Romagna Dance Music Week
Gatteo Mare: the capital of Romagna dance music
About Romagna Dance Music Week
Dance music returns home, to Gatteo Mare
Every spring, Gatteo Mare, a seaside village in the Province of Forlì-Cesena, becomes the capital of dance music. The Romagna Dance Music Week is one of the flagship events of the Romagna Riviera dedicated to dance music: for six days, Piazza della Libertà, the beach, and the Palazzo del Turismo become one large open-air dance hall, where waltzes, mazurkas, and polkas set the rhythm from dawn till late at night.
Directed by Moreno 'Il Biondo'
The event is led by Moreno 'Il Biondo' Conficconi, the historic director of the Orchestra Grande Evento and guardian of the Casadei tradition. Around him gather some of the most beloved voices and orchestras of the genre, who take turns on the stage of Piazza della Libertà in free evening shows. Dance music, born in these lands between Romagna and Emilia with the Casadei brothers, is not nostalgia here but a lively and participatory celebration, capable of uniting expert dancers and curious onlookers.
More than just concerts
The Romagna Dance Music Week isn't just an evening event. The 'Liscio Live on the Beach' mornings bring music directly to the sand, with open-air dancing along the promenade. The Palazzo del Turismo hosts the grand exhibition 'The Emilia Romagna of Dance Music', a record exhibition featuring over 1200 items from Marco Tagliavini's private collection, including vinyl records, posters, and memorabilia that tell the story of a century of dance music.
Gatteo Mare and the Riviera
Part of the rich summer calendar of the Gatteo Mare Summer Village, the event officially opens the resort's tourist season and reaffirms its identity: a family-friendly seaside village where Romagna's popular tradition remains the star. For those who love dancing or simply want to discover an authentic piece of Emilia-Romagna culture, the Romagna Dance Music Week is the perfect opportunity to experience Gatteo Mare in a festive atmosphere.
Romagna Dance Music Week — edition 2026
The May 2026 edition of the Romagna Dance Music Week confirms Gatteo Mare as the capital of Romagna dance music. Six days of free music in Piazza della Libertà, alongside the 'Liscio Live on the Beach' mornings and the 'The Emilia Romagna of Dance Music' exhibition at the Palazzo del Turismo. The most anticipated moment is the tribute to Secondo Casadei on the 120th anniversary of his birth, with the evening 'Romagna in the Heart'.
Programme Romagna Dance Music Week 2026
Sunday, May 24th
- 4:30 PM — Palazzo del Turismo: inauguration of the exhibition 'The Emilia Romagna of Dance Music', a record exhibition with over 1200 items from Marco Tagliavini's collection
- 9:15 PM — Piazza della Libertà: Opening Party with the Orchestra Castellina
Monday, May 25th
- 9:15 PM — Piazza della Libertà: 'Dance Music from the Via Emilia'
Tuesday, May 26th
- 10:15-11:15 AM — Beach: 'Liscio Live on the Beach' with Moreno 'Il Biondo' & Friends
- 9:15 PM — Piazza della Libertà: Moreno 'Il Biondo' & Friends
Wednesday, May 27th
- 9:15 PM — Piazza della Libertà: 'Romagna in the Heart', evening dedicated to the 120th anniversary of Secondo Casadei's birth
Thursday, May 28th
- 10:15-11:15 AM — Beach: 'Liscio Live on the Beach'
- 9:15 PM — Piazza della Libertà: 'The Great Voices of Dance Music'
Friday, May 29th
- 9:15 PM — Piazza della Libertà: 'Orchestra Grande Evento' (closing party)
Among the announced artists: Mauro Ferrara, Gianmarco Bagutti, Roberta Cappelletti, Patrizia Ceccarelli, and other dance music performers. The exhibition at the Palazzo del Turismo remains open from May 24th to 31st (hours 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, 9:00 PM - 11:30 PM).
Highlights Romagna Dance Music Week 2026
- Tribute to Secondo Casadei for the 120th anniversary of his birth with the 'Romagna in the Heart' evening
- 'The Emilia Romagna of Dance Music' record exhibition with over 1200 vinyl records and memorabilia
- 'Liscio Live on the Beach' mornings with Moreno 'Il Biondo' & Friends
- Opening party with the Orchestra Castellina
Prices Romagna Dance Music Week 2026
Practical information — Romagna Dance Music Week
How to get there
Gatteo Mare is located along the Romagna Riviera, in the Province of Forlì-Cesena. By car: take the Cesena or Rimini Nord exit on the A14 motorway, then follow the SS16 Adriatica state road. By train: Gatteo a Mare station on the Bologna-Ancona line, a few minutes' walk from the seafront.
Where it takes place
Evening shows are held in Piazza della Libertà; dancing mornings take place on the beach. The record exhibition is hosted at the Palazzo del Turismo.
Admission
Events in Piazza della Libertà and on the beach are free admission. For some activities at the Arena Rubicone, the Gatteo Mare Summer Village card may be required.
Information
IAT Gatteo Mare, tel. +39 0547 86083, email [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Romagna Dance Music Week
Piazza della Libertà e Palazzo del Turismo
Piazza della Libertà, 47043 Gatteo