Festival Ethnos

The Ethnos Festival, now in its XXX edition, is a high-profile cultural and tourism-focused event aimed at enhancing cultural heritage through a programme of artistic events and performances of national and international relevance.

Ethnos has established itself at both national and international level, and is recognised as one of the most important World Music festivals in Italy, thanks to its long tradition and the prestige of the many renowned artists who have performed on its stage throughout its history. Since 1995, the festival has showcased a wide range of musical cultures and traditional repertoires from around the world, hosting in Naples and across its province artists and musicians who bring with them distant cultures and sounds from the most diverse corners of the planet, thus reaffirming its nature as a major cultural and intercultural event.

The artistic value and cultural importance of the Festival are acknowledged not only by the Italian Ministry of Culture, but also by regional and local institutions. The festival is a member of the Italian World Music Network and, thanks to its reputation, holds international relevance, receiving frequent invitations to fairs, expos, and industry meetings in various countries.

Artists who have performed at Ethnos include Miriam Makeba, Mercedes Sosa, Inti Illimani, Khaled, Dulce Pontes, Oumou Sangaré, Buena Vista Social Club, Gilberto Gil, The Chieftains, Rokia Traoré, Sakamoto, Cheikha Rimitti, Abdelli, Omar Sosa, Bombino, Anouar Brahem, Fanfara Ciocărlia, Kočani Orkestar, Fatoumata Diawara, Dhafer Youssef, Tinariwen, the “Silk Roads” project with 30 artists from Central Asia, as well as Tuareg, Aboriginal, Native American, and Mongolian performers, Sufi, Gnawa, Israeli and Palestinian artists, and renowned Italian musicians. This rich artistic heritage confirms the festival’s identity as a major intercultural event, supported by a loyal audience and constantly attracting new younger spectators, educating them over time to discover new artists, to attentive listening, and to experiencing music not only as a performance but as a journey enriched by places, paths and emotions.

The festival has also developed collateral projects and multidisciplinary artistic initiatives, reinforcing its status as a prominent event attended by thousands of spectators. Thanks to its international reputation and the quality of the work carried out over the years, the Festival Director is regularly invited to major world music expos, fairs and international meetings such as Womex, Babel Med, Fira Mediterrània de Manresa, Mozambique Music Meeting, Visa for Music, Atlantic Music Expo, Mundial Montréal, and Medimex.

The 2025–2027 triennium proudly marks the milestone of over thirty years of the festival’s history, confirming Ethnos as one of the most long-standing, historic and established world music festivals.

Programme & Schedule

The festival programme will animate each day with multiple activities scheduled at different times:

• Concert Series • InterCultural Dialogues • Workshops and Children’s Activities • Le Terre del Rimorso • Ethnomusic Documentary Screenings

Concert Series

This section presents a programme of concerts by international artists dedicated to world music traditions, performing exclusively for Ethnos in harmony with the historical venues that will host them.

InterCultural Dialogues

This section will feature meetings with writers and book presentations, human rights activists, and artists, providing an opportunity to explore topics related to peace, multicultural integration, and coexistence among different cultures.

Workshops and Musical Activities for Adults and Children

Ethnos Festival also offers opportunities for learning through workshops dedicated to dance, musical instruments and sounds from around the world. A dedicated space will host educational workshops on ethnic instruments designed especially for children.

Le Terre del Rimorso

A conference dedicated to popular culture and traditional festivities that have remained unchanged over time, and which have been the focus of interest and renewed study by leading ethnomusicologists and anthropologists.

Ethnomusic Documentaries

Screenings of ethnomusicological documentaries on specific themes, followed by talks with directors and artists involved in the films.

All the artists performing at the festival will come from diverse geographical areas and will present their work in Italian exclusivity. Each artistic project, as per Ethnos tradition, brings with it stories and cultures to be shared.

The programme will also include book presentations and debates on cultural diversity as part of the “InterCultural Dialogues” section. Additional cultural activities are also planned, including workshops for both adults and children, a thematic conference on popular culture, and screenings of ethnomusicological documentaries.

Communication Strategy

The Festival Communication Office manages a comprehensive information system designed to promote the festival’s many activities at both regional and national levels. The communication plan combines traditional and digital channels, managed by qualified professionals ensuring daily and widespread communication. The strategy will include:

Social Media Content • Video spots to be shared on major social platforms and on the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@festivalethnos4766 • Daily updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EthnosFestival?fref=ts and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethnosfestival/