Arezzo Wave

Arezzo Wave Love Contest and Festival is recognized as the biggest Italian rock festival ever. With over 2 million attendees over the years, it has made a significant mark on Italy’s musical history. The festival is held in Arezzo, Tuscany, in the heart of Italy.

The music contest, active since the first edition, has seen more than 54,000 bands and Italian artists apply, representing every region of Italy. Every year, dozens of regional selections lead to the Arezzo Wave finals, held in the second week of October. In addition to performances by the top artists from each region, the festival also hosts debates, meetings, and international guests who close the event.

In the early 2000s, Arezzo Wave saw peak attendance, with over 200,000 people participating. Today, the festival has evolved into a more intimate “boutique” format, but it remains keenly focused on discovering new trends and supporting emerging talent, both in Italy and abroad. Los Angeles, London, Paris, and many other international cities have hosted Italian artists selected by Arezzo Wave, helping to bring these talents into the spotlight.

The festival goes beyond music: over the years, it has supported important social initiatives, such as building a surgical room in Afghanistan with Emergency, and has promoted activities to aid disadvantaged communities. In recent years, Arezzo Wave has also developed a direct connection with Ukraine and its musicians, supporting the nation in difficult times.

The festival embraces all styles of popular music, from electronic to rap, rock, singer-songwriter, world music, and reggae, without distinguishing between genres but focusing solely on the quality of the artist and their expression.

In addition to music, the festival has welcomed notable cultural figures from various fields. Renowned artists like Moebius curated the festival’s visual aspects, while acclaimed filmmakers such as Emir Kusturica, writers like Luis Sepúlveda, and cultural icons such as Miriam Makeba and Michael Lang, the organizer of Woodstock, have been part of its rich programme.

Arezzo Wave is a place where music, visual arts, cinema, and literature converge, offering a unique and diverse cultural experience. It has established itself as one of Italy’s most important and enduring cultural events.

Chemical Brother, LCD Soundsystem, Ben Harper, Lou Reed, Placebo, Kraftwerk, Aphex Twin, Underworld, Manu Chao, Jovanott, Paolo Nutini, Kaiser Chiefs, Sinead O’Connor, Nick Cave, Gnarls Barkley, David Byrne, Apocalyptica, Joe Zawinul, Miriam Makeba, Youssou N’Dour, Tricky, The Residents, Johnny Clegg and Savuka, Julieta Venegas, Cypress Hill, Sonic Youth, Rollins Band, etc.