Sustainable Waves Festival
The festival of good practices, hospitality, and territorial sustainability in Gabicce Mare
About Sustainable Waves
A New Festival for Sustainability on the San Bartolo Riviera
With Sustainable Waves, the Municipality of Gabicce Mare, in the province of Pesaro and Urbino, has launched the first festival in the Marche region entirely dedicated to the culture of conscious living. The event, held in the heart of the town on the San Bartolo Riviera, revolves around four main themes: environmental protection, social solidarity, territorial enhancement, and sustainable hospitality.
The event is part of the national calendar of the Sustainable Development Festival promoted by ASviS (Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development) and stems from Gabicce Mare's experience as a member of the Network of Sustainable Municipalities, in line with the goals of Agenda 2030.
The Festival Venues
Sustainable Waves is spread across multiple locations in the city. The main conferences are held at the Mississippi venue, while Piazza Municipio hosts the exhibition and participatory core of the event, with the Expo of good practices and the "Sustainable Good Practices Lounge," a series of open-air talks. Other events animate Piazza Matteotti and the public spaces in the center, in continuous dialogue between the sea, the community, and the territory.
Three Pillars: Environment, Governance, and Social
The program is built around three thematic pillars. The environment, with the protection and enhancement of the natural heritage of the San Bartolo Park and protected areas; governance, with environmental certifications and transparent administrative practices; and the social aspect, focusing on citizen well-being and community cohesion. Added to these is a strong emphasis on sustainable tourism, a lever of competitiveness for a seaside destination like Gabicce.
A Network Between Municipalities and Territories
One of the distinctive features of Sustainable Waves is its network dimension: administrations, natural parks, and associations from various Italian regions, from Emilia to Umbria, participate in the event, bringing their projects and excellences to the public square. The stated goal of the Municipality of Gabicce Mare is to grow the festival into a permanent event and a stable network for the sustainable development of the territory of the Province of Pesaro and Urbino and the entire Marche region.
Sustainable Waves — edition 2026
The first edition of the Sustainable Waves Festival animated Gabicce Mare from May 22 to 24, 2026, as part of ASviS's Sustainable Development Festival. Three days dedicated to the environment, governance, and social aspects, spread between the Mississippi venue and Piazza Municipio.
The program combined moments of reflection and participation: from the inaugural opening conference to thematic conventions, up to the Expo of good practices with the presence of administrations, natural parks, and associations from various Italian regions. The Municipality of Gabicce Mare announced its intention to make the festival a permanent event.
Programme Sustainable Waves 2026
Friday, May 22 — Mississippi
- 9:00 PM — Inaugural Conference "Year Zero: Local Order, Global Disorder", with Prof. Igor Pellicciari (expert in international geopolitics) and philosopher Diego Fusaro.
Saturday, May 23 — Mississippi and Piazza Municipio
- Conference "Destination Future: ESG and Integrated Strategies for Sustainable Tourism", with institutional representatives, sustainability experts, tourism operators, certification bodies, and trade associations. Topics: ecological transition as a competitive lever, environmental certifications, public-private governance, ESG credit, and business support.
- Opening of the Expo of Sustainable Good Practices in Piazza Municipio and the "Sustainable Good Practices Lounge", open-air talks with administrators, experts, and academics.
Sunday, May 24 — Piazza Municipio
- Continuation of the Expo of Sustainable Good Practices. Among the guests: the Municipality of Guastalla with Emilia's excellence products, Coop Ulisse and Casa del Pescatore with a project on algae, Nocera Umbra, Borgo Pace (red potato pasta and festival), Gualdo Tadino, the San Bartolo Park, the Adamello Brenta Natural Park, the Sasso Simone and Simoncello Park.
- "Anna Campbell" Popular Space: free services and mutual aid such as "Spesa Sospesa" (Suspended Grocery Shopping), "Anna's Boutique," the Ri-Cicloofficina for bicycles, Italian courses for foreigners, and vegan and ethical cooking workshops.
Highlights Sustainable Waves 2026
- Inaugural conference with Igor Pellicciari and Diego Fusaro at Mississippi.
- Conference "Destination Future: ESG and Integrated Strategies for Sustainable Tourism."
- Expo of sustainable good practices in Piazza Municipio with Municipalities, parks, and associations from multiple regions.
- "Anna Campbell" Popular Space with solidarity services and workshops.
Prices Sustainable Waves 2026
Practical information — Sustainable Waves
Location
The festival is spread throughout the center of Gabicce Mare (PU): main conferences at the Mississippi venue, the Expo and talks in Piazza Municipio, other events in Piazza Matteotti and city public spaces.
How to Get Here
By car: A14 motorway, exit Cattolica-San Giovanni in Marignano, then follow signs for Gabicce Mare. By train: Cattolica-San Giovanni in Marignano station, a few kilometers away, connected by bus. The nearest airports are Rimini and Ancona-Falconara.
Admission
Festival events, including conferences and the Expo of good practices, are free admission. For more details on times and the program, it is advisable to contact the Tourism, Culture, and Sport Office of the Municipality of Gabicce Mare.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Sustainable Waves
Piazza Municipio, Piazza Matteotti, Mississippi