La Notte della Taranta Enters Eurovision Circuit, Becoming International Cultural Product
On August 22, 2026, the 29th La Notte della Taranta in Melpignano, Italy, made its debut in the Eurovision circuit, airing live on Rai 3, RaiPlay, Rai Radio 2, and San Marino RTV. The event drew an audience of 809,000 (8.5% share) and welcomed around 150,000 visitors at the former Convento degli Agostiniani. Organized by the Fondazione La Notte della Taranta, the festival showcased maestro concertatore Ermal Meta, who blended rock and pop with traditional pizzica, featuring the song 'Nu simu nienti.' Notable performers included Alessandra Amoroso, Levante, and Gisela João. Spanning from July 30 to August 19, the festival covered twenty municipalities in Salento and ranked third among Italy's most attractive cultural festivals.
Key facts
- La Notte della Taranta Concertone enters Eurovision circuit for the first time
- Broadcast on August 22, 2026, via Rai 3, RaiPlay, Rai Radio 2, and San Marino RTV
- Reached 809,000 viewers with 8.5% share on Rai 3
- Approximately 150,000 people attended in Melpignano
- Ermal Meta was the maestro concertatore for 2026
- Theme: 'Le Vie del Mediterraneo' (The Routes of the Mediterranean)
- Featured artists: Alessandra Amoroso, Levante, Gisela João, Maria Mazzotta, Sayf, Welo, Giulia Vecchio
- Choreography by Fredy Franzutti
- Itinerant festival from July 30 to August 19 across twenty Salento municipalities
- Ranked third among Italian cultural festivals per Osservatorio 2025
Entities
Artists
- Ermal Meta
- Alessandra Amoroso
- Levante
- Gisela João
- Maria Mazzotta
- Sayf
- Welo
- Giulia Vecchio
- Fredy Franzutti
Institutions
- Fondazione La Notte della Taranta
- Rai 3
- RaiPlay
- Rai Radio 2
- San Marino RTV
- Confcommercio
- SWG
- Osservatorio sui consumi culturali degli italiani
Locations
- Melpignano
- Italy
- Salento
- Bari
- Fier
- Albania
- Aspromonte
- Sicily
- Sardinia
- Morocco
- Convento degli Agostiniani