Jethro Tull, Jet, Fantastic Negrito and Darkness among the headliners of the Pistoia Blues Festival 2026 (July 2-10)

From 2 to 10 July 2026, Piazza Duomo in Pistoia will host a series of major shows enlivening the city's summer, including the 45th edition of the Pistoia Blues Festival with its Storytellers section (by now a well-established showcase for great Italian singer-songwriters), plus two special events of national significance.

The 2026 edition of the Festival will feature its Blues section concentrated across the days of July 4, 5, 8 and 10, with performances respectively by Fantastic Negrito, Jet, The Darkness and Jethro Tull, alongside a number of exceptional "guest stars" such as Eric Steckel and Walter Trout, two of the most authoritative names in blues worldwide. The festival's Storytellers section, dedicated to the great Italian singer-songwriters, will see Claudio Baglioni as its undisputed headliner (the July 7 date is already sold out), while Marco Masini will perform on July 2. As special events, on Friday July 3 Il Volo will play in Pistoia for the first time, while Enrico Brignano will bring his new show to Piazza Duomo on July 6.

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The concerts will kick off on Thursday 2 July with Marco Masini in the festival's Storytellers section: the Tuscan singer-songwriter, fresh from his appearance at the latest edition of the Sanremo Festival, is enjoying a magical run of shows all over Italy. Alongside the unforgettable songs that have become part of Italian music history over more than 35 years of career, Marco Masini will for the first time perform live some tracks from his latest album “Perfetto Imperfetto” (Momy Records, Concerto / BMG), produced by Gianluca Tozzi and Milo Fantini and also available on vinyl from 24 April. Opening the show will be Maurizio Pirovano, a singer-songwriter who blends American rock with the Italian singer-songwriter tradition. Active on the independent scene, he writes intense, autobiographical lyrics, often tied to everyday life and emotions. Over the course of his career he has released several albums, standing out for his artistic consistency and expressive authenticity, with a strong presence in live shows. He will present his seventh album “Fiori dal deserto”, due out in May. Event in collaboration with LEG Live Emotion Group.

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Saturday 4 July kicks off the blues evenings with the incredible show by Fantastic Negrito and his band. Fantastic Negrito (stage name of American guitarist Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz) will perform in one of only two summer dates scheduled in Italy. Fantastic Negrito is one of the most original and innovative artists on the contemporary American music scene. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he has built a personal artistic path that blends blues, soul, funk and roots music, tackling social, identity and political themes. His music, deeply rooted in the African-American tradition, develops in a contemporary and experimental direction, making him one of the most representative interpreters of blues's evolution in the 21st century. His presence strengthens the festival's international standing and its openness to contemporary idioms. The same evening will also see American singer and guitarist Eric Steckel perform, already ranked among the 100 greatest blues guitarists of all time and an undisputed star of contemporary blues. An American guitarist and singer-songwriter, Eric Steckel is regarded as one of the most interesting talents on the contemporary blues-rock scene. Blessed with extraordinary technique and a strong stage presence, he attracted international attention from a very young age, building a solid career over time between the United States and Europe. His style combines the tradition of electric blues with the power of rock, with clear echoes of masters like Stevie Ray Vaughan, reinterpreted through a modern idiom. His presence at the festival is concrete proof of how blues keeps renewing itself through new generations of musicians. The same sonic coordinates guide the sound of Electric Cherry, a band that last year released the album “Cherry Heart”, capturing the attention of both audiences and specialist press. This marks the Rome-based quartet's first appearance at the Festival, which is always on the lookout for great quality blues-rock bands.

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Sunday 5 July will see JET, the record-breaking Australian band led by Nic Cester, perform in Piazza Duomo in Pistoia. It's their first time at the prestigious Tuscan festival. Jet are an Australian band who won over the international scene with an energetic, direct sound heavily influenced by classic blues-rooted rock. After their huge success in the early 2000s, the band has returned to the scene, once again placing an immediate, powerful musical language at its core. Their style harks back to the roots of rock'n'roll and garage rock, with a strong live component that fits perfectly with the festival's spirit. Their presence helps broaden the audience and build a bridge between tradition and contemporary sounds. Before them, the great Walter Trout, American guitarist, singer and songwriter, regarded as a living legend of blues rock. Walter Trout is one of the most authoritative and respected figures in blues-rock worldwide. With a career spanning more than four decades, he has collaborated with legendary artists and built a solo path marked by great expressive intensity and guitar virtuosity. His music is deeply tied to the tradition of electric blues, but enriched with rock energy and an emotional depth that make him one of the genre's most authentic interpreters. His presence at Pistoia Blues represents a direct link to the festival's history and original identity. Opening the show will be the young Prato-based band Bluagata, one of the most original rock bands from the area. The group, fronted by Alessia and Margherita, recently released their fourth album “Fra la violenza e la gentilezza”, produced by Alessio Camagni (Ministri), who has worked with the band since their debut in 2017: over the years the band has never stopped, continuing to bring their music to venues and festivals across Italy. This marks their second appearance on the festival's bill.

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Tuesday 7 July brings a major concert from an absolute icon of Italian music: Claudio Baglioni. This is “GrandTour – La vita è adesso”, the live musical project marking the culmination of the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the album “La vita è adesso, il sogno è sempre”, performed in concert in Italy's most beautiful squares. A unique opportunity to relive the songs by Claudio Baglioni that have made Italian music history. The show is sold out. Event in collaboration with LEG Live Emotion Group.

It will be the Hawkins brothers' The Darkness setting the festival stage alight on 8 July, supported by two other notable acts, Messa and the Florence-based Spleen, for an unmissable evening. For The Darkness, this marks a very welcome return after their successful appearance exactly ten years ago, in 2015, when they performed alongside Black Label Society. The band's growth has been exponential on the back of their new album (their eighth), “Dreams of Toast”, released this year. “Dreams On Toast” has become their most successful album since their iconic debut “Permission To Land”, a record recently recognized as the best-selling British rock album of the 21st century. Boasting tremendous stage presence, The Darkness are among the leading interpreters of contemporary rock inspired by classic 1970s sounds. Their style, ironic and spectacular, combines musical virtuosity with a strong performative element. Their presence helps strengthen the festival's international appeal and broaden its dialogue with different audiences, while maintaining a connection to rock's blues-derived roots. Before their set, Messa will take to the stage, one of the most internationally acclaimed Italian acts in the heavy, doom and experimental rock scene. Their music is marked by a strongly evocative quality, blending elements of rock, jazz, ambient and Mediterranean influences. While not falling directly within the blues genre, their expressive approach retains an emotional depth and sonic exploration that keep them in tune with the festival's spirit, understood as a space for contamination and experimentation. Rounding off the evening will be an opening set from Spleen, a young Tuscan act that reflects the festival's ongoing work of scouting and promoting local talent. The project stands out for its contemporary approach to songwriting and its strong sonic identity. Their presence on the bill is a testament to Pistoia Blues's commitment to supporting young local talent, offering them a professional context with great visibility, further underlined by the Obiettivo BluesIn contest the festival has organized for years.

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The Blues Festival will be brought to a close by Jethro Tull, marking their fourth appearance at the historic Pistoia event: the band that made the history of British progressive rock has already graced the Piazza Duomo stage in 1999, 2003 and 2008. The legendary prog band behind "Aqualung" and "Locomotive Breath" has announced that its "Curiosity Tour" will continue into 2026 to showcase their latest studio album, "Curious Ruminant". Made up of nine new tracks ranging in length from two and a half minutes to nearly seventeen, "Curious Ruminant" is an album consisting mainly of pieces performed by the full band. The musicians involved include former keyboardist Andrew Giddings and drummer James Duncan, alongside current band members David Goodier, John O'Hara, Scott Hammond and, making his recording debut with the group, guitarist Jack Clark. Jethro Tull stand in every respect as one of the most iconic acts in the history of European rock, having developed over the course of their career a unique musical language capable of blending rock, blues, folk and progressive. Their presence at the festival carries considerable symbolic and cultural weight, representing a bridge between European musical tradition and the African American roots of the blues, approached in an evolving and innovative key. Opening the show will be STREA, the stage name of Irene Ettori, a young and distinctive performer of ethereal rock/prog/folk. Her debut album "Gold and Mess" features a remarkable guest appearance by Colin Edwin, former bassist of Porcupine Tree, and an emotional sensibility that mark her out as a major talent to watch.

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SPECIAL EVENTS – Friday 3 July will see the first of two special events on the Piazza Duomo stage: for the first time in Pistoia, the celebrated trio Il Volo will perform a date on their “World Tour 2026-2027”. Piero Barone (tenor), Ignazio Boschetto (tenor) and Gianluca Ginoble (baritone) will take the stage with their trademark elegance and the kind of energy that turns every performance into a unique experience. Singular artists who blend pop music with opera, moving from hits like “Grande Amore” to arias from “Turandot” or “La Traviata”, all the way to great classics of Italian and international music. The concert on 3 July will be a unique chance to hear live the great hits that have moved millions of people around the world, from their most intense interpretations to their most romantic songs, right through to the moments when the trio will surprise us with the full force of their vocal power. Event in collaboration with LEG Live Emotion Group.

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Monday 6 July the special event will be dedicated to Enrico Brignano, who will bring his latest show “Bello di mamma!”. At the heart of 'Bello di mamma!' (written by Brignano himself together with Graziano Cutrona, Manuela D'Angelo, Luciano Federico and Alessio Parenti) lies a simple yet powerful idea: in a fast-changing world, full of contradictions and constant demands, everyone – sooner or later – feels the need to return to that ancestral embrace that made us feel safe as children. The starting point is the universal image of childhood: the mother's voice that dissolved our fears, a cup of hot chocolate, cartoons, a blanket that warmed both legs and heart. That “mother's comfort” that protected us or, when needed, set us straight. Event in collaboration with LEG Live Emotion Group.

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Tickets for all the shows are available for pre-sale on the Ticketone, Ticketmaster and VivaTicket circuits (for select shows only) and at authorized outlets.

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OBIETTIVO BLUESIN – Until 30 April, the Obiettivo BluesIn contest is open for entries from young bands hoping to join the festival lineup. As every year, for the 2026 edition too, Obiettivo Bluesin will select 3 winning artists or groups who will have the chance to perform on the main stage of the Festival's 45th edition – a concrete opportunity to bring their music in front of a large audience.

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BOOKS – On the occasion of Pistoia Italian Capital of Books 2026, a number of side events dedicated to music writing will be held. Among the authors already confirmed are Florence-based Cristina Giuntini with her latest book “RËBRA – Musica sulle Costole”, and Ondarock editor Claudio Lancia with “Music Diary. 100 dischi per gli anni 20”.

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Follow the Festival on its official channels:

www.pistoiablues.com

www.facebook.com/pistoiablues

www.instagram.com/pistoia_blues_festival

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