Italian Song Festival — Augusto Daolio Award

A national competition in the heart of the Capitanata region

The Italian Song Festival — Augusto Daolio Award is one of the longest-running and most cherished musical events in Torremaggiore, a town in the Upper Tavoliere area of the Foggia province, in northern Apulia. Every summer, the competition transforms the Pineta Comunale (Municipal Pine Forest) into an open-air stage, where young voices from all over Italy compete for the prize before a panel of industry experts and a large, passionate audience.

From 1960s hits to new talent

The event was originally founded as the 1960s Song Festival, thanks to the vision of the late Peppino Barbieri in collaboration with Radio Italia Anni Sessanta. Over the years, the format has undergone a profound renewal, transforming into a true national competition for new talent in pop and singer-songwriter music. The festival is dedicated to the memory of Augusto Daolio (1947-1992), the unforgettable voice of the group I Nomadi and an iconic figure of Italian music and authentic stage presence.

How the competition works

The heart of the festival lies in the competition nights, where selected contestants perform live on the Pineta Comunale stage. The performances are interspersed with entertainment and musical guests, culminating in the final awards ceremony where the Augusto Daolio Award is presented to the best performer. Recent winners include Davide Longo, a young singer-songwriter from San Marco in Lamis who brought the Gargano dialect to the stage, blending it with contemporary songwriting.

• Where: Pineta Comunale, Torremaggiore
• Organization: Pro Loco "Peppino Barbieri" with the patronage of the Municipality of Torremaggiore
• Format: National competition for new talent, featuring live performances and special guests
• Dedication: To the memory of Augusto Daolio, voice of I Nomadi

A summer celebration in Torremaggiore

Part of the extensive TorreEstate calendar—the cultural event program of the Municipality of Torremaggiore—the Augusto Daolio Award is much more than just a singing contest: it is a landmark event that unites different generations through a shared passion for Italian music. The setting of the pine forest, the summer climate of the Tavoliere, and the convivial atmosphere make it an evening eagerly awaited by both residents and visitors, celebrating both the tradition of Italian song and the rising stars of the national music scene.