CIAO – Lucio Dalla Festival
Bologna's tribute to the creative genius of Lucio Dalla, featuring music, awards, and emerging talents
About CIAO Lucio Dalla Festival
Bologna celebrates Lucio Dalla on his birthday
On March 4th, Lucio Dalla's birthday, the Municipality of Bologna transforms into the stage for one of the city's most heartfelt musical events: CIAO – Lucio Dalla Festival. Created to preserve and promote the artistic legacy of the great Bolognese singer-songwriter, the festival is promoted by the Lucio Dalla Foundation and takes place in the historic Teatro Arena del Sole, on Via dell'Indipendenza, in the heart of Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna.
This is not just a tribute concert: CIAO is an event evening that blends live music, journalistic storytelling, awards ceremonies, and the discovery of new talents. The common thread is Dalla's extraordinary ability to anticipate trends, transcend genres and labels, and always remain outside the box. Each edition chooses a theme that becomes the key to understanding the evening.
A festival that rewards creativity
The heart of the event lies in the awards given to protagonists of Italian music, designed to celebrate those who, with a free spirit, carry forward the same creative research that characterized Dalla's career. Alongside the awards, the festival makes space for the CIAO Contest, a competition dedicated to young emerging artists and producers: the winners take the stage at the Arena del Sole, in a passing of the torch between generations that is the deepest meaning of the initiative.
Guests, music, and memory
Each year, the evening brings together singers, musicians, songwriters, and cultural figures to pay homage to Dalla's repertoire and the city where he was born and raised. Through live performances, reinterpretations of his most famous songs, and moments of storytelling, CIAO offers the people of Bologna an intense night, suspended between nostalgia and a look towards the future of music.
The festival is now a regular fixture on the cultural calendar of Bologna and Emilia-Romagna, capable of uniting city institutions, the Lucio Dalla Foundation, and major names in Italian song in a single embrace dedicated to one of the most beloved artists of the 20th century.
CIAO Lucio Dalla Festival — edition 2026
The fourth edition of CIAO – Lucio Dalla Festival took place on March 4, 2026, at the Teatro Arena del Sole in Bologna, on the artist's birthday. Titled "LIBERI" (Free), from the song on the album Henna, the evening focused on the theme of freedom as an artistic signature and a civil choice, against all conventions and labels.
This edition was produced by the Lucio Dalla Foundation in collaboration with Emilia Romagna Teatro and QN – il Resto del Carlino, with a format that combined major guests from Italian music, journalistic storytelling, and a space dedicated to the winners of the CIAO Contest for emerging talents.
Programme CIAO Lucio Dalla Festival 2026
March 4, 2026 — Teatro Arena del Sole, 9:00 PM
The evening, titled "LIBERI" (Free), celebrated Lucio Dalla's legacy on his birthday, alternating musical performances, storytelling, and awards for the CIAO Contest.
- Malika Ayane — live performance
- Paola Iezzi — live performance
- Graziano Galatone with Roberta Gentile — interpretation of "Caruso"
- Walter Veltroni — talk and storytelling
- Piccolo Coro dell'Antoniano (Antoniano Children's Choir)
- Elisa Benetti and Davide Benvenuti — winners of the CIAO Contest 2026
- Students from the Lucio Dalla Music High School
- Sound installations by urban artist Kotè in the foyer
- Delegation from Bologna FC 1909
The hosting was entrusted to Agnese Pini (director of QN), Valerio Baroncini (deputy director of il Resto del Carlino), and Monica Peruzzi (Sky journalist).
Highlights CIAO Lucio Dalla Festival 2026
Prices CIAO Lucio Dalla Festival 2026
Practical information — CIAO Lucio Dalla Festival
Location
The event takes place at Teatro Arena del Sole, Via dell'Indipendenza 44, in the center of Bologna, a short walk from Piazza Maggiore and the central station.
Getting There
The theatre is in the historic center, easily reachable on foot from Bologna Centrale station (about 15 minutes) or by numerous city bus lines running along Via dell'Indipendenza. It is advisable to avoid driving: the area is subject to traffic restrictions.
Access and Tickets
Admission is generally free with mandatory reservation or by invitation, depending on the edition. It is advisable to follow the official channels of the Lucio Dalla Foundation and the Teatro Arena del Sole to find out about participation methods, which are announced in the weeks preceding the event.
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Where does it take place — CIAO Lucio Dalla Festival
Teatro Arena del Sole
Via dell'Indipendenza 44, 40121 Bologna