Balena Festival 2026

A widespread festival in the heart of Genoa

Balena Festival is now one of the most anticipated events of the Genoese summer. Born as an independent music review, it has built a precise identity over the years: not concentrating in one place, but spreading through the symbolic neighborhoods and spaces of Genoa, the capital of Liguria and its Metropolitan City. The slogan of the seventh edition, "Until it becomes a galaxy", perfectly captures this vocation: a constellation of concerts that crosses the city.

The festival venues

The pulsating heart of the event is the Axpo Arena del Mare, the arena overlooking the water within the Old Port, which hosts the main week of concerts at the end of July. But Balena also lives elsewhere: the Giardini Luzzati, a lively and multicultural square in the historic center, the Maddalena district, the Piazza delle Feste. This choice to disseminate the events is an integral part of the festival's philosophy, which aims to create a dialogue between music and the urban fabric.

The musical offering

The lineup favors Italian singer-songwriters and the indie scene, alternating established names with young talents. Among the artists announced for 2026 are Caparezza, The Zen Circus, Emma Nolde, I Cani, TonyPitony, and many others, in a balance that has been the festival's hallmark since its origins.

An event for the city

Organized by Aluha S.r.l., Balena Festival has established itself as a reference point for audiences seeking offerings outside the major commercial circuits. It's music for those who want to discover, listen to, and experience Genoa from a different perspective, that of a city that transforms into a stage in the summer.