The capital of Victoria was swept up in unstoppable enthusiasm, as tradition and modernity intertwined to the irresistible rhythm of Italian culture.

The celebration opened with tradition: the voices of the Coro Veneto performed the Australian and Italian national anthems, followed by the refined, nostalgic sounds of Solo Antico, who transported the audience back to a time when music was about storytelling, emotion and heritage.

Then the melodies turned contemporary with the versatile voice of Lissa Bruno, who switched seamlessly between Italian and English songs, before the acclaimed Siesta Cartel transformed the stage into a musical journey through the roots of Italian music.

The atmosphere heated up even more with Courtney Severini and her Spaghetti Jive, an explosion of rhythm and Italian rockabilly flair that she referred to as “a plate of joy”, a sparkling tribute to the golden age of Rome and to the music that shaped a generation.

From Calabria to Victoria, Sabatum Quartet offered an intense and authentic folk concert, while the Latin energy of Alessia Licitra and Italoritmo got everyone dancing to an irresistible Italian salsa.

As night fell, the festival turned into an open-air disco, with the infectious energy of Pauly J and his band delivering an unforgettable show.

“It was priceless to share the stage with such talented and genuine people,” said Pauly J, grateful for the group’s chemistry and for bringing Italian music back to the spotlight “with a modern twist”.

Later, DJ Stefano Marcianò set the crowd alight with Gabry Ponte’s Tutta l’Italia, as Marco and Simone from Radio Italiana 531 waved Italian flags over a sea of cheering fans.

DJ Morena followed with a disco remix of Umberto Tozzi’s Ti amo, saying that “every beat of this song filled my heart with gratitude, love and joy”.

To close the two incredible days of music, DJ Mark Pellegrini kept the audience suspended between rhythm and emotion, thanking everyone for the energy, connection and love that only music can create.

The Italian Festa & Expo 2025 was a true explosion of sound and feeling, once again celebrating the timeless magic of Italian music.