In a world where everything is planned and predictable, the Ferrara Buskers Festival stands as a sanctuary where art chooses you, rather than the other way around. There is no fixed schedule or program to follow—only the charm of the unexpected, art that finds you when you least anticipate it.

The Buskers Festival is not simply an event with a beginning and an end; it is an artistic explosion that fills every corner of Ferrara for five days. Between performances, discover painters telling stories on walls, poets transforming benches into stages, and jugglers redefining the laws of physics. This festival is not merely to be watched—it is an ecosystem to be inhabited, where every sense is awakened and every certainty questioned.

What you witness this year will never be seen again. Each performance is unique by nature. Every encounter between artists is one of a kind. Every moment of magic is born and ends right there—in that instant, on that street, with that audience. This is live art in its most profound and radical sense.

Since 1988, we have preserved the purest form of art: the art that chooses the street as its stage and chance as its director. We believe that the truest art is the one that finds you when you least expect it.

259 artists from 19 countries around the world. Over 60 shows every evening.

This year, the festival welcomes artists from Australia to Japan, from South Korea to Canada, with Taiwan participating for the first time. Among them are 121 young talents under 35, bringing energy and innovation to the streets of Ferrara.

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At midnight, the festival changes pace, it doesn’t stop.

When the street performances end, the music moves to a place, the Listone, where artists and the audience come together in a more intimate atmosphere. This is the moment to experience the buskers in a different setting, where performances are extended and spontaneous collaborations take place.

Enjoy live music, some DJ sets, and the chance to meet up close the artists you applauded during the day. The event goes on until 3 AM, with the same energy but in a more relaxed style.

The festival continues, simply in a different way.

The Gianna Nannini Award was created to celebrate artists who embody the purest essence of busking: the courage to perform without safety nets and the ability to transform every street corner into a living stage.

Dedicated to the singer-songwriter who, in 2020, surprised everyone by performing from the drawbridge of the Castello Estense, this award honors those who combine authenticity and talent, tradition and innovation, making the street not just a place to pass through but a space for connection and sharing.

It is a tribute to those who restore music to its original power: to unite strangers, to move people without filters, and to create community where there was once only indifference.

The first edition of the award will be presented on August 27, at the opening of the 38th edition of the Festival.

38 years of history. Infinite surprises no one expected.

In 1989, Lucio Dalla appeared in Piazzetta San Michele with a guitar and clarinet, blending in with other buskers. In 2020, Gianna Nannini amazed everyone by performing from the drawbridge of the Castello Estense.
These moments were not in the program but became legends.

This is the power of street art: you never know who you’ll meet around the corner. Edoardo Bennato, Franco Mussida, Angelo Branduardi, Daniele Silvestri… Italian artists who chose the street as their stage, leaving the spotlight behind to embrace the authenticity of busking.

Every appearance has been an unexpected gift, a reminder that the truest art happens when you least expect it. No announcements, no fanfare, no VIP tickets. Just the artist, the street, and the magic of the unexpected.

These are the moments that make every edition unique and unforgettable.

Secure your access to the unpredictable.

Supporting the Ferrara Buskers Festival means believing in an event built on passion, shared energy, and genuine music. Your ticket helps keep the Festival you love alive.

Over 250 artists from 19 countries.
Shows and performances throughout the city.
Concerts and DJ sets every evening.
Exhibitions, meetings, and special screening.
Workshops for all ages.
Great vibes and unforgettable moments.