02 Oct Salina Jazz Festival 2026: Ten Years of Music in the Heart of the Island
From 18 to 20 September 2026, Malfa celebrated the tenth edition of the Salina Jazz Festival: three days dedicated to music, culture and the meeting of generations, set against the evocative backdrop of Palazzo Marchetti.
For Hotel Punta Scario, it was a great pleasure and a privilege to be a partner of such a meaningful edition and to attend all three unforgettable evenings of live music. We experienced the Festival alongside the artists and the audience, allowing ourselves to be surprised each night by different atmospheres, sounds and musical projects.
An Edition Dedicated to Clara Rametta
The tenth edition was dedicated to the memory of Clara Rametta, founder of the Associazione Didime ’90 and the Salina Jazz Festival. Her vision was rooted in the belief that culture could become a genuine driving force for the local community and its territory. Today, that vision continues to live through a Festival that brings music into dialogue with the deepest identity of Salina.
Born from the long-standing collaboration between Clara Rametta and artistic director Giuseppe Urso, the Festival chose, for this special anniversary, to look above all towards the future, offering an important stage to a new generation of young musicians. This choice transformed the tenth anniversary into something more than a celebration of the Festival’s first decade: it became the beginning of a new chapter.
Three Evenings, Three Musical Journeys
The opening night, on Friday 18 September, began with “Music for Piano Trio”, featuring Giuseppe Urso on piano, Antonio Alaimo on double bass and Andrea Mortillaro on drums. It was an intense musical dialogue shaped by interplay, exploration and expressive freedom.
The evening continued with Big Papa & The Kids, bringing together the energy of Fabio Lannino on bass and double bass, Tommaso Lannino on piano and Francesco Foresta Jr on drums. A beautiful encounter between experience and freshness, connecting different generations through music.
On Saturday 19 September, following the evocative sunrise music event at the port of Santa Marina, Palazzo Marchetti welcomed Chiara Minaldi and Giorgia Meli. The two vocalists took the audience on an elegant journey through jazz standards, creating an intimate and sophisticated atmosphere.
The second part of the evening belonged to La Salamanca – Latin Project, with an engaging and vibrant performance in which jazz met the rhythms, colours and irresistible energy of Latin music.
On Sunday 20 September, the Festival once again greeted the rising sun, this time accompanied by the piano of Tommaso Lannino.
Later that evening, we enjoyed the Simone Rumolo / Vincenzo Capuano Duo, two young talents on drums and saxophone. Bringing the tenth edition to a close were the Kolne Trio and Naya, with the premiere presentation of the piece Obsession: a contemporary and emotional finale, perfectly reflecting the spirit of a Festival constantly looking towards new musical horizons.
When Jazz Meets Salina
In Salina, the landscape is never simply a backdrop. The sea, the vineyards, the wind, the scents of the Mediterranean vegetation and the island’s unmistakable silence all become part of the musical experience.
And perhaps this is exactly what makes the Salina Jazz Festival so special. Music accompanies the island as it awakens during the sunrise concerts, while in the evening jazz fills the spaces of Palazzo Marchetti, transforming them into a place of listening, connection and discovery.
As a partner of the Festival, Hotel Punta Scario is proud to have supported an event that celebrates Malfa, brings people closer to music and creates meaningful opportunities for young artists.
Being present throughout all three evenings allowed us to fully experience the spirit of this tenth edition: the memory of what has been, the emotion of the present and confidence in what is yet to come.
Thank you to the Salina Jazz Festival, its organisers, all the artists and everyone who joined us for three unforgettable evenings. We are delighted to have been part of this beautiful story and already look forward to meeting again for the next edition.
In Clara’s name, in the heart of Salina, to the sound of jazz.