Napoli World will return to Naples, Italy, from December 3-5, 2026, for its fifth edition, after the international showcase festival received a record 534 artist applications from 85 countries.
Dedicated to world music and its professional sector, the three-day event will host concerts and industry activities at several venues in Naples. Italian World Beat and Audioimage organize the festival, with Fabio Scopino and Davide Mastropaolo as organizational directors.
The 534 submissions represent the highest total in Napoli World’s history. The festival’s management will now review the applications and select the artists for the 2026 live showcase program. The final number of selected acts has yet to be announced.
The showcase format gives chosen artists an opportunity to perform for music professionals from Italy and other countries. In addition, the program includes free concerts for the public, panel discussions and speed meetings intended to connect artists, managers, and other industry representatives.
“Napoli World continues to strengthen its position within the international world music sector,” Scopino and Mastropaolo said in a joint statement. They added that this year’s application total reflects interest from both artists who seek international opportunities and music professionals who pursue partnerships and projects in other markets.
Napoli World receives support from Italy’s Ministry of Culture through the 2025-2027 FUS funding program and from the City of Naples as part of the Napoli Città della Musica project.
The festival also belongs to UPBEAT – The European Showcase Platform for World Music, a European network that supports artist circulation and international mobility.
The showcase lineup and further program details still to be announced.
More information at https://www.musiconnect-italy.com/
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central