Dissonanze - New Chapter

A new chapter for a historic festival

Dissonanze is one of the longest-running and most recognizable experiences in Italian electronic culture. Established in Rome in 2000, it has built an international reputation over the years by bringing advanced club culture, digital arts, multimedia installations, and performance to the capital. Following its twenty-fifth-anniversary celebrations, the project relaunches with the subtitle New Chapter: not a nostalgic revival, but a format reimagined in its spaces, timing, and the way the audience and artists share the day, staying true to its original vision of exploring off-axis sonic territories where electronics, imagery, and performance meet without compromise.

When and where

The 2026 edition takes place on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone, the complex designed by Renzo Piano on Viale Pietro de Coubertin 30, in the Flaminio district of Rome, in the Lazio region. The event is part of the Roma Summer Fest program and is organized by the Fondazione Musica per Roma. Doors open at 12:00 PM on both days.

Three stages, three ways to listen

The strength of the new format lies in the geography of the venue. The festival is spread across three complementary areas, each with its own sonic and visual character:

• Cavea — the outdoor amphitheater at the heart of the complex, overlooking the lead-clad concert halls;
• Park — the outdoor green area, dedicated to a more relaxed listening experience during daylight hours;
• Hide — the more intimate space, reserved for experimental and research-based acts.

In addition, two indoor halls host artistic and audiovisual projects: the visual dimension has been an integral part of Dissonanze's identity since its inception. The division into three stages allows for the coexistence of diverse musical languages—from large-scale house and techno to listening-focused electronics and productions rarely found elsewhere in Lazio.

The 2026 lineup

The announced lineup is among the most ambitious the festival has ever assembled. The most anticipated name is Björk, appearing in a rare DJ set, joined by Peggy Gou, Floating Points, Honey Dijon, Moodymann b2b Marcellus Pittman, Octave One (live), Daphni, Raresh, Ron Trent, Chloé Caillet, Job Jobse, Sama' Abdulhadi, Skream & Benga, Kelly Lee Owens (DJ set), Jazzanova (live), and Rome’s own Donato Dozzy, one of the most respected Italian producers abroad. Detroit and Chicago house, European techno, ambient electronics, and experimental drifts coexist within the same perimeter without genre hierarchies.

What to expect

Dissonanze is not an open-field festival: it takes place within an urban architectural landmark, just minutes from the city center, with a schedule that begins at noon and runs through the afternoon into the night. This changes the experience—you can alternate between listening sessions in the Cavea, breaks in the shade of the Park, and diving into the denser atmosphere of Hide. Entry is restricted to those 18 and older, and re-entry is not permitted once you leave the festival area.

Rome and its electronic scene

For years, Dissonanze was the event that put Rome on the European electronic music map. Returning to the Auditorium, a complex usually associated with classical and symphonic music, is a cultural statement: electronics as a fully legitimate contemporary language, hosted in one of Italy’s most important musical institutions. Visitors from out of town will find Rome in mid-September, when the city is still bright but the summer heat has faded.

Tips for visitors

• Admission is for adults only (18+), and re-entry is not permitted.
• Arrive early: early-bird rates reward those who enter during the first few hours.
• Access to individual stages may be regulated by capacity: during peak hours, you may need to wait.
• If you plan to attend both days, consider the Full Pass, which is more cost-effective than two single-day tickets.