For the first time, Pisa is hosting the Eurocarnival – Guggen Musik 2026, one of the most important European gatherings of the Guggen Bands.
The event, organised by the Municipality of Pisa together with the organisers of the Eurocarnival and in collaboration with Confcommercio, is scheduled for Friday 23 January, with the participation of 36 musical groups from different European countries: Switzerland (10), Germany (21), Austria (4) and Italy (1).
Around 800 musicians, armed with percussion and wind instruments - saxophones, trombones, trumpets, bass drums and drums “furniture” - and characterised by colourful costumes and masks, will enliven the streets and squares of the historic centre with the typical energy of Guggenmusik, the carnival musical style born in the mid-twentieth century in Basel and spread throughout Europe, characterized by a deliberately off-key and dissonant performance of popular and rock/pop songs, a driving rhythm and the use of wind instruments and percussion.
The Eurocarnival is an international event that, by tradition, is organized every year in a different European city before Carnival celebrations in the Guggen Bands' home countries. After cities such as Prague, Venice, Verona, Salzburg, Trieste, Mainz and Berlin, Pisa became the venue for the event for the first time, marking the event's absolute debut in Tuscany and the southernmost stop ever reached. An occasion of great cultural and tourist value for the city, which will have the opportunity to welcome hundreds of musicians and visitors from all over Europe, showcasing its artistic beauties and strengthening Pisa's image as a city open to international events.
Program
The bands are expected to arrive in the city around 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 23, with traveling performances in the city's main squares. At 11:00 a.m., two representatives from each group will be received by the mayor of Pisa, Michele Conti, and the tourism councilor, Paolo Pesciatini, in the Balearic Hall of Palazzo Gambacorti.
At 12:00 p.m., under the Logge di Banchi, the Municipality of Pisa will offer the 800 musicians a welcome dish featuring a local product: baked pasta with Pisan mucco meat, a testament to the area's attention to gastronomic excellence.
The program will continue in the afternoon with the bands meeting at 1:30 p.m. in Piazza del Duomo. At 2:00 p.m., the large parade will begin through the city streets (Via Santa Maria, Via l'Arancio, Via San Frediano, Lungarno Pacinotti, Borgo Stretto, Via Ulisse Dini), concluding at 3:30 PM in Piazza dei Cavalieri. The “Monster Konzert”, the final concert with all the bands reunited, will be held here.
