Concerts 2026, the most anticipated in May
The month of May lights up with one of the richest live seasons of recent years: between debuts in sports halls, great returns and international guests, the Italian calendar is filled with unmissable events, which anticipate the season of large summer gatherings scheduled in Italy during the summer which is now – it’s official – truly upon us. Here are the most anticipated concerts of the month.
Discover all the scheduled concerts here.
Large collective events
As per tradition, the month opens with the May Day Concert in Rome, a symbolic event that inaugurates the season of large gatherings. On stage artists like Litfiba, Geolier, Thunderbolts, Irama, Toe in the sore, Ermal Meta, La Nina, Riccardo Cocciante, Marie Antoinette, Colombre And Chiello. Hosting will be Arisa together with Pierpaolo Spollon and BigMama. In Taranto One May Taranto Free and Thinking returns to the Massimo Battista Park – Archaeological Park of the Greek Walls with its thirteenth edition. The theme that will unite the entire lineup and interventions on stage is “Let’s stay human”. Among the prominent names this year in Taranto are Brunori Sas, Subsonic, Gemitaiz, Giorgio Then And Margherita Vicariowhile the artistic direction is entrusted to Antonio Diodato, Roy Pacito the journalist Valentina Petrini ea Michele Riondino. Among the choral events also stands out Rockin’1000scheduled for May 30th in Turin, with hundreds of musicians ready to play together.
Discover all the scheduled concerts here.
Italian tours dominate sports halls
Among the absolute protagonists there is Blancobusy with his first big tour in the sports halls. The live journey comes to life with the dates of May 2nd and 3rd in Bari, then continuing on the 5th in Eboli, the 6th in Naples, the 8th in Bologna, the 11th and 13th in Milan and ending on the 16th in Pesaro. A crucial passage for one of the most representative artists of the new Italian scene. The journey also continues Elisawhich takes its tour to the main venues: Bologna (2 May), Florence (3), Rome (5), Bari (7) and Eboli (9). A tour that confirms the solid bond between the artist and the public. Great anticipation for Annalisaprotagonist with “But we are fire – Chapter II”. After the success of the first part between November and December 2025, almost entirely sold out, the new chapter touches Florence (2 May), Naples (4), Milan (9) and Rome (16), bringing the total dates in the sports halls for the project linked to the album to 24. Important debut also for Shivawhich inaugurates its indoor tour from Mantua on May 4th. The calendar is packed: Milan (6, 20 and 21), Rome (8 and 9), Florence (12), Naples (14), Bologna (16) and Turin (23). A significant leap in scale for one of the most followed urban artists.
Discover all the scheduled concerts here.
Special events and returns
The month is embellished with symbolic appointments. Luciano Ligabue will be the protagonist on May 6th in Milan with an event much awaited by fans: the one that will see the rocker from Correggio become the first musician to perform in the new Arena Milano, in the Santa Giulia district, after the latter hosted the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics games, in a concert called “The first night – Music Opening Ceremony”. THE Pooh instead they celebrate 60 years of career with a great concert on May 16th at the Verona Arena, an iconic setting for an equally important anniversary. To close the month, two highly anticipated tour departures: Vasco Rossi inaugurates his new live journey on May 29th and 30th at the Rimini Stadium, while Cesare Cremonini kicks off his tour on May 31st from Gorizia with a show scheduled at Amedeo Duca d’Aosta Airport.
Discover all the scheduled concerts here.
International artists
There is no shortage of international names in the May schedule. On May 4th i The Neighborhood arrive in Milan for one of the most awaited dates by lovers of alternative pop. May 20th will be the turn of Twice in Turin, while on May 22nd Olivia Dean will perform in Milan, at the Fiera Milano Live: an unmissable event with one of the most successful stars on the British scene.
Discover all the scheduled concerts here.
Look at the summer: the new announcements
As May gets underway, the big summer events are already starting to take shape. On June 6th the RCF Arena will host Elrown Townone of the most anticipated events of the open air season. Milan confirms itself as a central hub for international artists too: on 9 June the Xdinary Heroeswhile August 25th will be the turn of DJat the Music Park. The day before, August 24, Joe Keery will perform for the first time in Italy at the Cavea of the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome. 19 years after the worldwide success of the Argentine telenovela “Patty’s World”, Laura Esquivel and Brenda Asnicar, for their “friends” simply Laura and Brendaarrive in Italy with three unmissable dates of their “Amigas del corazón World Tour”: Saturday 27 June in Rome (Cavea, Auditorium Parco della Musica), Sunday 28 June in Naples (Palapartenope) and Wednesday 1 July in Milan (Unipol Forum). Among the big pop names, Ricky Martin will be the protagonist on June 21st in San Benedetto del Tronto, while in September Milan will host a special event: Marracash and Guè will celebrate the tenth anniversary of “Santeria” with two event dates on 12 and 13 September, at the Snai San Siro Hippodrome.
Discover all the scheduled concerts here.
The unmissables of the summer
Alongside the new announcements, there are those concerts that are already a candidate to become symbolic events of summer 2026. They are not the ones already mentioned Vasco Rossi (which after Rimini is expected in Ferrara, Olbia, Bari, Ancona and Udine) and Cesare Cremonini (after Gorizia he will stop in Milan, Imola and Rome, where for the first time in his career he will perform at the Circus Maximus: a second appointment is added to the date of 6 June, that of 7 June). Last(on 4 July 2026 he will perform in front of 250 thousand spectators in Tor Vergata, the south-eastern outskirts of the capital, with “The gathering of the Last”. Summer 2026 will be a stellar season for live music in our country. Which promises dizzying numbers. The stars take to the field: from Achille Lauro (expected at the Olympic Stadium in Rome and at San Siro) a Ligabuepassing through Geolier, Irama And Olly. Until we get to the returns of Kanye West (on 18 July in Campovolo, Reggio Emilia), Bad Bunny (17 and 18 July at the SNAI La Maura Hippodrome) e The Weeknd (24, 25 and 26 July, again at San Siro). Dates that speak for themselves: large stadiums, large open spaces and productions designed to leave their mark.
Discover all the scheduled concerts here.
And we’re already looking to autumn (and beyond)
There are also those who are already thinking about the next few months. THE The Strokes have announced the only Italian date of the European tour: October 17th in Bologna, destined to become one of the rock events of the year. At the end of October there will be space for international pop with Niall Horanexpected on October 28th at the Forum in Milan and on the 29th at the Unipol Arena in Bologna. November will instead see the return of Placeboin concert on November 6th in Milan. The gaze even goes as far as 2027, when i Thirty Seconds to Mars they will return to Italy: the band led by Jared Leto is expected on April 11th at the Forum in Assago.
in collaboration with Bus For Fun
