La Ghironda Summer Festival

La Ghironda Summer Festival: A world celebration in the heart of the Itria Valley

The La Ghironda Summer Festival is a historic event dedicated to folk art and culture from the five continents. Every late summer, it transforms the historic center of Martina Franca, in the province of Taranto, into a vast, open-air stage. Founded in 1995 in Martina Franca by Giovanni Marangi and the La Ghironda APS association, the event has turned this "white city" of the Itria Valley into a beacon of Apulian folk culture, drawing crowds and tourists to its Baroque squares and alleys.

An open-air stage among Baroque squares and courtyards

The festival's format is based on itinerant, widespread performances: rather than a single stage, numerous performance spots are set up in the town's most evocative locations. In Martina Franca, shows animate squares and open spaces such as Piazza XX Settembre, Piazza Roma, Piazza Plebiscito, Piazza Immacolata, the San Domenico Cloister, and Largo San Giovanni, where the public can wander freely from one act to the next. Admission is free, and the festivities come alive in the evening, with a program designed to be enjoyed by families and children alike.

Music and cultures from the five continents

Every year, the lineup brings together musicians, dancers, street artists, and troupes from dozens of different countries. Styles range from Latin American rhythms to Mediterranean ballads, Irish and Celtic music to African sounds, and reggae to rockabilly, as well as folk music and the traditions of the Apulian region itself. Alongside the concerts, there is space for street art, magic shows, juggling, fire-eaters, puppetry, and theater, creating a festive atmosphere that unites different generations, languages, and cultures.

The return to Martina Franca

After many years of absence, La Ghironda has returned to animate the historic center of Martina Franca, bringing back to the city the festival that was born there. The event, which unfolds as an itinerant celebration across the Itria Valley—also touching other towns like Ceglie Messapica—has become a hallmark of Apulia and the entire region, showcasing the city's architectural heritage through music and the meeting of peoples.

The 2026 Edition

The 29th edition of the festival is scheduled for early September 2026 in the historic center of Martina Franca, with free admission as always. The complete program, including the list of artists and performance locations, will be announced by the La Ghironda association on their official channels in the weeks leading up to the event. For definitive dates and the updated lineup, please check the official website laghironda.it and the festival's social media profiles.