Unomaggio – May 1st Concert at Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa

A day of music and rights in the heart of Palermo

Unomaggio is the premier May Day event in Palermo: a popular, free, and inclusive festival that brings the Spazio Open at the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa to life every year in the city of Palermo, Sicily. Promoted by CGIL Palermo alongside a vast network of local associations and organizations, the event combines the tradition of the May 1st concert with a powerful civic message, highlighting the people who live, work, create, and resist every day.

A full day of live music

The festivities kick off at 1:00 PM and continue non-stop until late at night. Dozens of artists, singer-songwriters, and bands—mostly representing the vibrant creative scene of Palermo and Sicily—take turns on the Spazio Open stage. It is a diverse showcase featuring rock, indie, world music, singer-songwriter tracks, Latin rhythms, and cross-genre influences. Between live concerts, speeches, and testimonials, the day concludes with famous DJ sets and an official party that turns the Cantieri into an open-air dance floor until late.

Much more than just a concert

Unomaggio is more than just music: it is a shared, free, and essential space where themes like labor, safety, dignity, citizenship, and democracy become an integral part of the celebration. Alongside the stages, you will find areas dedicated to discussion, association booths, solidarity initiatives, and a wide range of food & beverage options, including street food, beer, wine, and cocktails at affordable prices.

The Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa

The venue is set within the former industrial facilities of the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, now one of Palermo's most vibrant cultural hubs, just a short walk from the famous Zisa Castle. Green spaces, repurposed warehouses, and open-air areas provide the ideal backdrop for an event that attracts thousands of people every year, especially the youth, in a spirit of collective celebration.

A free event for the whole city

Admission is completely free: Unomaggio is designed as a moment of popular participation open to anyone who wants to experience May Day in a different way, surrounded by quality music, social commitment, and community, all in the name of equality and solidarity.