IF 26

Italian Festa · Melbourne

Five stages, five worlds of sound

Live concerts, Italian disco DJs, jazz, beer-garden bands and two student shows - running across both days.

Five stages, five worlds of sound

/ Programme highlights

The Verrocchi Stage

Live performance on the Main Stage at the Italian Festa

ZONE B · OUTDOOR

Live shows

Head to the outdoor VERROCCHI STAGE located in La Piazza, where live concerts, community performances and official ceremonies fill both days. Watch homegrown talent take the spotlight in the Student Talent Show, then settle in for the headline acts under the open sky.

/ Programme highlights

La Discoteca

Italian disco, live DJs and a dance floor under the lights — Zone D, from morning till after dark.

01

THE SOUND

DJ and dancers on an illuminated stage at night

Italian classics & disco DJs

A rolling lineup of DJs spinning Italo disco, dance-pop and the floor-fillers that defined Italian nightlife.

02

THE FLOOR

Performer on an illuminated stage at night

Open-air dancefloor

A full outdoor dance floor in the heart of the precinct — no ticket, just turn up and dance at any time of the day

03

AFTER DARK

Outdoor festival atmosphere in the evening

Both nights, till late

The Discoteca moves to La Piazza on the Verrocchi Stage after dark with exclusive performances from Italian DJs both on Saturday and Sunday — the natural finish to a day at the Festa.

/ Programme highlights

Italian Jazz Club

Jazz musician playing the trumpet

THEATRETTE IN THE GALLERY

The only Italian Jazz Festival in Australia

The Italian Jazz Club explores the creative dialogue between Italian and international jazz. Bringing together artists from Australia, Italy, and beyond, the series celebrates jazz: a tradition shaped by exchange, curiosity, and collaboration. Each concert offers a rare opportunity to experience this musical conversation in an intimate setting with limited seating.

/ Programme highlights

Beer Garden

Crowd enjoying drinks in the outdoor beer garden

OUTDOOR SOCIAL - ZONE E

Brought to you by Birra Moretti

Grab a cold Birra Moretti and unwind in the open-air Beer Garden, where musicians and buskers keep the live music rolling. It's the relaxed social heart of the festival, with giant outdoor games to gather around and plenty of room to kick back between sets.

/ Programme highlights

Students Live Performances

As part of the Settimana della Lingua Italian nel Mondo, we host performances of primary schools choirs in the upstairs stage and secondary school students in the Verrocchi Stage

Students performing on stage at the Italian Festa

VERROCCHI STAGE & UPDTAIRS STAGE

Next generations take the stage

The future of Italian culture takes centre stage. Enjoy the Student Talent Show and Piccole Voci Geniali, where talented secondary students and primary school choirs celebrate music, language and community.
The choral event Piccole Voci Geniali and Students Talent Show are presented in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy of Melbourne for Victoria and Tasmania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy as part of the global celebration of the Settimana della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo (Week of the Italian Language in the World).

PREVIOUS EDITIONS

Festa nights

Main Stage crowd

Italian Festa '24

Main Stage Crowd

SATURDAY NIGHT

Italo Disco floor

Italian Festa '25

Dancing Italy

AFTER DARK

Jazz Club lounge

Italian Festa '25

Jazz Club Lounge

INTIMATE SETTING

Beer Garden session

Italian Festa '25

Beer Garden Session

OUTDOOR

STAGES & VENUES

Where the music lives

Two large stages - outdoor and indoor - plus dedicated music venues across the precinct.

LA PIAZZA - ZONE B

The Verrocchi Stage

Main live performances, concerts, official ceremonies, community performances and the Student Talent Show opening every day from 11am.

INDOOR UPSTAIRS - ZONE T

Upstairs Stage

Piccole Voci Geniali (11am–1pm), Cooking Demonstrations (2pm–6pm), Pellegrini's movie special projections on both nights from 6.30pm

ZONE R · TICKETED

Italian Jazz Club

Upstairs in the Gallery unique jazz performances. Premium ticketed music experience in a cocktail lounge atmosphere. Promoted in collaboration with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival.

TICKETED EXPERIENCE

OUTDOOR

Beer Garden - Live Music

Outdoor live music with Italian musicians and buskers. Social gathering area with giant outdoor games.

PRESENTED BY BIRRA MORETTI

OUTDOOR - ZONE D

La Discoteca

Italian disco music, DJs, dance floor atmosphere. All day entertainment.

PRESENTED BY ITALO DISCO COFFEE

/ Stay connected

Build your night

Mix the free outdoor stages with a ticketed Jazz Club session — many visitors do both in the same evening.