Water Festival
Water sports, music, and good vibes on the shores of Isola delle Femmine
About Water Festival
A massive seaside playground in Isola delle Femmine
The Water Festival is a major Sicilian celebration dedicated to water sports, wellness, and music that brings the beach at the Hotel Lido Sirenetta in Isola delle Femmine—a coastal town in the province of Palermo—to life every spring. Launched in 2018 by Vincenzo Michelucci, the event has grown into a unique fixture in Sicily, attracting around a thousand active participants and several thousand spectators every day.
Sports, sea, and fun from dawn till dusk
For four days, the coast transforms into an open-access village where sports, music, and social life blend into a continuous experience from early morning until late at night. The motto "Make memories by the sea" captures the spirit of a festival that centers on an authentic connection with the ocean.
Over forty disciplines are offered across water, sand, and fitness:
- Water sports: surfing, SUP, e-foil, jetsurf, flyboard, wingfoil, sailing, coastal rowing, and scuba diving.
- Beach sports: beach volleyball, beach tennis, and beach lacrosse, the latter making its Italian beach debut here.
- Wellness and fitness: sunrise yoga, flying yoga, surfskate, slackline, climbing, and functional training.
Throughout the day, the schedule is packed with lessons, demos, tournaments, contests, and races open to both athletes and amateurs, creating a festive atmosphere that engages families, sports enthusiasts, and curious visitors alike.
Federation competitions
The program includes several official competitions recognized by sports federations, drawing athletes from across Italy and beyond: the Water Festival Trophy – Lift E-Foil Battle Race, the Water Festival SUP Race FISSW, the Beach Tennis Water Festival Open FITP tournament, and the Beach Volley Water Festival B2 FIPAV.
Evenings of music and talk
As the sun sets, the village and the main stage come alive with talks, live music, and DJ sets, turning the day's sporting energy into a long beach party that lasts late into the night. This is the hallmark of the Water Festival: combining the competitive spirit with a convivial vibe in one grand seaside event.
An event for the local area
The Water Festival has become a showcase for Isola delle Femmine and the entire metropolitan area of Palermo, promoting the Sicilian coastline as a premier destination for water sports and attracting an international audience during the late April and early May period, just as the beach season begins.
Water Festival — edition 2026
Water Festival 2026 — The fourth edition
From April 30 to May 3, 2026, the beach at the Hotel Lido Sirenetta in Isola delle Femmine hosted the fourth edition of the Water Festival, confirming its status as one of the most anticipated events on the Palermo coast. Four continuous days, from 9:00 AM to 12:30 AM, with an open-access seaside village.
The program alternated between daytime lessons, demos, tournaments, contests, and races, and evening talks, live music, and DJ sets, all under the usual motto: "Make memories by the sea".
Programme Water Festival 2026
Daily schedule (April 30 – May 3, 2026)
- 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM — Lessons, demos, tournaments, contests, and races for water and beach sports: SUP, surfing, e-foil, jetsurf, flyboard, wingfoil, sailing, coastal rowing, diving, beach volleyball, beach tennis, and beach lacrosse.
- Morning — Sunrise yoga sessions, flying yoga, surfskate, slackline, climbing, and functional workouts.
- From late afternoon (5:30 PM) until 12:30 AM — The village and main stage come alive with talks, live music, and DJ sets.
Federation competitions
- Water Festival Trophy – Lift E-Foil Battle Race
- Water Festival SUP Race FISSW
- Beach Tennis Water Festival Open FITP
- Beach Volley Water Festival B2 FIPAV
The names of the artists and DJs for the evening sets were not detailed in the consulted sources.
Highlights Water Festival 2026
Prices Water Festival 2026
Practical information — Water Festival
Getting there
Isola delle Femmine is located along the coast west of Palermo. By car, it can be reached via the A29 motorway (Isola delle Femmine exit) in about 20 minutes from the center of Palermo. The Hotel Lido Sirenetta beach is the heart of the event. Palermo-Punta Raisi Airport (Falcone-Borsellino) is just a few kilometers away.
Access and tickets
You can register for free to access the village. Various entry options are available (full festival, weekend, or single-day passes) starting from approximately €14, in addition to drink card packages. Inside, payments are handled via the Slesh cashless system using a rechargeable wristband. Bringing external glass or plastic bottles, unauthorized sports equipment, pets (except guide dogs), and drones is prohibited.
Tips
We recommend registering and topping up your wristband in advance on the official website waterfestival.it. Numerous accommodation facilities in the vicinity of Isola delle Femmine and Palermo offer stays during the event dates.
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Where does it take place — Water Festival
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