JE SO PAZZO Music Festival
National finals for emerging music at Parco della Pace in Marino
About JE SO PAZZO
A week of emerging music in the Castelli Romani
The JE SO PAZZO Music Festival is now one of Italy's most attended music competitions for emerging artists. Every summer, it chooses the town of Marino, in the province of Rome, in the heart of the Castelli Romani, to host its national finals. For seven consecutive days, the Parco della Pace transforms into a true music village: a main stage, a training area, a food court, and an audience that follows the performances from the early afternoon until late at night.
The event is produced by G. Eventi Srls under the artistic direction of Maestro Adriano Pennino, an arranger and producer with a long career spanning from the Sanremo Music Festival to the Italian recording industry. The festival is supported by SIAE and Nuovo IMAIE, with Alcott as an official partner, and over the years it has become a benchmark for those seeking their first professional stage.
How the competition works
The journey does not begin in Marino: in the preceding months, Northern, Central, and Southern Italy semi-finals take place, selecting the artists admitted to the final week. The national finals are open to singers, songwriters, performers, and bands of all ages, both Italian and international, divided into categories:
- Baby, Junior, and Teen for the youngest participants
- Giovani (Youth) and Over for adult performers
- Cantautori (Songwriters) and Inediti (Original Songs), dedicated to original songwriting
- Band, for live groups
Each day is dedicated to the category finals; the week concludes with the JE SO PAZZO Junior Grand Finale and the absolute Grand Final, the most anticipated evening, hosted by well-known faces of Italian television and enriched by the presence of nationally renowned musical guests.
Free masterclasses: the festival as a school
What distinguishes JE SO PAZZO from a simple singing competition is its educational component. During the week, a series of free masterclasses is held, reserved for participants and led by industry professionals: vocal technique, music production, publishing and copyright, artist branding, social media strategies, and communication. It is a concrete opportunity to understand how the music industry really works, beyond the stage.
JE SO PAZZO Junior
For several editions, the festival has included a section dedicated to children and teenagers aged 4 to 13, JE SO PAZZO Junior, with its own final and jury. It is one of the busiest moments of the week and confirms the family-friendly nature of the event: the evenings at Parco della Pace are attended by industry insiders as well as families from the Castelli Romani.
Marino and the Castelli Romani
Marino is one of the most characteristic historic towns in the hilly Lazio region, famous throughout Italy for its autumn Grape Festival and its Colli Albani wines. Hosting the national finals of a national music festival in July has given the town a second summer showcase: for one week, the city welcomes artists, families, and professionals from all over the peninsula. The Parco della Pace, a large equipped green space, allows the festival to be enjoyed outdoors on summer evenings, with the food area open daily from 12:00 PM to midnight between performances.
Why it's worth attending
Admission is free for all days, including the finals. Even those who arrive without knowing the competing names will find continuous live programming, with the curiosity of hearing voices that, in some cases, have gone on to reach major national stages. Guests who have graced the Marino stage over the years include artists such as Marco Masini, Mario Biondi, Clementino, Tony Esposito, and Annalisa Minetti, alongside young talents who emerged from television talent shows.
JE SO PAZZO — edition 2026
11th edition: Marino, capital of emerging music
From July 13 to 19, 2026, the Parco della Pace in Marino hosts the eleventh edition of the national finals of the JE SO PAZZO Music Festival. Seven consecutive days of live performances with singers, songwriters, performers, and bands from all over Italy and abroad, with no age limits, selected in the territorial semi-finals of the North, Center, and South.
The artistic direction is entrusted to Maestro Adriano Pennino, with production by G. Eventi Srls. Once again this year, the event takes place with the support of SIAE and Nuovo IMAIE and with Alcott as an official partner.
Alongside the competition, the festival confirms its educational component with a series of free masterclasses reserved for participants, and the JE SO PAZZO Junior section, dedicated to talents aged 4 to 13, with its grand finale on Saturday, July 18.
Programme JE SO PAZZO 2026
The national finals, July 13-19, 2026
The program spans seven consecutive days at Parco della Pace, featuring the finals of the individual competing categories: Baby, Junior, Teen, Giovani, Over, Cantautori, Inediti, and Band. Performances are held in the afternoon and evening; the food court is open daily from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM.
- Monday, July 13 — Opening of the 11th edition and start of category finals
- July 14 to 18 — Category finals continue, accompanied daily by free masterclasses
- Saturday, July 18 — JE SO PAZZO Junior Grand Finale, dedicated to contestants aged 4 to 13
- Sunday, July 19 — Grand Final of the 11th edition, hosted by Stefania Orlando
Guests and hosts
Fiordaliso and I Cugini di Campagna are expected on the Marino stage, along with Rob, winner of X Factor 2025, Leonardo Giovannangeli, star of Eurovision Junior 2025, and artists such as Viscardi, Francesco Di Fiore, and Lorenz Simonetti. The evenings will be hosted by Stefania Orlando for the grand final, joined throughout the week by Paola4, Cinzia Tattini, and Eleonora Pezzella.
Free masterclasses, July 14-18
Five days of training reserved for festival participants, held by professionals in the Italian music industry. Topics range from vocal technique to music production, from publishing and copyright to artist branding and social media communication strategies, with the participation of representatives from record labels.
Highlights JE SO PAZZO 2026
- Grand Final of the 11th edition on Sunday, July 19, hosted by Stefania Orlando
- Musical guests: Fiordaliso, I Cugini di Campagna, Rob (X Factor 2025 winner), Leonardo Giovannangeli (Eurovision Junior 2025)
- Eight competing categories: Baby, Junior, Teen, Giovani, Over, Cantautori, Inediti, Band
- JE SO PAZZO Junior Grand Finale on Saturday, July 18, for talents aged 4 to 13
- Five days of free masterclasses (July 14-18) with industry professionals
- Artistic direction by Maestro Adriano Pennino
- Food court open daily from 12:00 PM to midnight
Prices JE SO PAZZO 2026
Practical information — JE SO PAZZO
How to get there
Marino is located about 25 km southeast of Rome. By car: Via Appia Nuova (SS7) or Via dei Laghi, exit Marino; from Rome, also via the Grande Raccordo Anulare, exit 23 Appia. By train: line FL4 Rome Termini–Albano/Velletri, stop Marino Laziale, then a short walk or local bus. By metro and bus: Metro A to Anagnina, then Cotral bus to Marino. Nearest airport: Rome Ciampino, about 10 km away.
Admission and hours
Free admission for all days of the festival, including the finals. Performances take place in the afternoon and evening; the Parco della Pace food area is open daily from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM.
Tips
The final evenings are the most crowded: it is advisable to arrive early to find a spot near the stage and to park in the areas surrounding the park. Bring a light sweater for the evening hours, when the temperature drops in the Castelli Romani. For those wishing to stay for several days, the accommodation options in the Castelli Romani (Marino, Castel Gandolfo, Frascati, Grottaferrata) are extensive and well-connected to Rome.
Contacts
Organization G. Eventi Srls, Grottaferrata (RM) — phone +39 351 6456496, e-mail [email protected], website www.jesopazzo.com.
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Where does it take place — JE SO PAZZO
Parco della Pace
Parco della Pace, Via Guglielmo Marconi, 00047 Marino