Pontinia Rock & Blues Festival

A blues festival in the heart of the Agro Pontino

The Pontinia Rock & Blues Festival is one of the longest-running musical events in the Municipality of Pontinia, in the province of Latina, southern Lazio. Established in the early 2000s by local enthusiasts, it reached its 23rd edition in 2026, cementing its status as a key reference point for fans of electric blues and its subgenres throughout the region.

The formula has remained unchanged: three consecutive nights in July, always with free admission, featuring a double-bill concert each evening that pairs an Italian opening act with an international headliner. This approach has allowed the festival to build a loyal following of enthusiasts traveling from across the Pontine province, Rome, and lower Lazio.

The "Giovanni Verga" Open-Air Theatre

The event's historic home is the "Giovanni Verga" Open-Air Theatre on Via Guglielmo Marconi, Pontinia's municipal amphitheatre. This outdoor venue offers an intimate acoustic setting and an informal atmosphere during summer evenings: you can enjoy the show from the tiered seating or get closer to the stage, and it is easy to bump into the musicians between sets.

Every year, the area surrounding the stage features a food and drink area and stalls for collectors, selling vinyl records, t-shirts, and memorabilia related to rock and blues culture. Gates open at 8:00 PM, with concerts starting around 9:00 PM and continuing late into the night.

International programming

Over the years, the festival has brought top names from the global blues scene to Pontinia. The 2025 edition hosted the Band of Friends with Gerry McAvoy, Rory Gallagher's historic bassist, the American Honey Island Swamp Band, and the Cinelli Brothers, musicians originally from the province of Latina who have made a name for themselves in England. The 2026 edition featured American guitarist Eric Sardinas, returning to Pontinia after eighteen years, and singer and harmonica player Curtis Salgado, a leading figure in overseas soul-blues.

Alongside the headliners, the Italian scene always has a place: long-standing bands like Cheap Wine, solo projects such as Elli de Mon, rockabilly groups like Greg & The Three-Billies, and local Pontine talent all find one of their few dedicated showcases for the genre here.

Organizers

The event is organized by the Papyrus Cultural Association, in collaboration with the Pro Loco of Pontinia and with the support of the Municipality of Pontinia. The association, active in the area with the Officina Papyrus, works year-round to promote live music, with the July festival serving as its most visible highlight.

Pontinia and its surroundings

Pontinia is one of the towns founded in the 1930s during the reclamation of the Agro Pontino, featuring the regular urban layout typical of the "new towns" of southern Lazio. It is just a few kilometres from Latina, the Circeo National Park, and the beaches of Sabaudia and Terracina: visitors from outside the region can easily combine the festival nights with a few days at the beach or a visit to the Agro Pontino Museum.

Why attend

• Completely free admission for all three nights
• International-level artists rarely seen for free in Italy
• Open-air amphitheatre with intimate capacity and direct contact with musicians
• Gastronomic area and market for records and memorabilia
• Just minutes from the Circeo coast and Latina