Pomigliano Jazz 2026, the 31st edition is in full swing: from Raiz on Vesuvius to Billy Cobham in Avella.

Pomigliano – After the sold-out preview on July 22nd at the monumental Necropolis of Avella—featuring the all-star quartet of Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chris Potter, Larry Grenadier, and Eric Harland—the 0st edition of Pomigliano Jazz in Campania is gearing up for the peak of the summer season. From August 30th to September 12th, the festival brings five events to locations of significant historical and scenic value, featuring music, guided tours, and locally sourced tastings.

The formula remains the same as that which has distinguished the festival for years: great international and Italian jazz, promotion of cultural heritage, and attention to environmental sustainability. The concerts are accompanied by food and wine tours featuring top-notch local producers.

The summer calendar

The event kicks off on Sunday, August 30th, at the crater of Vesuvius with the Raiz & Solis String Quartet and the project Chi tene 'o mare, a tribute to Pino Daniele. The sunset concert is at 7:00 PM, with meeting at 3:30 PM at Quota 1000 (Ercolano) and a guided ascent to the volcano's rim.

On Wednesday, September 2nd, at the Early Christian Basilicas of Cimitile, it's Danilo Rea's turn with Sakamoto & Me, a jazz interpretation of Ryuichi Sakamoto's repertoire, in dialogue with electronics and visuals. Marco De Falco & Alessandro Tedesco will open the show.

On Thursday, September 3rd, again in Cimitile, the Stefano Di Battista Quintet presents La Dolce Vita: Italian soundtracks and songs from Nino Rota to Morricone, from Paolo Conte to Lucio Dalla, all the way to Modugno and Carosone. Agora Tá opens.

Vesuvius returns on Sunday, September 6th, along the Antica Strada Matrone: Maurizio De Giovanni and Marco Zurzolo present Canzoni per Ricciardi, a show combining storytelling, theater, and Neapolitan melodies inspired by the world of Inspector Ricciardi. Marianita Carfora, Giacinto Piracci, and Rocco Zaccagnino will also take the stage. Marco De Falco will open the show.

The summer session closes on Saturday, September 12th with Billy Cobham's Time Machine at the Roman Amphitheater in Avella: a career spanning over fifty years of jazz, rock, and fusion, with an international band. Claudio Romano opens the show.

Vesuvius Jazz and sustainability

The two sunset events on the volcano—August 30th and September 6th—are part of the VesuviusJazz program, in collaboration with the Vesuvius National Park Authority. On August 30th, the audience climbs on foot from Quota 1000; on September 6th, the activities take place using electric vehicles along Strada Matrone. Both events are plastic-free and part of the Green Jazz project, active since 2013. The festival is also continuing its journey toward Ecoevents certification.

Autumn, training and exhibitions

The second session will take place between late October and mid-November: "A New Sketches of Spain" for the Miles Davis centenary with Israel Galván and Michael Leonhart; "Hamilton de Holanda" by Javier Girotto & Francesco Nastro; and the return of Gonzalo Rubalcaba on October 28th with "Gonzalo Plays Pino." The Young Jazz Lab, a workshop for young musicians, and the Sound Stories – Jazz and Other Stories exhibition remain key.

"Pomigliano Jazz embodies the idea of ​​culture we want to promote: an open space founded on participation, freedom of expression, and debate," says Onofrio Cutaia, Councilor for Culture for the Campania Region. "Jazz becomes a catalyst for community. Art and culture are not just entertainment, but drivers of growth."

Raffaele De Luca, president of the Vesuvius National Park Authority, emphasizes that concerts in the Park "are not simple musical events, but experiences that engage with the places," enhancing nature, history, and local communities.
Artistic director Onofrio Piccolo explains the choice of a festival "spread across space and time": in the summer, a focus on local areas and sustainability, in the fall on education and outreach, "with music at the center" and a "popular and participatory" program, rooted in Campania but open to international audiences.

The 31st edition is supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Vesuvius National Park Authority, promoted and funded by the Campania Region through Scabec with the Italy 21–27 Cohesion Funds. Organized by the Pomigliano Jazz Foundation, in partnership with the Municipalities of Pomigliano d'Arco, Avella, and Cimitile, and the Instituto Cervantes of Naples.
Tickets and info
Advance tickets are available at Azzurro Service, Vivaticket, and regional ticket outlets. Info: 081 5934001 – azzurroservice.net. Official website: pomiglianojazz.com.
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