The Piazza Grande in Locarno beat once again to the rhythm of live music with a new record edition of Moon & Stars, one of the most loved and most followed festivals in Switzerland. From pop to rock, from electronic music to the singer-songwriter soul, the 2025 programme enchanted thousands of spectators with sold-out evenings, surprising shows and moments of pure magic. And Italian music played a leading role, between emotion, energy and ovations.
Thursday 10 July was an evening devoted to Italy. Opening the Italian line-up was Nek, with his radio hits and his energetic presence, followed by the young and intense Rose Villain, who brought elegance and personality to the stage. Closing the evening came the long awaited return of Gigi D’Agostino, who set the Piazza Grande alight with his legendary beats. A perfect mix of emotion and rhythm, welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd.
The second evening of the festival was an explosion of sounds and colours. Clean Bandit thrilled the audience with their unique mix of classical and electronic music, carrying the evening with hits such as “Rather Be” and “Rockabye”. Then Scooter turned the Piazza Grande into an open-air rave, with powerful bass, strobe lights and fireworks. From every corner of the square, the audience danced without a break.
The Food & Music Street was also a success, buzzing from the afternoon onwards with food trucks, international specialities and free concerts. The evening then closed with the afterparty on the Piazza Piccola.
On Sunday 13 July Moon & Stars delivered one of the finest surprises of this edition. After the engaging sets by Kamrad and Alvaro Soler, it was up to Samu Haber to close the evening. But the highlight came when, all of a sudden, all three artists found themselves on stage together, playing and singing like old friends in a backyard. An unexpected and genuine finale that the audience will hardly forget.
Tuesday 15 July was the evening of big numbers: over 11,000 tickets sold for the show by KT Tunstall and Zucchero. The Scottish singer-songwriter enchanted with her energy and closed her set with a flawless “Suddenly I See”. Then, as darkness fell, Zucchero took the stage and proved to be in dazzling form. More than an hour and a half of powerful, refined music, between soul, blues and ballads. The finale, with the medley that included “Senza una donna”, made every corner of the square vibrate.
The queen of Italian rock returned to set Locarno alight. With Pegasus in support, Gianna Nannini delivered an intense, biting and moving show. From the front rows to the back of the square, the audience sang and applauded, following every note with enthusiasm and affection. Her unmistakable charisma left its mark.
Moon & Stars continues over the coming days with an outstanding line-up. After the break on 14 July, the Piazza Grande and the Piazza Piccola fill up again with music, familiar faces and audiences from all over Europe.
Schedule for the coming days:
16 July – Rea Garvey, Amy Macdonald
17 July – Pegasus, Gianna Nannini
18 July – Victoria Nadine, Bastian Baker, Kygo
19 July – Dabu Fantastic, Cro
20 July – Zian, Steve Lee The Show by Gotthard
The Piazza Piccola also keeps buzzing with free events and food for every taste. Tickets for the main evenings are still available at moonandstars.ch or directly at the Info Point in front of the Piazza Grande.
The 2025 edition of Moon & Stars confirmed its international vocation, but also its love for Italy. The presence of great Italian names, the enthusiasm of the Italian-speaking audience and the inclusive atmosphere make this festival a true celebration of music without borders. For ten days Locarno turned into a capital of sound, where every artist found their own space and every spectator a moment to carry in their heart.
Find out more at moonandstars.ch
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