Confimprenditori Incontra – Sunset Concert
Business awards and great folk music in Piazza Sole, in the heart of Irpinia
About Confimprenditori Incontra
An evening of business, culture, and folk music
Confimprenditori Incontra is the summer event that transforms Piazza Sole in Santo Stefano del Sole into an open-air stage overlooking the hills of Irpinia every year. Within a few hours, the square of this small town in the province of Avellino, Campania, transitions from the Confimprenditori Award ceremony to the sunset concert, the most anticipated moment of the evening. It is an unusual yet successful formula: discussing work, small businesses, and the local area, then letting the music do the talking.
The Confimprenditori Award
The award was established in 2018 by Gerardo Santoli, mayor of Santo Stefano del Sole and national vice-president of Confimprenditori. The initial idea was simple: to give visibility to those who usually lack it—small entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, and artisans who sustain the economy of inland towns. Over the years, the award has expanded to include professionals, administrators, and figures from the worlds of culture and labor who have distinguished themselves through skill, innovation, and social responsibility.
- Section dedicated to small businesses and quality craftsmanship
- Section reserved for civil society and institutional service
- Recognition for the worlds of culture, entertainment, and sports
The sunset concert
After the awards, the square clears of chairs and speeches to fill with music. The sunset concert is designed to take advantage of the most beautiful hour of the Irpinian summer, as the light fades over the valleys surrounding the town. The artistic direction is entrusted to Roberto D'Agnese, who over the years has brought leading names in Neapolitan song and Southern folk music to Santo Stefano del Sole.
Guests who have made the event's history
Past editions have featured singer-songwriters and performers such as Enzo Gragnaniello, Eugenio Bennato, Serena Brancale, and Bobby Solo. It is not just about music, however: the event has hosted champions and families of Italian sports—the Abbagnale brothers, the family of Pietro Mennea, and Fulvio Collovati—as well as journalists like Michele Cucuzza, Aldo Forbice, and Pino Aprile. In 2026, the guest of honor was the maestro Peppe Barra, an absolute icon of Neapolitan theater and music.
A network of associations behind the event
The event is promoted by Confimprenditori Avellino together with the Municipality of Santo Stefano del Sole, with the support and patronage of organizations such as Federarchitetti, Patronato Labor, Fondo Salus, the Sysconet Observatory, and the Archeoclub d'Italia. Recent editions have also seen collaboration from the Pro Loco Santo Stefanese and the Centro Etnografico Campano, which curate insights into local traditions.
Santo Stefano del Sole and the Irpinian summer
Santo Stefano del Sole is a village of just over two thousand inhabitants, nestled at an altitude of about 550 meters between Avellino and the Sabato valley. Confimprenditori Incontra is part of the municipal summer program Vivi Santo Stefano, which alternates patronal feasts, youth festivals, art events, and vintage car gatherings from June to September. For those visiting Irpinia in July, it is the perfect opportunity to discover a town that, on a summer evening, tells its story through its businesses and its music.
Confimprenditori Incontra — edition 2026
Confimprenditori Incontra 2026
On Sunday, July 26, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM, Piazza Sole in Santo Stefano del Sole hosted the ninth edition of Confimprenditori Incontra. An evening structured, as per tradition, in two parts: first the Confimprenditori Award ceremony, then the sunset concert.
The award winners
The award for small business went to Gerardo Sarno, owner of the Antico Casaro Dairy in Santo Stefano del Sole, the third generation of a family that has successfully combined artisanal tradition with innovation. The award for civil society was presented to General Antonio Felice Caputo for his high sense of duty demonstrated in service to institutions. A special recognition for his contribution to Italian culture, theater, and folk music was presented to maestro Peppe Barra by regional councilor Maria Carmela Serluca.
Peppe Barra's concert
The evening concluded with a performance by maestro Peppe Barra, one of the few live dates for the Neapolitan artist in the summer of 2026: a journey through poetry, theater, and folk culture, with the sounds of Mediterranean tradition acting as a common thread as the light faded over the Irpinian hills.
On stage and in the audience
The event was hosted by Elvira Anzalone and radio speaker Bruno Gaipa, with artistic direction by Roberto D'Agnese. Present were Gerardo Santoli, president of Confimprenditori Avellino and mayor of the town, Celestino Iannone, director of Confimprenditori Irpinia Sannio, and Stefania Rodia, provincial director of Patronato Labor.
Programme Confimprenditori Incontra 2026
Sunday, July 26, 2026 — Piazza Sole, Santo Stefano del Sole
- 7:00 PM — Opening of the evening and institutional greetings, hosted by Elvira Anzalone and Bruno Gaipa
- Speeches by Gerardo Santoli (President of Confimprenditori Avellino and Mayor), Celestino Iannone (Director of Confimprenditori Irpinia Sannio), and Stefania Rodia (Patronato Labor)
- Confimprenditori Award 2026 Ceremony — Small business: Gerardo Sarno, Antico Casaro Dairy; Civil society: General Antonio Felice Caputo
- Presentation of the award to maestro Peppe Barra by regional councilor Maria Carmela Serluca
- Sunset Concert — Peppe Barra live, featuring theater, poetry, and Neapolitan folk songs
Artistic direction by Roberto D'Agnese. Event under the patronage of Confimprenditori Avellino, Municipality of Santo Stefano del Sole, Federarchitetti, Patronato Labor, Fondo Salus, Sysconet Observatory, and Archeoclub d'Italia.
Highlights Confimprenditori Incontra 2026
- The sunset concert by maestro Peppe Barra, an icon of Neapolitan theater and music, in one of his rare summer appearances
- The ninth edition of the Confimprenditori Award, honoring Gerardo Sarno (Antico Casaro Dairy) and General Antonio Felice Caputo
- The special lifetime achievement award presented to Peppe Barra by regional councilor Maria Carmela Serluca
- The setting of Piazza Sole at sunset, overlooking the Irpinian hills
Prices Confimprenditori Incontra 2026
Practical information — Confimprenditori Incontra
Location
The event is held in Piazza Sole, in the center of Santo Stefano del Sole (83050), in the province of Avellino. The show is outdoors; in case of bad weather, it is advisable to check for any updates on the Municipality's channels.
How to get there
- By car: Take the Avellino Est exit from the Avellino-Salerno highway, then the SS7 bis and provincial roads towards Santo Stefano del Sole (about 10 km from the provincial capital). Free parking is available in the town center streets.
- By train: Avellino station, then bus or taxi to the town.
- By plane: Naples Capodichino Airport, about 60 km away.
Admission and prices
Free admission, no reservation required. The evening generally begins in the late afternoon, around 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM, and concludes with the concert at sunset.
Contacts
Municipality of Santo Stefano del Sole, Via Colacurcio 54 — phone +39 0825 673053 — visit the official municipal website for the updated summer program.
Tips
Bring a light sweater: at an altitude of 550 meters, the temperature drops after sunset, even in mid-July. Nearby, you can visit Avellino, the Goleto Abbey, and the villages of the Sabato valley.
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Where does it take place — Confimprenditori Incontra
Piazza Sole
Piazza Sole, 83050 Santo Stefano del Sole