Ermal Meta to conduct Notte della Taranta 2026 festival in Salento

Albanian‑born Italian singer‑songwriter Ermal Meta will act as maestro concertatore for the 2026 edition of Notte della Taranta, the largest popular‑music festival in Europe, held in the Salento region of Italy. In an interview he said the show will blend traditional Salento sounds with his personal artistic imprint, featuring an orchestra of about thirty musicians and numerous vocalists, and will continue the event’s free‑entry format that attracted tens of thousands of visitors at rehearsals.

Meta also discussed his latest album *Funzioni vitali* and the video for his single “Calma metafisica,” which juxtaposes idyllic beach scenes with war‑like imagery. He rejected accusations of being a communist, stating that those who label him as such are “certainly fascist.” The 2026 festival, themed “Le vie del Mediterraneo,” will take place on 22 August in Melpignano’s former Augustinian convent, with guest performers including Alessandra Amoroso, Levante, Maria Mazzotta, Gisela João and Wello.