The Italian Ukulele Festival Named Best in the World: Monopolele – Mediterranean Ukulele Fest Returns from May 28 to June 1
Six-time Grammy Award winner Daniel Ho, artists from more than 20 countries and the Cuban youth orchestra Son de Sol will gather in Monopoli for five days of free events, concerts, workshops, street performances and late-night jam sessions
United States, 19th May 2026 – From May 28 to June 1, 2026, the city of Monopoli, in Puglia, will once again host a festival that, in just four editions, has gained international recognition, attracted audiences from more than twenty countries and generated a direct economic impact exceeding €100,000 per edition.
Founded in 2022 by Mauro Minenna and Salvo McGraffio, Monopolele – Mediterranean Ukulele Fest reached a major milestone in 2025 when it received the Jury Award for Best Festival worldwide at the Ukies, the most authoritative recognition within the global ukulele community.
The award confirms the growing international profile of an event supported by Regione Puglia, Grandi Eventi 2026 and the Municipality of Monopoli, and capable of turning an instrument often perceived as niche into a coherent, accessible and internationally recognised cultural platform.
A concrete model for international cultural tourism
The festival’s numbers speak clearly. Over the last two editions, around two thirds of the audience came from abroad, with visitors from Germany, France, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and several other countries.
International visitors stay in Monopoli for an average of more than five nights, while 85% say they intend to return the following year. In 2024 and 2025, the festival generated more than €100,000 per edition in direct local economic impact, benefiting accommodation facilities, restaurants, technical services and local suppliers.
At a time when off-season tourism development is often discussed in abstract terms, Monopolele offers a concrete case: an international cultural event able to bring visitors to Puglia before the peak of the summer season, while creating measurable value for the local area.
For five days, Monopoli’s old town, ancient harbour, churches, cloisters and open-air spaces become stages for concerts, workshops, spontaneous performances and late-night jam sessions. Access to the main events remains free, a choice that has been part of the festival’s identity since the first edition and continues to make participation one of its defining features.
The 2026 programme: from Hawaii to Europe
The 2026 line-up brings together leading names from the international ukulele scene.
Daniel Ho, from Hawaii, is a six-time Grammy Award winner and one of the most authoritative voices in contemporary Hawaiian music.
Gaute Søderholm, also known as Norwegian Uke, is the first musician to have earned a degree in Norwegian folk music with the ukulele as his main instrument.
French artist Jane For Tea blends chanson and acoustic pop with elegance and personality.
Dutch duo Sage & Zaza create a refined dialogue between vintage jazz and Hawaiian influences.
British artist Arlo Anwin works with loop stations and field recordings, expanding the expressive possibilities of the instrument.
The all-female Slovakian Paper Moon Trio revives the vocal harmonies of the 1920s and 1930s through original arrangements.
 |
They will be joined by Four String Boy, London-based Ukulele Ska Collective and award-winning Italian singer-songwriter Erica Mou, who will perform during the grand finale in Piazza XX Settembre.
One of the most distinctive sections of the festival will be Sound Embraces, featuring double bassist and composer Paolo Damiani, a central figure in European jazz, former artistic director of the French National Jazz Orchestra and one of the founders of the Italian Instabile Orchestra. At Monopolele, Damiani will bring his double bass into direct dialogue with ukulele virtuosos, creating one of the most unexpected encounters of the 2026 edition.
Education, inclusion and international community
On Friday, May 29, on the steps of the Cathedral, around one hundred young musicians from institutes in Monopoli, Bari and Sulmona will perform together with the Cuban youth orchestra Son de Sol. The orchestra will also return for the closing night in Piazza XX Settembre alongside Erica Mou and the other artists of the grand finale.
The 2026 edition will also host “Specchi”, a dance and ukulele project involving children and adults with disabilities, accompanied by Daniel Ho.
The project reflects one of the most recognisable aspects of Monopolele: a festival that lends instruments during beginner workshops, brings music into public spaces and allows professionals, amateurs and first-time participants to share the same musical context.
A further new feature will be four consecutive late-night outdoor jam sessions, from Thursday to Sunday, led by invited international ensembles including the Ukulele Big Band of Ankara, Ukulele Tuesday from Dublin and a group from Galway. The organisers describe the format as “an absolute rarity on the world ukulele scene”.
The festival’s street performances are another defining element: six sessions across the three central days, held in three iconic locations in the historic centre — Largo Garibaldi, Piazza Garibaldi and Largo Castello. More than a traditional open mic, they turn the city itself into a stage and remove the distance between performers and audience.
The digital dimension confirms the reach achieved by the festival. Over four years, Monopolele has built an active international community, supported not only by its official channels but also by the direct participation of guest artists and global ukulele communities. The festival’s Facebook page now exceeds 12,000 followers, while reels published in recent months have reached almost one million total views, with the most viewed content surpassing 643,000 views.
Monopolele 2026 stands as an Italian case of international cultural relevance: a festival where music, accessibility, global reputation and local impact converge in a form that now extends far beyond the usual perimeter of a sector event.
 |
Organisation: Associazione Voltare Pagina ETS
Patronage: Municipality of Monopoli
Supported by: Regione Puglia, Grandi Eventi 2026
Website: https://monopolele.com/
Company Details
Organization: Music & Media Press di Elisa Aura Serrani
Contact Person: Team Music & Media Press di Elisa Aura Serrani
Website: https://www.musicandmediapress.it
Email: Send Email
Contact Number: +13394498363
Address: Via Tommaso Bianchi, 12
Address 2: PAVIA, PV, Italia
Country: United States
Release Id: 19052644887