Gaeta Sunset Festival

A festival born with a view of the sea

The Gaeta Sunset Festival debuts in 2026 as a fresh summer music series promoted by the Municipality of Gaeta, in southern Lazio, with the support of the Lazio Region and funding from NextGenerationEU. The concept is simple yet effective: bring live music to a public square overlooking the city, right when the sun dips into the gulf, and make it accessible to everyone for free. This is the first time that Piazza dei Maestri Vetrai—the revitalized space of the former Avir area, located between Corso Italia and the Serapo district—has hosted an event of this scale.

Ten evenings, every Saturday and Sunday

The schedule spans five consecutive weekends, from June 20 to July 19, 2026. Each concert begins at 9:30 PM and wraps up around 11:45 PM, with free admission and no reservations required. The format alternates Saturdays, dedicated to big names in Italian music, with Sundays reserved for emerging local acts, including special recognition awarded each Saturday night to standout young artists.

The 2026 lineup

• Saturday, June 20 — Sergio Caputo, blending jazz, swing, and witty songwriting
• Sunday, June 21 — Harmony Beat
• Saturday, June 27 — Audio 2
• Sunday, June 28 — Lady Imma
• Saturday, July 4 — Mario Venuti
• Sunday, July 5 — I Bevitori Longevi
• Saturday, July 11 — Nino Buonocore
• Sunday, July 12 — Mr Pepper Blue & SSB Sugar Soul Band
• Saturday, July 18 — Bucalone
• Sunday, July 19 — La Banda Klandestino, a tribute to Ligabue

A local artistic direction

The artistic direction is handled by Radio Spazio Blu, a historic Gaeta broadcaster that has curated a deliberately eclectic program: the sophisticated songwriting of Nino Buonocore and Mario Venuti, the classic pop-rock of Audio 2, the soul of the SSB Sugar Soul Band, and popular tributes to Ligabue. Alongside them, local acts—Harmony Beat, Lady Imma, I Bevitori Longevi, and Bucalone—find a professional stage and a large audience. Early evenings have already seen high turnout, with the square packed from the very first notes.

Gaeta in summer, beyond the stage

The festival is part of a vibrant Gaeta summer, nestled between the beaches of Serapo and Ariana, the medieval village of Sant'Erasmo, the Sanctuary of the Montagna Spaccata, and the tradition of tiella, the stuffed savory pie that has become a culinary symbol of the city. Arriving at 8:30 PM, dining in the center, and walking to the square is the most natural way to enjoy the evening. For those visiting the province of Latina, the Sunset Festival is also a chance to discover a more local, less touristy side of Gaeta.

Why it's worth it

In a summer landscape often dominated by expensive large-scale events, the Gaeta Sunset Festival offers the opposite: artistic quality, free entry, and an intimate, listener-friendly square. It is a deliberate choice by the municipal administration, which views live music as a tool to animate the urban center and promote young musicians from the southern Pontine area.