Concerts in Italy in August

August has always been the month of festivals, open-air arenas and tours criss-crossing the peninsula from North to South. This year too, the Italian calendar offers a pretty packed lineup, able to satisfy fans of rock, indie, metal, jazz, electronic and singer-songwriter music, not to mention a few big names from international pop and hip-hop. Here's a guide to the main dates to mark on your calendar through mid-September.

Primus, Ypsigrock and Von Hausswolff

Among the month's first big events, the return of Primus stands out, taking the stage on August 1st at Circolo Magnolia in Segrate. The band led by Les Claypool remains a true unicum in the rock landscape, thanks to a blend of funk, progressive and experimentation that has made them one of the most influential bands of the last few decades.
The date:
August 1 – Segrate (MI), Circolo Magnolia

The first weekend of August also marks the start of Ypsigrock, the Sicilian festival that continues to be one of the reference points of European alternative music. The stage will host I cani, Wednesday, Dry Cleaning, The Antlers, Soulwax, Horsegirl, Chet Faker, Black Country, New Road, Cate Le Bon and many other key names from the international independent scene.
Dates:
August 6-9 – Castelbuono (PA), Ypsigrock

Also in the first days of the month, Italy welcomes Anna von Hausswolff, the Swedish artist capable of blending dark ambient, folk and contemporary music, with three shows in stunning locations between Genoa, Rimini and L'Aquila.
Dates:
August 8 – Genoa, Villa Durazzo Bombrini
August 9 – Rimini, Corte Agostiniani
August 10 – L'Aquila, Peltuinum Archaeological Area

Rock takes over

The live summer also brings a double unmissable date for stoner rock fans. Australia's Wolfmother will play three shows between Tuscany, Romagna and Abruzzo, confirming their reputation as a formidable live band.
Dates:
August 27 – Empoli (FI), Beat Festival
August 28 – Pinarella di Cervia (RA), Rock Planet
August 29 – Teramo, Suburbiæ Fest

Still on the hard and heavy front, August also brings Fu Manchu, joined by Stoned Jesus, as well as folk-metallers Eluveitie alongside Rhapsody Of Fire and In Extremo, headlining the Montelago Celtic Festival. Fans of the more extreme side of metal can instead count on a long string of dates featuring Death Angel, Unearth, The Ghost Inside, Revocation, Cryptopsy, Carcass and many more.
Also highly anticipated: Judas Priest, back in Italy alongside Nevermore for a series of shows crossing the country. One of the season's most important metal tours.
Dates:
September 3 – Pordenone
September 5 – Brescia
September 7 – Bari
September 9 – Rome

Particularly anticipated is the date with Geese, making their first-ever appearance in Italy. The New York band will play on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at Circolo Magnolia in Milan, as part of the Unaltrofestival lineup. The Milan date marks the band's absolute debut in our country and coincides with the live presentation of their third studio album, “Getting Killed”.
Date:
August 19 – Magnolia (Milan)

Among the not-to-be-missed dates for contemporary rock fans are also the two Black Keys shows at Alcatraz in Milan, both with Robert Finley opening. Two nights that bring one of the most important American rock duos of the last twenty years back to Italy.
Dates:
September 10 – Milan, Alcatraz
September 11 – Milan, Alcatraz

From Mogwai to Franz Ferdinand: indie rules

Among the most highly anticipated events is also the return of Mogwai. The legendary Scottish post-rock outfit will take the stage on August 18 at the Sulky Rock Festival in Sant'Antioco alongside Ditz, in one of the most compelling dates of the entire Italian alternative summer.
Date:
August 18 – Sant'Antioco (SU), Sulky Rock Festival

Also arriving in August are Wilco, for over thirty years one of the most authoritative names in American rock. Jeff Tweedy's band will be in Italy for two consecutive dates between Rome (Cavea Auditorium Parco della Musica) and Mantua, both set for early September.
Dates:
August 31 – Rome, Roma Summer Fest
September 1 – Mantua, Mantova Summer Festival

Late August will also see Franz Ferdinand and The Kooks take the spotlight, sharing the bill at the AMA Music Festival, while the latter will also play the Sulky Rock Festival in Sant'Antioco. A double date that brings back to Italy two of the defining names of 2000s British indie rock.
Franz Ferdinand dates:
August 30 – Romano d'Ezzelino (VI), AMA Music Festival
The Kooks dates:
August 29 – Sant'Antioco (SU), Sulky Rock Festival
August 30 – Romano d'Ezzelino (VI), AMA Music Festival

Among the more refined offerings are also Hermanos Gutiérrez, the instrumental duo who blend desert atmospheres, Latin folk and imaginary film scores, with two dates between Rome and Milan.
Dates:
September 2 – Rome, Auditorium Parco della Musica
September 3 – Milan, Teatro degli Arcimboldi

September opens with the return of Hollywood Vampires, the supergroup formed by Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry, set for two shows between Lombardy and Veneto.
Dates:
September 1 – Segrate (MI), Parco della Musica
September 2 – Este (PD), Castello Carrarese

Electronic music, meanwhile, will take center stage with the Decibel Open Air in Florence, running from September 4 to 6, while in the preceding weeks festivals such as Locus, Color Fest, Festivalle and AMA Music Festival will host artists like Soulwax, Apparat, Sebastien Tellier, Thundercat and Ezra Collective, confirming the excellent health of Italy's electronic and cross-genre scene.

On the experimental front, one of the most significant events will be the concert by German outfit Einstürzende Neubauten, genuine pioneers of European industrial music, set for September 12 at the Teatro Valli in Reggio Emilia.
Date:
September 12 – Reggio Emilia, Teatro Valli

The calendar also features a long list of festivals well worth attention: Montelago Celtic Festival, Festivalle, Mojotic Festival, Locus Festival, Color Fest, Frantic Fest, Sulky Rock Festival, AMA Music Festival, Live Rock Festival and 2Days Prog + 1 Festival, events that will once again bring dozens of international artists to Italy and offer an extremely rich snapshot of the many faces of contemporary music.

Mainstream dates

Alongside the packed lineup dedicated to rock and alternative music, there are of course also several big names from pop and hip-hop. Tyler, The Creator will play Rho on August 25, David Guetta takes the stage on September 6 at the Ippodromo Snai San Siro in Milan, Joji arrives on September 3 at the Unipol Forum in Assago, while A$AP Rocky will perform at the Milan racecourse on September 10. Also among the most anticipated dates are the return of Parcels, on August 18 in Sesto San Giovanni, and that of Gogol Bordello, on August 11 in Trieste.

The Italian scene

The Italian scene will also be in the spotlight all summer long. Litfiba will bring their celebratory "17 Re" tour to Alghero on August 1, Catania on August 4, Melpignano on August 7, Palmanova on August 11, Forte dei Marmi on August 13 and Bellaria Igea Marina on August 15. Subsonica, meanwhile, will play Camigliatello Silano on August 1, Catania on August 2, Melpignano on August 13, Locorotondo on August 14, Cabras on August 16, Brescia on August 20, San Mauro Pascoli on August 22 and Reggio Emilia on September 4.

Another major reunion is that of CSI – Consorzio Suonatori Indipendenti. A tour that will bring the legendary rock outfit back to Italian stages for a series of shows celebrating one of the most significant chapters in Italian music of recent decades. On stage, CSI will revisit a body of work that left a deep mark on the history of Italian rock, restoring its expressive power and relevance fully intact.
Tour dates:
September 12 – Catania, Villa Bellini
August 28 and 29 – Marzabotto (BO), Parco Storico di Monte Sole
August 31 – Villafranca (VR), Castello Scaligero
September 2 – Fasano (BR), Parco Archeologico di Egnazia
September 4 – Spello (PG), Villa Fidelia
September 8 – Alba (CN), Piazza Medford

Niccolò Fabi will be in concert on August 1 in Arezzo, August 3 in Vico del Gargano, August 12 in Sirolo, August 21 in Zafferana Etnea, August 22 in Agrigento and September 5 in Bertinoro, while Mannarino will hit Santa Sofia (August 2), Locorotondo (August 9), Alghero (August 11), Roccella Jonica (August 13), Pescara (August 22), Mantua (August 29), Catania (September 5) and Milan (September 11).
Among the other dates worth flagging are those of Vinicio Capossela (August 2 in Monforte d’Alba and August 12 in Locorotondo), Daniele Silvestri (August 2 in Camigliatello Silano, August 7 in Fermo, August 30 in Marzabotto and September 4 in Castiglione della Pescaia), Eugenio In Via Di Gioia (August 2 in Carovigno, August 7 in Policoro, August 12 in Ascoli Piceno and September 1 in Verrès). On the pop and urban front, tours continue for Emma, Arisa, Angelina Mango, Madame, Alfa, Capo Plaza, Sfera Ebbasta, Ernia, Noyz Narcos, Rkomi, Kid Yugi, Tony Boy, Ditonellapiaga, Sayf, Mille and La Niña, who will crisscross the peninsula with dozens of shows across summer festivals and events.

So, once again this year live music isn't taking a holiday. From big arenas to festivals, via clubs and historic venues, August and the first half of September will offer a lineup for (almost) every taste.

Ride the wave of great music

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