Meeting del Mare
Youth currents and culture on the shores of Baia di Lentiscelle
About Meeting del Mare
Thirty years of music on the Cilento coast
Meeting del Mare was born in 1997 at Baia di Lentiscelle, in Marina di Camerota, a village within the municipality of Camerota in the province of Salerno, in the heart of the Campania region and the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. What began as little more than a local festival, conceived by Father Gianni Citro together with a group of young Cilento locals passionate about music and art, has evolved over the years into the longest-running free music and cultural festival in Southern Italy.
A free festival built for the youth
The event's historic subtitle, "Youth Currents and Cultures," perfectly captures its mission: to provide a real stage for those just starting out. Over the past thirty years, more than a thousand emerging artists have performed at Meeting del Mare, selected annually through an open call for bands and solo projects from all over Italy. Alongside them, each evening features headliners from the Italian indie and pop scene, all while maintaining free admission for everyone.
The stage on the sand and other arts
The heart of the festival is the main stage set up directly on the beach of Baia di Lentiscelle, which comes alive every evening from 6 PM. But the Meeting is not just about music: over the three days, more than sixty events take place between the bay and the seaside village.
- Concerts on the main stage and in aftershow areas, lasting until late at night;
- Photo exhibitions and dedicated visual arts areas;
- Art installations, laser and papier-mâché interventions, and live painting sessions;
- Dance and performances in open-air spaces;
- Talks and meetings with festival guests;
- Meeting del Mare CAMP, a training program with industry professionals for emerging artists, developed in partnership with other festivals in Campania.
A cultural project for the region
Since 2017, the event has been promoted by the Fondazione Meeting del Mare C.R.E.A., still directed by Father Gianni Citro, which also carries out artistic and cultural projects beyond the Cilento area. The festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Campania Region, the Municipality of Camerota, and the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park—an institutional framework that has allowed the event to remain completely free without compromising the quality of the artistic program.
Marina di Camerota between May and June
Meeting del Mare takes place between the last days of May and early June, before the Cilento coast becomes crowded with summer tourists. It is the perfect opportunity to discover Marina di Camerota off-season: the sea caves, the hidden coves accessible by boat, the trails of the National Park, and the seafood cuisine of the Gulf of Policastro. Many participants arrive with tents or campers, experiencing the three days as a small gathering, with mornings spent on the beach and concerts continuing late into the night.
Why it's worth the trip
Few Italian festivals manage to combine, as Meeting del Mare does, a truly contemporary musical lineup, a stunning landscape, and completely free access. Those following the Italian emerging scene will find dozens of names here to note before they become mainstream; those who arrive by chance will discover a festival that is more than just a concert series—it is a meeting place for generations and languages.
Meeting del Mare — edition 2026
The 30th anniversary: "Tomorrow"
For its thirtieth edition, Meeting del Mare chose the word "Tomorrow" as its guiding theme: future, responsibility, and imagination, expressed through the languages of youth. Three days, from May 30 to June 1, 2026, with more than sixty events spread between Baia di Lentiscelle and the spaces of Marina di Camerota, all with free admission.
Two headliners every night
The main stage on the beach came alive every day starting at 6 PM, with about forty emerging artists chosen through an open call and, closing the evening, two leading names of the contemporary Italian scene: Ele A and Le-One on the first day, Giorgio Poi and okgiorgio on the second, Tära and Tutti Fenomeni for the final evening.
Not just music
There was also ample space for other arts: the photo exhibition "The Pianist of Yarmouk," with images from the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk in Damascus, installations by Carlo Gentile, Cikla, and Cristian Rizzuti, the live painting workshop curated by Giuliana Guzzo, dance moments, and talks with guests. The Meeting del Mare CAMP project also networked the event with other regional festivals, offering emerging artists workshops and training sessions with industry professionals.
Institutional support
The edition was organized and promoted by the Fondazione Meeting del Mare C.R.E.A., directed by Father Gianni Citro, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Campania Region, the Municipality of Camerota, and the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park.
Programme Meeting del Mare 2026
Saturday, May 30, 2026
- From 6 PM: emerging artists selected via open call on the Baia di Lentiscelle main stage
- Ele A, Italian-Swiss artist blending street pop and hip hop
- Le-One, rapper from Campania
Sunday, May 31, 2026
- From 6 PM: emerging artists on the main stage
- Giorgio Poi in concert with his full band
- okgiorgio, DJ set
Monday, June 1, 2026
- From 6 PM: emerging artists on the main stage
- Tära, Italian-Palestinian singer-songwriter blending Arabic roots and contemporary R&B
- Tutti Fenomeni, singer-songwriter and producer from Rome
For all three days
- Photo exhibition "The Pianist of Yarmouk," with images by Antonio Nigro from the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk, Damascus
- Art installations by Carlo Gentile, Cikla, and Cristian Rizzuti
- Live painting workshop curated by Giuliana Guzzo on the theme "Tomorrow"
- Meeting del Mare CAMP: workshops and training sessions with industry professionals, in partnership with seven regional festivals
- Dance moments, talks with guests, and exhibition areas dedicated to visual arts
- Evening aftershows
Highlights Meeting del Mare 2026
Prices Meeting del Mare 2026
Practical information — Meeting del Mare
How to get there
By car, reach Marina di Camerota by following signs for Palinuro and Sapri along the Cilento coast. By train, the reference stations are Pisciotta-Palinuro and Centola-Palinuro-Marina di Camerota, on the Tyrrhenian line, connected to the town by local buses. Baia di Lentiscelle is just a few minutes' walk from the village center.
Admission and costs
Admission to all events is free, with no tickets or reservations required. Only drinks, food, and any camping or accommodation services are paid.
Where to stay
Marina di Camerota offers hotels, residences, bed and breakfasts, and equipped campsites, many of which are within walking distance of the bay. During the festival, availability fills up quickly: it is advisable to book well in advance.
Useful tips
Arrive early on headliner nights, as the bay fills up quickly. A sweatshirt for the night by the sea and comfortable shoes for moving between the beach and the center are recommended. The full program and updates are published on the official website and the event's social media channels.
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Where does it take place — Meeting del Mare
Baia di Lentiscelle, Marina di Camerota
Baia di Lentiscelle, Lungomare Trieste, 84059 Camerota