La Notte della Taranta - Alessano Stage

La Notte della Taranta in Alessano

Every summer, Salento becomes the stage for one of Italy's most renowned folk events: La Notte della Taranta. Before the famous Concertone in Melpignano, the Foundation brings its music from town to town with the Itinerant Festival. Traditionally, Alessano, in the Province of Lecce, hosts one of the most anticipated stops: the one that concludes the festival's long journey through the towns of Grecìa Salentina and lower Salento.

Pizzica and Salento tradition

The heart of the evening is the pizzica, the ancient Salento dance that originated as a ritual to heal from the bite of the taranta and has now become a symbol of identity and collective celebration. Popular orchestras, singers, and dancers take turns on stage, while in the square, the public learns and repeats the steps of the traditional dance accompanied by masters from the Dance School. The hypnotic sound of the tambourine, violin, and accordion accompanies the community throughout the night, in a blend of rural memory and new sounds.

The Itinerant Festival

The Alessano stage is part of the widespread program of the La Notte della Taranta Foundation, which crosses dozens of Salento squares every August with free performances. In Alessano, the evening takes place in Piazza Castello, an intimate and evocative space in the historic center that transforms into a large open-air dance hall for one night. The event combines major musical projects from the Foundation with young local groups, offering a vivid and plural portrait of Apulian folk music.

A signature event of Salento

More than just a concert, La Notte della Taranta in Alessano is a moment of gathering for the entire community and the many visitors who reach the southern tip of Puglia in summer, just a few kilometers from Santa Maria di Leuca. Families, young people, and curious visitors meet in the square to dance, listen, and share a tradition that the Municipality of Alessano preserves and renews every year.

2026 Edition Dates

The dates for the 2026 Alessano stage have not yet been officially announced by the Foundation. However, the final Concertone on August 22, 2026, in Melpignano (29th edition) is confirmed, with Ermal Meta as the master concertator. The complete calendar of the Itinerant Festival, including the Alessano stage, is usually released in the weeks leading up to the event.