UlisseFest - La festa del viaggio Lonely Planet
The big travel festival by Lonely Planet arrives in Genoa
About UlisseFest
A festival dedicated to travel
UlisseFest is the big travel festival created by Lonely Planet, the world's most famous travel guide. Every year the festival changes city and brings together writers, reporters, photographers, explorers, and musicians to reflect on the meaning of travel. In 2026, the event arrives in Genoa, a choice that is no coincidence: a city of the sea, of the port, and of departures, in the heart of Liguria.
Between alleys, port, and palaces
The festival animates some of the city's iconic locations: the Old Port, the Luzzati Gardens, and the magnificent Palazzi dei Rolli, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The program intertwines meetings with authors, readings, performances, film screenings, concerts, and DJ sets, in a succession of events that fill three intense days.
Great music at the Arena del Mare
The musical heart of the festival is the Arena del Mare, which hosts two major concerts with leading artists from the Italian scene. Live music thus becomes an integral part of the travel narrative, in a setting overlooking the water.
Genoa, capital of travel
With UlisseFest, Genoa transforms for a weekend into the Italian capital of travel. An opportunity to rediscover the city's seafaring and cosmopolitan vocation, and to be infected by the curiosity and desire for exploration that animate the traveler community.
UlisseFest — edition 2026
The 9th edition of UlisseFest brings the Lonely Planet travel festival to Genoa from July 10-12, 2026. The chosen theme is "In Praise of Escape", an invitation to interpret travel as a creative impulse and a need to change perspective.
The program animates the Old Port, Luzzati Gardens, and Palazzi dei Rolli with meetings, readings, performances, films, and DJ sets, while the Arena del Mare hosts the festival's two major concerts.
Programme UlisseFest 2026
Friday, July 10
- Meetings, readings, performances, and screenings between the Old Port, Luzzati Gardens, and Palazzi dei Rolli
- Arena del Mare - Concert by Francesco Gabbani
Saturday, July 11
- Program of meetings, performances, and DJ sets in various locations
- Arena del Mare - Live performance by Negramaro
Sunday, July 12
- Meetings with authors, readings, performances, and events dedicated to travel
The detailed program with times and guests will be published on the official website ulissefest.it in the weeks preceding the event.
Highlights UlisseFest 2026
Prices UlisseFest 2026
Practical information — UlisseFest
How to get there
The festival locations are concentrated between the Old Port, the historic center, and the Luzzati Gardens, reachable on foot and by metro (San Giorgio and Darsena stops) and AMT buses.
Admission
Most of the meetings and activities are free to enter. Tickets may be required for concerts at the Arena del Mare: information on the official website ulissefest.it.
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 — UlisseFest
Porto Antico, Giardini Luzzati e Palazzi dei Rolli
Porto Antico, 16126 Genova