Salinstrada International Street Arts Festival

Salinstrada: street arts in the City of Salt

Every summer, as the Apulian sun warms the largest salt pans in Europe, Margherita di Savoia transforms into a sprawling, open-air theater. The Salinstrada International Street Arts Festival brings acrobats, dancers, musicians, circus performers, and artists of all kinds to the streets, squares, and seafront of this salt-producing town in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani. The name itself, blending 'salt' and 'strada' (street), reflects the identity of an event born from the local landscape, returning it to the public through free, live performances open to everyone.

An international festival launched in 2024

The first edition took place in June 2024 and proved to be an ambitious debut: three days of shows featuring international companies and artists, ranging from flamenco from Madrid to hip-hop, and from aerial acrobatics to fire performances. The second edition followed from June 19 to 22, 2025, confirming the festival's success and expanding participation as part of the rich municipal summer program, 'Margherita d'aMare'.

The 'In' and 'Off' circuits

Salinstrada is organized along two parallel tracks. The 'In' circuit features shows selected and curated directly by the artistic direction; the 'Off' circuit, open via international call, provides a platform for emerging companies from all over Europe. A jury of professionals awards the best 'Off' proposals, with winning companies earning the chance to be featured in the 'In' circuit of the following year. This mechanism makes the festival a true springboard for street artists seeking visibility and international exchange.

Disciplines and atmosphere

• Street theater and physical theater
• Dance and contemporary dance
• Circus and contemporary circus, including acrobatics and aerial arts
• Live music and roving performances
• Visual arts and any other innovative artistic form designed for public spaces

Performances take place throughout the day and evening, when the sunset light over the salt pans creates a unique backdrop. Families, tourists, and locals move freely from one square to another, following the rhythm of the roving performances.

Margherita di Savoia, a setting between sea and salt pans

Located on the northern coast of Puglia, Margherita di Savoia is famous for its salt pans—among the largest on the continent and a vital wetland stopover for pink flamingos—and its long, fine sandy beaches. This natural landscape, suspended between the Adriatic Sea and the salt basins, becomes an integral part of the festival, which brings art out of theaters and back into the city's everyday spaces.

A project between France and Italy

The organizational heart of Salinstrada is the Gipsy Raw company, a French artistic collective founded by choreographers who sought to build a cultural bridge between French and Italian street artists. The festival is produced in collaboration with the Pro Loco and the Municipality of Margherita di Savoia, in a dialogue that combines international professionalism with deep roots in the Apulian territory.