Tipicità in Blu
The festival of the blue economy and sea culture in Ancona
About Tipicità in Blu
A week dedicated to the sea and the blue economy
Tipicità in Blu is the major festival in Ancona that every year, in May, transforms the capital of the Marche region into a privileged observatory of the maritime economy and culture. Organized by the Tipicità circuit in collaboration with the Municipality of Ancona and the Polytechnic University of Marche, the event brings together businesses, researchers, fishermen, shipbuilders, chefs, and citizens for a week around a precise idea: the sea as a laboratory for the future.
The event unfolds in two symbolic locations in the city. The initial weekend enlivens Marina Dorica, the largest tourist port on the Adriatic, while the professional weekdays focus on the Mole Vanvitelliana, the imposing 18th-century pentagonal island that is now the cultural heart of Ancona.
Between taste, science, and innovation
The program of Tipicità in Blu is intentionally multidisciplinary. Alongside food and wine events dedicated to Adriatic blue fish, the cuisine of reuse, and typical Marche products, there are high-profile forums on the nautical industry, shipbuilding, sustainable fishing, and business internationalization. Exhibitions, book presentations, workshops for schools, and guided tours telling the city's maritime heritage are also included.
A strongly international dimension characterizes the festival, with regular participation from Croatian delegations and a constant focus on the Adriatic-Ionian space. Collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Marche also brings scientific research, entrepreneurial hackathons, and young startups to the city, demonstrating an event that looks to new skills related to the sea.
An event rooted in the territory
Designed for a wide audience, from families to industry professionals, Tipicità in Blu is almost entirely free to enter, with reservations required only for some limited-capacity visits and activities. The Blue Week accompanying the festival involves restaurants and venues in Ancona with themed menus and dedicated aperitifs, extending the experience well beyond the Mole Vanvitelliana.
As part of the broader Tipicità circuit, a Marche brand for food and territorial promotion, the event helps position Ancona and its Province as a national reference for maritime culture. For those visiting the Marche in May, it is the ideal opportunity to discover the region's maritime soul, amidst Adriatic flavors, research, and a seaside city waiting to be explored.
Tipicità in Blu — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Tipicità in Blu, the thirteenth, brought the theme 'The Blue Way: the sea begins in the mountains' to Ancona, an invitation to view the sea as part of a cycle that starts with the inland water resources. Organized by the Tipicità circuit with the Municipality of Ancona and the Polytechnic University of Marche, the event confirmed its multidisciplinary formula with over thirty events spread over a week.
The festival opened on the weekend at Marina Dorica and then moved to the Mole Vanvitelliana for the professional days, concluding with a look at the Adriatic-Ionian space and the sustainability of marine resources.
Programme Tipicità in Blu 2026
Previews (April-May)
- April 29 — Conference on the regulatory evolution of scientific diving aboard MSC Aurelia (9:15 AM)
- May 8 — Inauguration of the Marine Biology Laboratory in Portonovo (12:00 PM)
Weekend — Marina Dorica
- Saturday, May 16, 11:00 AM — Launch of the preview of the Grand Tour of the Marche
- Saturday, May 16, 1:30 PM — Sailing Chef, a food and wine regatta combining sailing and culinary challenges
- Afternoon of May 16 — Meetings on small-scale fishing and craft beers, cuisine of reuse
- Sunday, May 17, 9:30 AM-12:30 PM — Visit to the Fincantieri shipyard (free reservation required)
- Sunday, May 17, afternoon — Blu Tour, guided tours led by students
Professional Days — Mole Vanvitelliana (May 18-22)
- Forums dedicated to nautical industry, creativity, and new skills, with the participation of Croatian delegations
- Meetings on innovative and sustainable internationalization ('The Compass and the Wind')
- Forums on women and maritime sectors, fishing innovation, and market transformation (May 20-22)
- Textile exhibition 'Tramare e Mare' at La Congrega and guided tours of the Mole Vanvitelliana
- Friday, May 22, 5:30 PM — Concluding forum 'Democratic Energy and Water Cycles' with Duilio Giammaria
Blue Week and beyond
- Until May 24 — Themed menus, special aperitifs, and events in participating venues in Ancona
- May 30-June 3 — Smart Cruise 2026, an itinerant laboratory departing from Ancona towards Greece with Anek Lines
Highlights Tipicità in Blu 2026
Prices Tipicità in Blu 2026
Practical information — Tipicità in Blu
Where
Events primarily take place at the Mole Vanvitelliana (Banchina Giovanni da Chio 28) and Marina Dorica in Ancona. Some events involve restaurants and venues in the city center as part of the Blue Week.
How to get there
Ancona is well-connected by train (Ancona central station, on the Adriatic line) and by car via the A14 highway. Marche Airport (Ancona-Falconara) is about 20 minutes away. The Mole Vanvitelliana is a short walk from the port and the historic center.
Admission and reservations
Most events are free to enter. For some limited-capacity visits and activities, free booking is required. The complete program and booking procedures are published on the official website tipicitainblu.it.
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Where does it take place — Tipicità in Blu
Mole Vanvitelliana
Banchina Giovanni da Chio 28, 60121 Ancona