Musicultura – Finalists' Concerts
The national preview of the 16 Musicultura finalists at the Persiani Theatre in Recanati
About Musicultura in Recanati
Recanati, the first public stop for Musicultura
The Finalists' Concerts are the moment when the Musicultura competition moves beyond the listening committees and meets the general public for the first time. The setting is the Persiani Theatre in Recanati, in the heart of the province of Macerata, in Marche: the hometown of Giacomo Leopardi becomes the stage for tomorrow's Italian singer-songwriter music for two evenings.
Sixteen finalists, two evenings
Founded in 1990, Musicultura's selections sift through thousands of original songs from all over Italy each year to arrive at the sixteen finalists. In Recanati, these artists perform live, in a stripped-down live version, eight per evening, presenting the songs that brought them to the final stage of the competition. It is here that the public, critics, and industry professionals discover the names that will shape the rest of the musical season.
Major guests and national broadcast
Each evening is enhanced by the presence of a prominent guest from the Italian scene and hosted by journalists from Rai Radio1, who also manage the live radio broadcast. The concerts are also streamed live on Rainews.it and the festival's official channels, giving the Recanati event a reach that extends far beyond regional borders.
Towards the Sferisterio in Macerata
- National preview: in Recanati, the finalists debut in front of the public and the media.
- Singer-songwriter music: the competition rewards writing, originality, and lyrical quality.
- A journey through Marche: from the evenings at the Persiani Theatre, the journey leads to the summer finals at the Sferisterio Arena in Macerata, where the public decides the overall winner.
Attending the Finalists' Concerts means getting a first listen to the most interesting voices of new Italian music, in a historic theatre and in one of the symbolic cities of Marche culture.
Musicultura in Recanati — edition 2026
Musicultura 2026: the 16 finalists in concert at the Persiani
The Finalists' Concerts of the 37th edition of Musicultura took place at the Persiani Theatre in Recanati on April 23rd and 24th, 2026, starting at 9:00 PM, with both evenings sold out. On stage were the sixteen finalists selected after a season of listening sessions, eight per night, in a stripped-down live version.
The guest for the two concerts was pianist and composer Raphael Gualazzi, with a sonic journey through jazz, blues, and soul. The hosting was entrusted to Rai Radio1 journalists John Vignola, Marcella Sullo, and Duccio Pasqua. The evenings were broadcast live on Rai Radio1, streamed on Rainews.it, and on the festival's social channels. A new feature of this edition was the outdoor After Shows in Piazza Leopardi starting at 10:30 PM, with live music open to the public.
Programme Musicultura in Recanati 2026
Persiani Theatre, 9:00 PM
- April 23: first concert of eight finalists, guest Raphael Gualazzi, hosted by John Vignola, Marcella Sullo, and Duccio Pasqua; live on Rai Radio1
- April 24: second concert of the other eight finalists, hosted by Rai Radio1 journalists; video streaming on Rainews.it
The 16 finalists
- Acqua Distillata (Trieste), Alessandro Ragazzo (Venice), Claudio Covato (Syracuse), DDUMA (Lecce), Dea Culpa - Ciao sono Vale (Bergamo), Federico Baldi (Bergamo), Giovanni Toscano (Pisa), Giulia Trovò (Treviso)
- Isabella Privitera (Bologna), Manuella (Sassari), Maredè (Senigallia), Mazzoli (Pesaro), MEZZANERA (Bologna), Narratore Urbano (Turin), Rosita Brucoli (Milan), XGIOVE (Porto Sant'Elpidio)
After Show
- In Piazza Leopardi, from 10:30 PM, free live music after the concerts
Highlights Musicultura in Recanati 2026
- 37th edition of the Musicultura competition
- Two sold-out evenings at the Persiani Theatre
- Guest Raphael Gualazzi
- Live broadcast on Rai Radio1 and video streaming on Rainews.it
- New: outdoor After Shows in Piazza Leopardi
Prices Musicultura in Recanati 2026
Practical information — Musicultura in Recanati
How to get there
By car: Exit at Loreto-Recanati from the A14 motorway, then follow signs for the historic centre of Recanati. By train: Recanati-Porto Recanati station on the Adriatic line, with bus connections to the centre. By plane: Ancona-Falconara Marche Airport, about 40 km away.
Tickets
Tickets for the concerts at the Persiani Theatre are on sale online at Vivaticket and at the theatre's ticket office. The evenings often sell out well in advance: it is advisable to purchase tickets early.
Tips
The historic centre of Recanati is largely pedestrianized: it is best to park in the areas outside and walk to Piazza Giacomo Leopardi. For those who cannot find a seat in the theatre, the outdoor After Shows in the piazza offer free live music.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Musicultura in Recanati
Teatro Persiani
Piazza Giacomo Leopardi, 62019 Recanati