Porto Rubino – Otranto Stage

The grand finale of Porto Rubino in Otranto

For the 2026 edition, Otranto once again serves as the final stop for Porto Rubino, the traveling festival conceived and directed by Apulian singer-songwriter Renzo Rubino. On July 18, 2026, the Molo San Nicola in the Otranto harbor hosts «Porto Rubino Canta», an evening celebrating vocals and singer-songwriting that marks the close of the festival's eighth edition. Otranto, in the province of Lecce, is Italy's easternmost city: its harbor, overlooking the Strait of Otranto, has long been the ideal finale for a musical journey across the Apulian seas.

«Porto Rubino Canta»: vocals and songwriting

The Otranto evening is dedicated to contemporary songwriting and new directions in Italian music. Four protagonists of the current scene will take the stage overlooking the Adriatic: Ditonellapiaga, one of the most original voices in the new Italian pop scene; Venerus, a singer-songwriter and producer known for his soul and electronic sounds; Vale LP; and Nico Arezzo. Each artist presents their live set as an immersive, standalone narrative, with the sound of the sea providing a natural backdrop for a night of live music.

A traveling festival along the Apulian seas

Born in 2019 from an idea by Renzo Rubino, Porto Rubino has become a benchmark of the Italian musical summer: a journey that unites land and sea, moving each night to a different Apulian port. Over the years, it has hosted major names such as Niccolò Fabi, Levante, Clementino, and Ermal Meta; the 2021 edition became a documentary film presented at the Rome Film Fest, and in 2022, it was featured as a television program on Rai 2. The eighth edition in 2026 is divided into three thematic stops: Taranto on July 14 with «Porto Rubino Pensa» (words and storytelling, featuring Carmen Consoli, Angelica Bove, Concita De Gregorio, and Erica Mou), Savelletri di Fasano on July 16 with «Porto Rubino Balla» (Acid Arab, Dardust, Frenetik, and Jolly Mare), and finally Otranto on July 18 with «Porto Rubino Canta».

Otranto and its harbor

The stage is set at Molo San Nicola in the port of Otranto, one of the most picturesque corners of Salento. The city, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its historic center and the cathedral with its famous Tree of Life mosaic, offers a unique setting: at sunset, the pier transforms into a natural amphitheater overlooking the water, where music dialogues with the Adriatic horizon. It is here that the festival's grand finale has taken place over the years, from the 2025 tribute to Lucio Dalla to the evenings dedicated to singer-songwriting.

Tickets and access

The Otranto stop is a ticketed event, with tickets available for pre-sale on the festival's official channels (Vivaticket) and on the website porto-rubino.it. As this is an evening event by the sea with limited capacity, advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended.