Polignano a Mare City of Music
Polignano a Mare's tribute to Domenico Modugno, featuring singer-songwriters, cinema, and festive brass bands
About City of Music
Polignano a Mare: Capital of Italian Songwriting
Some places are etched in the history of music: Polignano a Mare, the pearl of the Adriatic in the province of Bari, is the birthplace of Domenico Modugno, the artist who brought Italian music to the world with "Nel blu, dipinto di blu". Through the Polignano a Mare City of Music project, the Municipality of Polignano a Mare, the Puglia Region, and Puglia Culture have turned this connection into a structured, ongoing cultural journey dedicated to the legendary singer-songwriter and the entire tradition of Italian songwriting.
A year-round tribute to Modugno
Under the artistic direction of Stefano Senardi, and in collaboration with the Club Tenco and the Experimental Centre of Cinematography – National Film Archive, the event goes beyond mere nostalgia. It explores Modugno’s legacy as a singer-songwriter, actor, and storyteller, while celebrating the broader history of Italian song. The calendar features two major events, in spring and early autumn, including concerts on the seafront, film screenings, talks, book presentations, and the unmissable Apulian brass bands.
What to expect
- Free concerts featuring major names in Italian songwriting
- Festive Apulian brass bands parading through the historic center to the sea
- Screenings and discussions on the cinema of and with Domenico Modugno
- Talks, book launches, and guided tours of sites associated with Modugno
Polignano a Mare: Between caves and the sea
Perched on its famous cliffs overlooking the Adriatic, the historic center of Polignano a Mare serves as a natural stage: the squares, the seafront promenade named after Modugno, and the white alleys of the village become an open-air theater. The event, which is free to attend, attracts audiences from across Puglia and beyond, blending the memory of the great singer-songwriter with the vitality of the contemporary music scene.
City of Music — edition 2026
The 2026 edition confirms the project's mission: to make Polignano a Mare, in the province of Bari, the home of Italian songwriting in the name of Domenico Modugno. The first event, from April 17th to 19th, intertwined music, cinema, talks, and festive Apulian brass bands; a second event is confirmed for September 2026. The event is promoted by the Municipality of Polignano a Mare, the Puglia Region, and Puglia Culture, under the artistic direction of Stefano Senardi and in collaboration with Club Tenco, the Experimental Centre of Cinematography, Officina Pasolini, Officina Roversi, and MAC.
Programme City of Music 2026
First event — April 17-19, 2026: «In the Sign of Domenico Modugno»
Friday, April 17
- 16:00 — Dialogue with local music school students
- 19:00 — Official opening at the Pino Pascali Museum of Contemporary Art
- 19:30 — Concert by Syria with Massimo Germini, dedicated to Domenico Modugno and Italian songwriting (Museum outdoor area, seaside)
Saturday, April 18
- 12:00 — Signing of the collaboration agreement between the Municipalities of Polignano a Mare, San Pietro Vernotico, and Lampedusa e Linosa (Raffaele Chiantera Community Library)
- 15:00-19:00 — Talk on Modugno as an actor at Multisala Vignola, with the Experimental Centre of Cinematography (featuring Luca Pallanch and Massimiliano Pazzaglia)
- 19:00 — National presentation of the book «Cantautori nelle scuole. Storie di canzoni d'autore»
- 21:00 — Screening of the film «Nel blu, dipinto di blu» (1959, directed by Piero Tilli)
- Afternoon — Guided tours of Modugno-related landmarks
Sunday, April 19
- Morning — Parade of Apulian brass bands led by Renzo Rubino along the Domenico Modugno seafront
- Afternoon — Guided tour of San Pietro Vernotico
Second event — September 2026
The project continues with a second event in early September 2026, designed to consolidate the journey dedicated to Italian songwriting with new concerts, meetings, cinema, and festive brass bands on the seafront. The detailed program will be announced by the organizers in the weeks leading up to the event.
Highlights City of Music 2026
Prices City of Music 2026
Practical information — City of Music
Location
Polignano a Mare (BA), Puglia. Events take place in the historic center and along the seafront: Pino Pascali Museum of Contemporary Art, Multisala Vignola, Raffaele Chiantera Community Library, and Piazza Suor Maria Laselva.
When
Two events per year, in spring (April) and early September.
Tickets
Free admission until capacity is reached.
Getting there
Polignano a Mare is located on the Adriatic railway line (the station is a few minutes from the center) and is about 35 km from Bari via the SS16 highway.
Information
Infopoint +39 080 4252336 — Municipality of Polignano a Mare +39 080 4252323 — [email protected]
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Where does it take place — City of Music
Lungomare Domenico Modugno