Music Festivals in Naples in 2022
Naples translates to "New Town", which is a great way to think of this city. It has some wonderful modern attractions like museums and galleries, but what most people visit the city for is its incredible historic center. Its history began way back in about 600 BCE when the ancient Greeks settled in the area. Naples is home to several beautiful castles, ancient catacombs and monuments that are all photo-worthy. It is located on the west coast which allowed it to become an important port city in the past, although now it is mainly one of the main cultural and commercial centers in the nation.
If people aren't visiting for the sightseeing and interesting history, they are probably here for some of the big events and festivals happening around the country. Are you a fan of music? If so then you will definitely want to plan your visit around one of the many music festivals that are put on. There are not many events happening inside the city of Naples so you will need to travel a bit, but it is still worth staying in this city and venturing out for the festival. Wondering how to make your way from place to place? Read our guide to getting around Naples and you'll have no trouble!
Lots of the festivals are annual and concerts are put on throughout the entire year, but if you want to attend one this year then you should start planning soon. Listed below are some of the best festivals to keep an eye out for. Some of them can get pretty crazy and busy, too, which is why you should safely stow away your bags in a Naples suitcase locker.
The Best Music Festivals in Naples 2022
Festival di Caracalla
Are you ready for a mixture of classical and pop music at the Festival di Caracalla? This event will be happening from the 3rd of June to the 9th of August, leaving you lots of time to work out travel arrangements to attend the event. Aside from fantastic live music performances, you can also enjoy dancing and ballet shows.
Come enjoy the opera show by Mass or Carmen, watch the talented Notre-Dame de Paris ballet, see Roberto Bolle & Friends dance the night away or sit back while David Garrett takes over the stage. This festival is about more than just music which is what makes it so great.
Rock in Roma
Music lovers will definitely want to take a trip to Naples during the Rock and Roma event which is happening for most of the summer of 2022. This huge festival focuses mainly on rock music but there will be other genres mixed in as well, and it is held in Rome so you are only about a two hour drive away. There are a variety of artists playing from the 10th of June almost daily until the 11th of September.
This event will be held in several different venues, like the Auditorium Parco Della Musica or the Ippodromo Delle Capanelle. A new artist takes to the stage basically every day so you should check to see when your favorite band is playing to plan your vacation around them. Some of the big names to look out for include Mecna Coco, Queen at the Opera, Suicidal Tendencies, Cigarettes After Sex, MM4, The Chemical Brothers, Carl Brave or Herbie Hancock.
Roma Summer Fest
Happening around the same time and also in Rome is the Roma Summer Fest of 2022. The dates are set for the festival to begin on the 10th of June and continue until the 26th of September so you will have plenty of time to book your ticket to Naples and make the short drive over to the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome.
All sorts of music genres will be played here, so time your visit for the concert that interests you the most. Some themes include jazz, pop, rock and even author music. Both Italian and international artists will take to the stage, including Paolo Conte, Moderat, Massimo Ranieri, Cat Power, Alt-J, Gross, Massive Attack, Pixies, Snarky Puppy and lots of others.
Firenze Rocks
Make your way to Florence for the Firenze Rocks festival happening between the 16th and the 19th of June this year. If you are staying in Naples you will need to drive for about four hours to get there, but the event is well worth the trip. It is one of the biggest music events in the country, so don't miss out!
Thousands of people gravitate towards Italy for these concerts, and you should be one of them. Some of the names that you might recognize include Green Day, Weezer, Muse, Placebo, The Ramona Flowers, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nas, Metallica and Greta Van Fleet, plus a couple of other great groups.
Locus Festival
For basically the entire summer of 2022, the town of Locorotondo comes to life with a whole series of concerts and musical events. This city is only about three or four hours away from Naples so you will need to drive for a while, but the entertainment and music waiting for you make the journey worth it. The dates for 2022 begin on the 18th of June and continue all the way until the 3rd of September. Events don't happen every single day but you can attend a new concert regularly throughout the summer.
Most of the performers play jazz or soul music. Here are some names to look out for this year; Willie Peyote, Hania Rani, Los Bitchos, Caparezza, Napoli Segreta, Kings of Convenience, Alt J, Paolo Nutini, Brunori Sas and Joan as Police Woman alongside some other great artists.
Lucca Summer Festival
Be aware, the Lucca Summer Festival is a bit of a journey from Naples so you are in for quite a drive if you are leaving from there. But, considering that the event is held from the 25th of June all the way until the 31st of July, the five hour drive can be worth it. Consider staying for a couple of days or even a week to see a bunch of live performances!
The lineup is always what gets people's attention, and once you hear who the headliners are you will understand why. Some of the biggest stars travel here to perform for you, like Justin Bieber, John Legend or Liam Gallagher and Kasabian just to name a few.
Pistoia Blues Festival
In Pistoia, Italy from the 7th to the 16th of July is the Pistoia Blues festival which is a bit of a drive away from Naples. Prepare to be driving for about four and a half hours to get there, so give yourself some extra time for traveling. This festival is loved by lots of locals as well as international fans. This one-of-a-kind celebration is guaranteed to give you a unique experience and has a certain energy that you don't see at other events.
The songs that will be played are mainly from the rock and blues genres. The live performances are one of the best parts of this festival and that is always thanks to the great bands that come to play for you. Some of the names you should look out for include Simple Minds, Paolo Nutini and The Tallest Man on Earth.
Umbria Jazz Festival
Jazz lovers unite at the Umbria Jazz Festival which will be hosted by Perugia, Italy and is about three and a half hours away from Naples. Make sure that you clear your schedule from the 8th to the 17th of July when this event will be taking place. Fun fact, this event first began way back in 1973!
The main star of this festival is jazz music but there will also be concerts from other genres as well, and it is a pretty inclusive event. Some of the big names headlining the festival this year include Diana Krall, Jeff Beck and Christone "Kingfish" Ingram.
Polifonic
Our next event takes us to Puglia in Italy, which is a bit over three hours away from Naples by car. The Polifonic festival is all about electronic and alternative music genres, so if that is what you tend to listen to then you will have a blast. The event is put on for three days from the 28th to the 31st of July, so mark those dates down in your calendar.
This is a great music festival set in a gorgeous area full of natural beauty. Concerts and parties are put on all night so get ready for a couple of days full of fun. Some of the bands set to make an appearance include Ash Lauryn, Innocent Soul, Tom Trago, Yas Reven, Yu Su, Donato Dozzy, Eternal Love, Dirty Channels and Afriqua, to name a few.
Siren Festival
You will only have to drive for a bit over two hours if you want to attend the Siren Festival which is being held in Vasto, Italy. This pleasant coastal town is the perfect location for this festival which showcases music genres like electronic, acoustic and Indie. The 2022 dates are yet to be confirmed.
Some of the performances will be put on by bands like I'm a Dog, Margaret Vicar, Cmqmartina, New Candys, RAINS., Gold Mass, Caterina Palazzi and Vieri Cervelli Montel. These are some great musicians that always put on a good show for their fans.
Ravello Festival
From the 8th of July to the 3rd of September is the Ravello Festival which will be happening just about an hour's drive away from Naples. This is one of the only events focusing on classical and orchestral music so it brings a whole new crowd of visitors to Italy. It is also one of the country's oldest festivals, so it has gathered quite a big fanbase over the years!
Admission tickets for this year's celebration will be on sale soon, so be prepared to snatch up your pass when they are available. There are some fantastic bands and orchestras set to play, so don't miss your chance to see these musical arts happen in person.
Decibel Open Air
Another festival being held in Florence, Italy is the Decibel Open Air event. The drive will take you over four hours but there are a lot of amazing performances set to happen, so you won't want to miss the chance to attend. In general, the concerts are of electronic and house music and will be playing on the 10th and 11th of September.
This festival is open air and attracts a lot of visitors, and aside from the upbeat music the special effects and light shows are what really get people pumped up. The headliners for this year include Marco Kalkbrenner, Fisher and Marco Carola. Some other artists will be playing as well, so come to the event and see them perform.
Planning to Stay Some More Days in Naples?
Although Naples doesn't have many of its own festivals, you won't have to search far for a good time since there are a number of music events happening in different cities around the rest of Italy. If you plan it out right then you can easily take a vacation to Naples and head to a festival before or afterward. This is why we recommend that you plan a couple of extra days to explore this incredible city.
If you find yourself with some free time in Naples you will have a big choice of things to do and there are many activities suitable for adults, children, and people of any age. Why don't you visit some of Naples' best museums to learn more about the city's culture and history? Or maybe take a food tour of all of the top restaurants and street food spots. If you want to see a bit of everything then you can follow an itinerary for three days in Naples. No matter what you choose to do, this place will steal your heart and it is one of the top destinations in Italy.
If you're planning to stay longer in Naples, take a look at our other Naples guides for other fun activities!
How to get around Naples
Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Naples
The Top Free Things To Do In Naples
