Peoples' Festival
Bari's intercultural festival featuring music, dance, and global communities
About Peoples' Festival
A cultural laboratory in the heart of Bari
The Peoples' Festival is the longest-running intercultural event in the Apulian capital. For over twenty years, it has brought together foreign communities living in Bari and across Puglia, alongside associations, schools, and citizens, to celebrate the richness of cultural diversity. The festival was established and has flourished thanks to the Abusuan Intercultural Center, the Comboni Missionaries, and CGIL, with the patronage of the Municipality of Bari and the support of a local network of organizations.
Where it takes place
The heart of the event is the Giardino Princigalli, a green space on Via Ignazio Lojacono in the Mungivacca district (near the Showville cinema complex). For the occasion, it transforms into a large, open-air global village. The site features a stage for concerts and performances, community food stalls, ethnic craft markets, and dedicated areas for workshops and discussions.
What to experience
The program weaves together diverse languages and traditions, all within a completely free setting:
- Live music ranging from world music to African, Latin, and Mediterranean sounds;
- Traditional dances from Bengali, Indian, Middle Eastern, Balkan, African, and South American communities;
- Global cuisine featuring authentic dishes prepared by Bari's foreign communities;
- Crafts, costumes, and exhibitions showcasing the participants' home countries;
- Workshops, readings, and activities for schools and families.
More than just a festival
The Peoples' Festival is, above all, a social and educational project. It involves dozens of local schools, promotes reflection on themes of inclusion, rights, and dialogue, and highlights the active role of migrant communities. Each edition centers on a specific theme, which serves as the common thread for concerts, meetings, and workshops. It has become a defining identity event for Bari and Puglia, filling the Giardino Princigalli with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Peoples' Festival — edition 2026
Peoples' Festival 2026 — "GermogliAzioni"
The twenty-second edition, organized by the Abusuan Intercultural Center with the Comboni Missionaries and CGIL Puglia, brought the Giardino Princigalli in Bari to life from May 22 to 24, 2026. The theme "GermogliAzioni" guided three days of music, dance, meetings, and flavors from five continents, with the participation of fifteen foreign communities: Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Philippines, Madagascar, Mauritius, Palestine, Russia, Senegal, Syria, and Ukraine. The major novelty of the year was the March of the Peoples on May 21st, held on the occasion of the World Day for Cultural Diversity.
Programme Peoples' Festival 2026
Prelude
- May 17, 10 AM — Cleanup of the Giardino Princigalli green area with Plastic Free and Amiu Puglia
- May 18, 7 PM — Celebration at the Redentore Parish
- May 18-20 — Music workshop at the Casa dei Padri Comboniani
- May 21, 7 PM — "March of the Peoples" from Piazza Umberto to Parco Rossani (gathering at 6:30 PM)
Friday, May 22 (4 PM - Midnight) — School Day
A day dedicated to students, featuring performances by participating schools and the results of music workshops. On stage: Besmert Mamadou Coulibaly, Federico Lagana, Kora Connection, and Sonido Estelar. In the meeting area: "Games from the World" reading and the "Glimpses of Lives" workshop.
Saturday, May 23 (6 PM - Midnight)
Community performances: Bangla Education Center, Russian Association Raduga, Le Ali di Iside, Alma Terra, Samira Oriental Academy, Made in 237, Le Aquile di Seta. From 8:30 PM, live music with I Maltesi, Fabioeledistanze, and Ibou Mboye.
Sunday, May 24
Bengali, Filipino, Ukrainian, African, Japanese, and Spanish performances with Quelli del Taiko, El Barrio Libertad, and World Music Project. From 8:30 PM, Tukurù Project and, in closing, Quadraccio & BariBanda with singer Tony Quadrello, blending Bari dialect, Mediterranean sounds, and social themes, culminating in a reinterpretation of "Amara terra mia".
Highlights Peoples' Festival 2026
Prices Peoples' Festival 2026
Practical information — Peoples' Festival
Getting there
The Giardino Princigalli is located on Via Ignazio Lojacono in the Mungivacca district of Bari, near the Showville cinema. By car, it is easily accessible from the ring road (take the Mungivacca/Carbonara exits); the area is also served by AMTAB city buses. Bari Centrale train station is a few kilometers away.
Admission and hours
Admission to the Peoples' Festival is free. The event primarily takes place in the evening, with late afternoon openings on days dedicated to schools. Community food stalls offer authentic dishes at affordable prices.
Tips
The event is family and child-friendly. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and checking the updated program on the Abusuan Intercultural Center's channels.
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Where does it take place — Peoples' Festival
Giardino Princigalli
Via Ignazio Lojacono 3, 70126 Bari