Gaeta Jazz Festival
Four days of contemporary jazz among the sea-facing bastions of the Gulf of Gaeta
About Gaeta Jazz
A festival overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea
The Gaeta Jazz Festival was born to take jazz out of concert halls and return it to the landscape. In the town of Gaeta, in the province of Latina, southern Lazio, the festival occupies some of the city's most evocative spots every July: the Gardens of the Bastions of Charles V, which host the main stage overlooking the sea; the Batteria La Favorita with its terrace facing the gulf; the Grotta del Turco carved into the Montagna Spaccata; and the Stadio Riciniello, home to the aftershows and the camping area. The formula is that of a boutique festival: limited capacity, attentive listening, and a strong sense of place.
The artistic direction
The programming has never been that of a traditional jazz festival. The lineup favors contemporary jazz and its offshoots: nu soul, r'n'b, electronica, urban beat, psychedelia, sophisticated pop, and improvisation. Alongside major international names, the new generations of the Italian scene find space, in a dialogue that has given the festival a distinct identity within the national panorama over the years. The event is organized by the Armonia International Foundation of Arts, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Lazio Region, the Municipality of Gaeta, and the local Pro Loco.
More than just concerts
- Sunrise concerts — the festival's most recognizable signature: a solo set at the first light of day, facing the sea, with the audience seated on the stone of the Batteria La Favorita.
- Music in the cave — solo performances inside the Grotta del Turco, where the natural acoustics of the rock become part of the performance.
- Aftershows and DJ sets — the festival's second soul, continuing until late at night at the Stadio Riciniello.
- Camping area — set up inside the stadium, on the Marina di Serapo seafront, reserved for those with a day ticket or pass.
- Local cuisine and wines — food stalls featuring Gaeta specialties and selections from Lazio wineries.
Gaeta, the stage-setting city
Those who arrive for the music discover a city worth the trip on its own. Gaeta is divided between the medieval village of Sant'Erasmo, perched beneath the Angevin-Aragonese Castle, and the modern part that stretches toward the beaches of Serapo and Sant'Agostino. The Montagna Spaccata with the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity, the Grotta del Turco, and the Mausoleum of Lucius Munatius Plancus on Mount Orlando make up a heritage that the festival literally traverses, moving the audience from one location to another throughout the day. This is where the famous Gaeta olive and the tiella, a stuffed savory pie that is the city's signature dish, are produced.
The audience and the atmosphere
Over time, the Gaeta Jazz Festival has built a loyal community of enthusiasts arriving from Rome, Naples, and the entire Riviera d'Ulisse coastline, as well as foreign spectators attracted by the combination of experimental programming and a seaside setting. The environment is informal, and the pace is that of the slow Mediterranean summer: you arrive in the late afternoon, watch the sunset from the bastions, and stay until the aftershow. Those who choose to camp often end the night with the sunrise concert without ever leaving the festival perimeter.
When to go
The event is held annually during the second week of July. Dates are announced in the spring, and the full lineup is unveiled progressively between May and June. Weekend passes sell out well in advance: it is advisable to book early, both for tickets and accommodation, as July is peak tourist season along the entire Pontine coast.
Gaeta Jazz — edition 2026
The eighteenth edition
In 2026, the Gaeta Jazz Festival came of age: the XVIII edition, scheduled from July 9 to 12, confirmed the formula that has made the Gaeta festival recognizable, with four different locations and a program that spans contemporary jazz, nu soul, electronica, and sophisticated pop.
The heart of the festival remained in the Gardens of the Bastions of Charles V, while the Batteria La Favorita hosted the Thursday preview and the Sunday sunrise concert, the Grotta del Turco a saxophone solo, and the Stadio Riciniello the aftershows and the camping area.
Organized by the Armonia International Foundation of Arts with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Lazio Region, and the Municipality of Gaeta, the 2026 edition alternated international names and new voices from the Italian scene, maintaining the contained and curated dimension of a boutique festival on the sea of southern Lazio.
Programme Gaeta Jazz 2026
Thursday, July 9 — Preview, Batteria La Favorita (8:30 PM)
- Arabella Rustico Trio
- G.M. Trio
Friday, July 10
- Grotta del Turco, 6:30 PM — Daniele Tittarelli solo, "A sax in the Cave", as part of the Pime Centenary initiatives (free entry with reservation)
- Gardens of the Bastions of Charles V, from 7:00 PM — Strada, Allysha Joy, VENNA, Godblesscomputers
- Stadio Riciniello, 11:00 PM — aftershow with GNMR
Saturday, July 11
- Gardens of the Bastions of Charles V, from 7:00 PM — Edoardo Rosi, Admiral, Arya, Giorgio Poi with string quartet
- Aftershow — DJ set by Danilo Plessow (MCDE)
Sunday, July 12
- Batteria La Favorita, 4:45 AM — sunrise concert by Pasquale Mirra, "Moderatamente solo"
- Gardens of the Bastions of Charles V, from 7:00 PM — EDISTANT, Jolly Mare ("La luce dell'alba"), Gabriele Poso, Addict Ameba
Highlights Gaeta Jazz 2026
- VENNA — the Grammy Award-winning saxophonist, one of the headliners of the 2026 lineup.
- Giorgio Poi with strings — a special version of the singer-songwriter's repertoire, rearranged for a string quartet.
- Danilo Plessow (MCDE) — a late-night DJ set by one of the most influential names in the international club scene.
- Pasquale Mirra at sunrise — the 4:45 AM concert at the Batteria La Favorita, with the vibraphone accompanying the sunrise over the gulf.
- A sax in the Cave — Daniele Tittarelli solo inside the Grotta del Turco, free event by reservation.
- Camping at Stadio Riciniello — tent area on the Marina di Serapo seafront, reserved for ticket holders.
Prices Gaeta Jazz 2026
Practical information — Gaeta Jazz
How to get there
By car: from the A1 motorway, take the Cassino exit, then the SS630 to Formia and the SS213 Flacca toward Gaeta; alternatively, from Rome via the SS148 Pontina and SS7 Appia. By train: Formia-Gaeta station on the Rome-Naples line (about 1 hour from Rome Termini), then a local bus or taxi to Gaeta (about 20 minutes). By plane: Rome Fiumicino and Naples Capodichino airports, both about 130 km away.
Tickets
Sales are handled online via Dice.fm, with Weekend Pass and Day Pass options. The Thursday preview and the Sunday sunrise concert are purchased separately. Some side events, such as the solo performance in the Grotta del Turco, are free with email reservation.
Where to stay
The festival sets up an official campsite inside the Stadio Riciniello, on the Marina di Serapo seafront, reserved for ticket holders. Alternatively, Gaeta and nearby Formia offer hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals: in July, it is essential to book well in advance.
Tips
Bring comfortable shoes: moving between the Bastion Gardens, the Batteria La Favorita, and the Grotta del Turco involves walking on stone and stairs. For the sunrise concert, a light sweater is useful, as the temperature by the sea drops significantly before dawn.
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Where does it take place — Gaeta Jazz
Giardini dei Bastioni di Carlo V
Via XXIV Maggio, 4, 04024 Gaeta