Un Solo Mare Festival

A festival for the sea, in Rome

Un Solo Mare is the new festival that the Fondazione Musica per Roma dedicates to the sea as a complex system and a global common good. The first edition takes place from February 11 to 15, 2026, at the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone in Rome's Flaminio district. It stems from a simple yet urgent idea: the sea covers about 70% of the Earth's surface, regulates the climate, and produces half the oxygen we breathe, yet it often remains on the fringes of public debate.

Science, culture, and creativity

For five days, the halls of the Auditorium will be filled with conferences, exhibitions, performances, and activities designed for all ages. The festival explores the sea from multiple perspectives: biodiversity and marine ecosystem conservation, climate change and adaptation, exploration and new technologies, the blue economy and sustainable development, and the geopolitics and governance of the Mediterranean. The scientific direction is led by Professor Roberto Danovaro, with the partnership of Codice Edizioni and contributions from research institutes and organizations such as CMCC, CNR, ENEA, ISPRA, OGS, Fondazione Marevivo, and ASviS.

Guests and encounters

The program brings together scholars, writers, explorers, and champions of the sea. Announced guests include British historian David Abulafia, writers Björn Larsson and Elisabetta Dami, sailor Giovanni Soldini, former sailor and sports executive Alessandra Sensini, geopolitician Dario Fabbri, climate physicist Antonello Pasini, professor emeritus Andrea Rinaldo, journalist Stefano Liberti, Hellenist Giulio Guidorizzi, anthropologist Dionigi Albera, literary critic Piero Dorfles, and other key figures in research and culture. A highlight of the event is the concert by the Orchestra del Mare, created with the Fondazione Casa dello Spirito e delle Arti, featuring Maestro Nicola Piovani and actor Alessio Boni.

Exhibitions and EduMare

The festival features five photography exhibitions that capture the sea in all its beauty and fragility, ranging from the Amerigo Vespucci training ship to the effects of climate change, marine ecology, and the energy transition. The educational heart of the event is EduMare, a comprehensive program aimed at schools, families, and young people, featuring scientific and educational workshops, immersive audiovisual experiences, educational games, and meetings with researchers and science communicators to inspire new generations to care for the sea.

Rome and the Lazio region

Promoted by Roma Capitale – Department of Culture, the festival joins the cultural calendar of the capital and the Lazio region, enriching the Auditorium's offerings with an event that combines high-level scientific outreach with quality entertainment. As this is the first edition, it remains to be seen whether «Un Solo Mare» will become an annual fixture in the Roman cultural landscape.