Top 10: Music Festivals in Italy for 2020

Few European countries boast the same natural beauty, history, cultural importance and gastronomical clout as Italy. And they don't do a bad job when it comes to music festivals either.

From intimate electronic gems to open-air rock giants, here are the pick of the bunch. 

Kappa FuturFestival

Festival lineup (2019): Richie Hawtin, Amelie Lens, Charlotte De Witte, Peggy Gou, Jamie Jones, Nina Kraviz, Seth Troxler

The industrial structure of Turin's Parco Dora has become somewhat iconic in underground house and techno circles, as every year the best from the scene play to huge crowds beneath the imposing metallic arch.  

When & where: 4-5 July 2020, Turin

Kappa FuturFestival 2020 Guide / Tickets & Packages

Polifonic

Festival lineup: Carista, Craig Richards, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Tama Sumo, Marcel Dettmann, JASSS, Donato Dozzy

A fairly new addition to Italy's diverse festival landscape, since launching in 2017 the festival has hit on a winning formula of combing cutting-edge electronic music lineups with beautifully scenic and intimate locations on the southeastern coast.

When & where: 23-26 July 2020, Monopoli

Polifonic Festival 2020 Guide & Waiting List

Decibel Open Air 

Festival lineup: Paul Kalbrenner, Richie Hawtin, Ben Klock, Amelie Lens, 999999999

As one of Italy's biggest dance music festivals, Decibel Open Air is one of Italy's leading giants in big-room techno and house. Witness some of the scene's heavyweights display why they're the best at their game, whilst surrounded by thousands of like-minded dancers in the impressive Visarno Arena.  

When & where: 5 - 6 September 2020, Florence 

Decibel Open Air 2020 Guide & Waiting List

Locus Festival

Festival lineup (2019): FKJ, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Four Tet, José James, Calcutta

Amidst the almost overbearingly picturesque village of Locorotondo in Italy's southeast, a selection of modern jazz and soul music's most innovative, creative and forward-thinking artists come together for a series of shows, held over the course of a month.  

When & where: 25 July - 15 August 2020, Locorotondo

Locus Festival 2020 Guide & Waiting List

FRAC Festival

Festival lineup (2019): Theo Parrish, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Nu Guinea, Planningtorock, Peaking Lights

With five years to its name, FRAC (Festival of Research for Contemporary Arts) is gaining a reputation as one of the leading underground music and visual art festivals in the country. This year the festival relocated to the stunning grounds of the historic Complesso Monumentale San Giovanni di Catanzaro, an appropriate setting for an event subtitled "Memories from the Future", alluding to its respect for tradition and how it informs future culture. Definitely one for the arty types.  

When & where: 2020 Dates TBC, Catanzaro 

FRAC Festival 2020 Guide & Waiting List

Ypsigrock

Festival lineup (2019): The National, Spiritualized, David August, Let's Eat Grandma, Fontaines D.C.

Taking place each summer in Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, Ypsigrock hosts a selection of generation-spanning indie and alternative music favourites as well as a healthy amount of newcomers on the site of the historic castle from which the town of Castelbuono gets its name.

When & where: 6-9 August 2020, Castelbuono, Sicily

Ypsigrock Festival 2020 Guide & Waiting List

Movement Torino

Festival lineup (2019): Amelie Lens, Nastasia Kristensen, ANOTR, Dennis Cruz, DJ Bone, Eddie M, Jamie Jones

The European cousin of the famous Detroit festival has now developed in to one of the continent's biggest and best techno events. Taking place in a former car factory Lingotto Fiere, there are also a number of peripheral parties, meaning there's ample opportunity to see the scene's leading lights in action.

When & where: 2020 Dates TBA, Turin  

Movement Torino Festival 2020 Guide & Waiting List 

MORE Festival  

Festival lineup (2019): Carine, Ata, Underground System, DJ Spiller, Sophie Lloyd, Voilaaa Soundsystem

MORE is an international festival series that takes place in Arles (France), Marrakech (Morocco) and Venice, that allows its crowds to enjoy top-tier electronic music in some of the cities' coolest venues. MORE Venice has historically spilled out into the city's beautiful piazzas and canals, with a focus on uplifting house and disco.

When & where: 2020 Dates TBC, Venice

MORE Festival 2020 Guide & Waiting List 

HOME Festival

Festival lineup (2019): Aphex Twin, Paul Kalkbrenner, Young Thug, Pusha T, Editors, Mura Masa, Modeselektor, Jon Hopkins

An Italian festival giant, HOME consistently boasts lineups packed with globally renowned artists, from rock icons to superstar DJs to reggae legends. Though previously set in the quaint city of Treviso, the festival will now call its bigger and famous neighbour Venice its home. 

When & where: 10-12 July 2019, Venice

HOME Festival 2020 Guide & Waiting List

Club To Club Torino

Festival lineup (2019): James Blake, Chromatics, Flume, The Comet Is Coming, slowthai

Generally speaking it's the more traditional, open air and multi-genre music festivals that boast lineups of world-beating bands that can lay claim to being the best a country has to offer. But in this instance, it's the innovation, impeccable curation and forward-thinking attitude of Turin's experimental electronic and alternative music festival that arguably earns it the accolade of being number one. 

When & where: 2020 Dates TBC, Turin

Club To Club Torino Festival 2020 Guide & Waiting List

See all of our Italian festivals here