IT
Record-breaking results for #Giffoni56. General Director Jacopo Gubitosi and Artistic Director Luca Apolito: “Our dream machine is already set to take off again for the 2027 edition, from July 16 to 24.”
Officially, today marks the final day of the festival. But behind the scenes, the organization is already gearing up for the next edition. Because the doors of what has been, for more than half a century, a home for children, teenagers, young people, and, of course, their families, never truly close.
During the #Giffoni56 closing press conference, the dates for the 2027 edition were officially announced: the Festival will take place from July 16 to 24, 2027, with an even richer program of events, guests and, above all, unforgettable emotions. Once again, it was those emotions that captivated both the hundreds of thousands who experienced Giffoni in person and the many more who shared in its magic through media coverage.
More than 250,000 people took part over the course of the nine-day event. Media coverage exceeded 3,200 articles across newspapers, websites and news agencies, including 367 pieces published by leading national and regional newspapers such as Corriere della Sera, la Repubblica, La Stampa, Il Sole 24 Ore, Il Messaggero, Il Tempo, Avvenire, QN, Il Mattino, Corriere del Mezzogiorno, La Città and Le Cronache del Mezzogiorno. A further 2,849 articles were published by agencies including ANSA, AGI, Adnkronos and Askanews, as well as online news outlets and specialized portals.
#Giffoni56 also achieved record-breaking results across digital platforms, generating 82.3 million social media views, 14.7 million website views on giffoni.it, and 680 million of OTS, reflecting the extraordinary reach and impact of the Festival’s media coverage. These figures are expected to grow further, as they refer only to the Festival’s first seven days.
Behind these impressive numbers, announced this morning during the closing press conference, lie the passion and vision that have always been the lifeblood of Giffoni, an internationally recognized cultural hub.
“This is not an ending,” said General Director Jacopo Gubitosi. “It is a new beginning. We are already thinking about the 57th edition, which will take place from July 16 to 24, and in the coming months we will unveil the new theme. Over these past days we have focused on listening. It was wonderful to hear children and young people tell us that this has been the edition of change. Once again, through the unique lens of cinema, we explored profound issues that will remain in our hearts. My deepest thanks go to all the Giffoners and to the families who chose Giffoni as their home once again, placing their trust in us.”
Artistic Director Luca Apolito reflected on Icarus, the symbol of #Giffoni56, as a metaphor for an entire generation: “Our Icarus is different, with a destiny unlike that of the myth. We chose to portray him without a face because we wanted to find that face here, among the more than five thousand jurors who filled our theatres. We wanted them to give us the energy of those who embrace challenges knowing they are not destined to fall. At the same time, they understand that they must try, take risks, disobey and rebel against stereotypes and labels.
Throughout the year we constantly hear people talking about young people, and the narrative is almost always the same: they are portrayed as incapable. At Giffoni, we are tired of hearing that. It simply isn’t true. This generation is moving in a different direction. It is not a generation destined to fail. It has so much to say, which is why young people must be given the opportunity to speak instead of being spoken about without ever being heard. The impossible things they whispered to us allow us to see both the present and the future.”
Davide Russo, Head of Institutional Relations, thanked everyone who has consistently stood by the Festival from the Municipality and the Campania Region to the Ministries and corporate partners. “I was deeply struck by a remark made by Councillor Cutaia, who said that Giffoni has to be experienced in person; otherwise, it is difficult to truly understand it. And that is absolutely true, because Giffoni is a miracle built on ethics, responsibility and an extraordinary collective effort that takes place behind the scenes. We have felt the support of local and national institutions alike. Among many others, I would like to thank Campania Regional President Fico, who spoke to our young people from the heart.”
A miracle made possible by the vision of Giffoni founder : Claudio Gubitosi, whose legacy was recalled by Mayor Antonio Giuliano. “His passion and transparency have been an invaluable lesson and brought us to where we are today. Together we have written pages of history, and history cannot be rewritten, it can only be enriched by carrying forward the work he began. The entire community is involved in a project that extends far beyond the Festival itself, continuing throughout the year and contributing to the development of our territory, starting with the facilities that host us. The current 30,000-square-metre Festival Citadel will soon be expanded by another 20,000 square metres, including 5,000 square metres of public green space. Since 2016, investments have reached €34 million, with an additional €3 million dedicated to roads and parking facilities. Will we stop? Absolutely not. We will continue with seriousness and responsibility because Giffoni represents a model of integrity and humility. Here, nothing is impossible.”
His remarks were echoed by Pietro Rinaldi, President of the Giffoni Experience Authority: “Claudio Gubitosi gave us the opportunity to grow. Two months ago we faced a difficult situation that challenged us, but we dealt with it with the transparency and determination that define us. Thanks to our legal team, we demonstrated that the allegations against us were completely unfounded. We have always placed our trust in the judiciary, confident and proud of our integrity.”
Rinaldi then invited Festival founder Claudio Gubitosi to the stage. “For the first time, I was able to enjoy what I created from the outside, observing everything that was happening and seeing that it was unfolding in the best possible way. My gratitude goes to my entire team because this outcome was neither easy nor guaranteed. Today I can say that I am a happy man because, despite a difficult period, we achieved and even exceeded our goals.”
The wings for the 2027 edition are already in place. “We will begin working immediately on the next edition,” concluded Jacopo Gubitosi and Luca Apolito. “Starting today, we dream again. Because people arrive here as individuals, but they leave as a community. At Giffoni, ‘I’ becomes ‘we’.”