music Festival
AMA Music Festival returns to Romano d'Ezzelino, in the Vicenza countryside, at Villa Negri Park. Among this edition's most anticipated headliners are The Black Keys, who will present their new album No Rain, No Flowers on July 15; Queens Of The Stone Age (July 16), who return to perform after legendary frontman Josh Homme's health problems; The Prodigy (Aug. 23), a band orphaned by lead singer Keith Flint, who passed away in 2019; and Franz Ferdinand and Stereophonics, who will share the stage on Aug. 28.
Where: Romano d’Ezzelino, Vicenza
When: July 15 to August 28, 2025
Line-up: The Black Keys, Queens Of The Stone Age, The Prodigy, Franz Ferdinand, The Kills, Stereophonics and many others
Red Valley Festival
Italy's largest crossover festival? It is the Red Valley Festival, to be held at the Olbia Arena in Olbia. It will open on August 13 with Max Pezzali, Fedez, Tommy Cash fresh from Eurovision, and then Rocco Hunt, Sarah Toscano and Settembre and will close on the 16th with Guè, Irama, Salmo and many others. Instead, the protagonist of the day on July 14 will be Sfera Ebbasta and Tony Effe; while on July 15 Anna, Lazza, Steve Aoki and other names from the Italian and international music scene will take the stage.
Where: Olbia
When: August 13 to 16, 2025
Line-up: Anna, Lazza, Steve Aoki, Guè, Irama, Sfera Ebbasta, Salmo, Max Pezzali, Fedez, Tommy Cash, Rocco Hunt, Sarah Toscano and many more
Ypsigrock Festival
Another good reason to spend your summer vacation in Sicily? The 28th edition of Ypsigrock Festival, which will take place the first days of August in the charming village of Castelbuono, a town in the mountains of the Madonie Park. Among the headliners who will perform this year are Lucio Corsi, the big revelation of Sanremo 2025, the CocoRosie band and The Voidz, the experimental project of The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas. Save the date of August 7, when Offlaga Disco Pax will take the stage to celebrate 20 years of the iconic album Socialismo Tascabile.
Where: Castelbuono, Palermo
When: August 7 to 10, 2025
Line-up: Lucio Corsi, CocoRosie, The Voidz, Offlaga Disco Pax, Public Service Broadcasting, Lambrini Girls and many more
No Borders Music Festival
The Fusine Lakes, in Tarvisio in the province of Udine, are beautiful. Here, the No Borders Music Festival takes place, which, for 2025, offers bike rides, nature guides and music with Ben Harper (July 19); Mika (July 20); but also Jovanotti, who will hold the first concert reserved for 5,000 cyclists on July 26; and Lucio Corsi (July 27). Live performances by Patagarri and Goran Bregović will close the festival on August 2.
Where: Tarvisio
When: July 19 to August 2, 2025
Line-up: Ben Harper, Mika, Jovanotti, Lucio Corsi, Patagarri, Goran Bregović
Men/Go Music Festival
From July 8-13, 2025, Men/Go Music Festival will offer six evenings of music in the beautiful setting of Parco il Prato in Arezzo. The plus besides the location? Four completely free evenings: Wednesday, July 9, with Joan Thiele and Giorgio Poi; Thursday, July 10, with Lucio Corsi and a DJ set by Samuel from Subsonica; Friday, July 11, with many live acts and Boss Doms DJ set; and Sunday, July 13, with Pupo. Of particular note is July 8, when there will be an evening dedicated to Paolo Benvegnù, an extraordinary musician who recently passed away. Many artists will gather for the occasion, including Dente, Marina Rei, Irene Grandi and Lamante.
Where: Arezzo
When: July 8 to 13, 2025
Line-up: Joan Thiele, Giorgio Poi, Lucio Corsi, Afterhours, Fast Animals and Slow Kids, Boss Doms DJ set and many more
Riverock Festival
Riverock Festival lights up the city of Assisi with the stars of Italian and international music. It starts on Wednesday, July 23, with Fabri Fibra, who returns live after more than two years of absence from stages; it continues on July 24 with Venerus and La Niña; while on Friday, July 25, it will be the turn of Joan Thiele and Dardust. On Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27, music gives way to Evanland - International Festival of the Inner World, with meetings, workshops, practices, talks, performances, readings and games.
Where: Assisi
When: July 23 to 27, 2025
Line-up: Fabri Fibra, Joan Thiele, Emma Nolde, Venerus, La Niña and many more