Festivaldeigiovani
Three days of meetings, workshops, and career guidance for Generation Z in the historic center of Gaeta
About Youth Festival
A festival tailor-made for Generation Z
The Festivaldeigiovani is the event that transforms Gaeta, in the province of Latina, into a national meeting point between the world of schools, businesses, and institutions every spring. Conceived and organized by Noisiamofuturo Società Benefit in close collaboration with the Municipality of Gaeta, the event is aimed specifically at young people aged 15 to 21: a community counting over 660,000 students and more than 20,000 teachers from about 2,000 secondary schools across Italy.
For three days, the squares, alleys, and historic buildings of the city become open-air classrooms. This is not just a simple series of conferences: the formula chosen by the organizers is that of edutainment, where educational content blends with play, entertainment, and direct experience. It is a choice that makes the festival different from any other cultural event in the Lazio region.
The main thematic areas
The program is built around several recurring pillars that reflect the questions of this generation:
- Orientation and professional future — meetings with companies, ITS Academies, universities, and the productive world to understand which skills will truly be needed.
- Innovation and digital — artificial intelligence, new digital professions, and the conscious use of technology and social media.
- Sustainability and environment — business testimonials, best practices, and circular economy projects.
- Culture of legality and active citizenship — with the participation of the Carabinieri, the State Police, and the Financial Guard, present in Gaeta with the Nautical School.
- Emotional well-being and inclusion — emotional education, mental health, empathy, and valuing diversity.
- Sport, music, and creativity — workshops, contests, and testimonials from champions and artists.
The village and festival venues
The logistical heart of the event is the large village set up between Piazza Monsignor Di Liegro and Piazza XIX Maggio, with tents, stands, and stations where universities, companies, law enforcement, and associations meet students directly. The more institutional sessions and ceremonies take place in theaters and indoor spaces, while concerts and entertainment moments enliven the village in the late afternoon.
The choice of Gaeta is not accidental. The city, overlooking the gulf that bears its name, combines a charming medieval historic center, the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity with the 'Montagna Spaccata', wide beaches, and a long tradition linked to the sea and military schools. During the festival, this heritage becomes an integral part of the experience: students move on foot between appointments, crossing the seafront and the ancient districts.
Contests and national finals
An important part of the program is dedicated to the finals of the national contests promoted throughout the school year: Latuaideadimpresa for student business projects, InModa dedicated to design and fashion, Massimo Ascolto for emerging music, and the Talent School. These are highly anticipated moments, as they reward work carried out for months in the classroom and give national visibility to even very small schools.
Why participate
The Festivaldeigiovani is free and open: schools register through the official website and build their own path by choosing from dozens of parallel appointments. But the event is also an opportunity for the local community and visitors, who can witness a city entirely occupied by thousands of young people in an atmosphere of great energy. For the Municipality of Gaeta and the Lazio Region, which supports the project through European funds, it has become one of the signature events of the regional calendar, capable of bringing a significant flow of visitors to the Gulf of Gaeta out of season.
Youth Festival — edition 2026
TOGETHER Connected to the Future
The 2026 edition of the Festivaldeigiovani chose a theme that speaks directly to Generation Z: the relationship between human bonds and digital transformation. Artificial intelligence, sustainability, and new digital professions were the common threads of three very dense days, built around the edutainment formula.
The event opened on Wednesday morning, March 25th, with the inaugural ceremony at the city theater, then spread across the two hubs of the village, in Piazza Monsignor Di Liegro and Piazza XIX Maggio, where tents and stands hosted universities, ITS Academies, companies, and associations.
Program highlights
- Workshops on emotional intelligence, mental health, and emotional education, with the participation of psychologist Daniel Giunti, among others.
- Career and training orientation paths, with academic and productive partners including LUISS, Confindustria, Accademia Costume e Moda, and various ITS Academies.
- Meetings on the culture of legality with the Carabinieri, the State Police, and the Financial Guard — present with the Gaeta Nautical School and the Fiamme Gialle Sports Groups — and with historian Enzo Ciconte.
- Sports testimonials, including Olympic sprinter Davide Re, and scientific meetings with researcher Maria Pia Donataccio.
- The finals of the national contests: Latuaideadimpresa, InModa, Massimo Ascolto, and Talent School.
Music at the village
The first day closed at the village with a concert by the artists of the Massimo Ascolto contest and a performance by Angelica Bove, runner-up at Sanremo Giovani and at the top of the Spotify Viral 50 Italy chart with the song «Mattone».
All events were free and bookable via the official website. The edition was realized by Noisiamofuturo Società Benefit with the Municipality of Gaeta, the co-financing of the European Union, and the support of the Lazio Region through the European Social Fund Plus 2021-2027.
Programme Youth Festival 2026
Wednesday, March 25th, 2026
- Opening of the village in Piazza Monsignor Di Liegro and Piazza XIX Maggio from 9:00 AM
- 10:30 AM — Inaugural ceremony of the 11th edition at the city theater
- Workshops and thematic labs in the squares and historic sites of the city
- Evening at the village: concert by the artists of the Massimo Ascolto contest with Angelica Bove
Thursday, March 26th, 2026
- Orientation meetings with universities, ITS Academies, and companies
- Workshops on emotional intelligence, mental health, and emotional education
- Meetings on the culture of legality with the Carabinieri, State Police, and Financial Guard
Friday, March 27th, 2026
- Finals of the national contests: Latuaideadimpresa, InModa, Massimo Ascolto, and Talent School
- Sports and scientific testimonials
- Awards ceremony and closing of the event
A total of over 150 free events in three days. The full schedule, with times and locations for each appointment, is published on the official website www.festivaldeigiovani.it, where bookings are also made.
Highlights Youth Festival 2026
- Edition theme: «TOGETHER Connected to the Future»
- Over 150 free events in three days
- Village between Piazza Monsignor Di Liegro and Piazza XIX Maggio
- Concert by Angelica Bove at the village
- Finals of the national contests: Latuaideadimpresa, InModa, Massimo Ascolto, and Talent School
- Guests: Daniel Giunti, Davide Re, Enzo Ciconte, Maria Pia Donataccio
Prices Youth Festival 2026
Practical information — Youth Festival
How to get there
By car: from the A1 motorway, take the Cassino or Frosinone exit, then the expressway towards Formia and Gaeta; from Rome, you can also follow the Via Pontina and the SS7 Appia. By train: Formia-Gaeta station on the Rome-Naples line, served by Intercity and regional trains, with connecting buses to Gaeta in about 20 minutes. Nearest airports: Rome Fiumicino and Naples Capodichino.
Admission and registration
All events are free. Schools and individual participants book events on the official website www.festivaldeigiovani.it, where the full schedule is published in the weeks prior.
Practical tips
The festival takes place largely outdoors and on foot: comfortable shoes and layered clothing are essential in March. It is advisable to book accommodation well in advance, as hotels in Gaeta, Formia, and Sperlonga fill up quickly during the event. The historic center is pedestrianized in several areas during the event: it is better to leave your car in the seafront parking lots.
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Where does it take place — Youth Festival
Piazza Monsignor Di Liegro e Piazza XIX Maggio