Francavilla è Jazz

Five nights of jazz under the Salento stars

Francavilla è Jazz is the premier jazz music festival in Francavilla Fontana, a town in the Upper Salento area of the province of Brindisi, in Puglia. Every year, at the beginning of September, the central Piazza Giovanni XXIII transforms into an open-air stage, welcoming Italian and international musicians for a series of free-admission evenings that have become a ritual eagerly awaited by enthusiasts from all over Southern Italy.

A festival that has grown year after year

Promoted by the Municipality of Francavilla Fontana and curated by artistic director Alfredo Iaia, the event has spanned over a decade, celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2023 and reaching its twelfth edition in 2025. The formula has remained true to itself: artistic quality, free concerts, and an openness to contemporary exploration, in a balance that blends traditional jazz standards, swing, Latin jazz, and electronic influences.

More than just concerts

Alongside the major evening events in Piazza Giovanni XXIII, the festival offers fringe moments that extend the celebration into the night: jam sessions with the resident band in Largo San Marco and jazz-themed DJ sets—informal occasions that enliven the historic center and allow musicians and the public to mingle until late.

Francavilla Fontana, City of the Imperiali

Known as the "City of the Imperiali" after the noble family that shaped its history, Francavilla Fontana boasts an elegant historic center dominated by the Castello Imperiali and its Baroque churches. Stopping by the festival is also an opportunity to discover this corner of Upper Salento, its gastronomy, and its traditions, just a short distance from Brindisi, Taranto, and the most famous destinations on the Apulian coast.

2026 Edition

The dates and program for the 2026 edition (the thirteenth) have not yet been officially announced. Historically, the festival takes place in the first few days of September in Piazza Giovanni XXIII, with free admission. To stay updated on the schedule, we recommend following the festival's official social media channels and announcements from the Municipality of Francavilla Fontana.