By Federico Donti
On July 18, 2026, during the GT World Challenge powered by AWS, a night of electronic music unfolded with Planet Funk, L3UM4S (Samuel) and Umbrian scene protagonists Dj Ralf, Fresco, Deledda, and Viceversa.
Umbria took centre stage for this event, bringing its musical vision to the national scene with the first edition of ElektronFest, a festival dedicated to electronic music. From 6 PM, it energized the grand stage of the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli with a lineup that blended artistic research, innovation, and major international names. The event was part of the prestigious GT World Challenge powered by AWS weekend (July 17-19, 2026) at the circuit in the Romagna region.
The festival was born from the convergence of three complementary experiences and sensibilities: those of Umbrian artists Deledda and Viceversa, and that of Gianluca Laurenzi, former president of the Umbria Jazz Foundation. Together, they conceived, organized, and curated the artistic direction of ElektronFest, bringing to life a project that fosters dialogue between local talent and some of the most important figures in contemporary electronic music.
This event, originating from Umbria, looks beyond regional borders with the goal of creating a new space dedicated to electronic culture, capable of uniting live performances, sonic exploration, and great musical experiences in an iconic location like the Misano Autodrome.
At 6 PM, the event kicked off with a musical journey that accompanied the audience into the night, exploring different facets of electronic music.
Among the festival’s highlights was DJ Viceversa, with a selection dedicated to his most recent productions and the new trajectories of the contemporary electronic scene. His set included unreleased tracks and his latest releases, such as “Berlino Est” (recently released by SoundBetter Records), confirming an artistic path in continuous evolution and increasingly focused on an international dimension. An incredible sound took hold, thanks to the collaboration with Alessandro Deledda (following the release of “Isla Chromatica,” a project that showcases his dual nature as a jazz pianist and electronic music producer). On stage, an intimate and immersive live set was crafted using synthesizers, electronic machines, and analog instruments, where experimentation, improvisation, and sonic research converged into a unique experience.
A special moment was the presentation of “Cromadisco,” a project born from the artistic collaboration between the two Umbrians, Deledda and Viceversa. This shared live set represents the synthesis of their common journey and their desire to fuse different electronic languages into a new performative dimension.
Also on stage was fellow Umbrian artist Fresco, a musician with a strong musical identity, capable of effortlessly navigating between house, electronic music, and groove exploration. His experience and sonic sensibility guided the audience towards sunset, creating the ideal bridge between the festival’s afternoon segment and the grand electronic night at the Misano Autodrome.
Precisely at 9:30 PM, Planet Funk (one of Italy’s most internationally recognized acts) “ignited” the stage with their latest album, alongside tracks that have defined their career. An incredible performance blending electronic fusion, live energy, and contemporary sounds.
This was followed by L3UM4S, the electronic project of Samuel (formerly of Subsonica), an artist and songwriter with extensive experience in sonic research and the international music scene. His set was an immersive journey through electronic rhythms, visionary atmospheres, and dance contaminations, where technology, experimentation, and emotional dimensions merged to create a magnificent performance.
Closing out ElektronFest was Dj Ralf, a symbolic figure of Italian clubbing and a protagonist of the electronic scene for over thirty years. His selection accompanied the audience late into the night, transforming the Misano Autodrome into a vast sonic dance floor under the stars.
ElektronFest thus represented a new way of experiencing electronic music: a project born in Umbria and built through the synergy of artistic expertise, cultural vision, and organizational capabilities. It’s an event that brings to the national stage a proposal capable of uniting territory, innovation, and international musical culture.
“Great satisfaction for the success of the event, which was important both from an organizational and responsibility standpoint. Furthermore, it was emotional to return after 35 years to the ‘Circuito Internazionale Santamonica’ (now World Circuit M. Simoncelli), where I had participated as a DJ at a major musical event in 1991. The ElektronFest project doesn’t end here; you’ll hear more about it soon…” (Viceversa)
“Elektron Festival was a great marathon… the kind that makes you ask, ‘Why did I get myself into this?’ Until the lights come on and the music starts. At that point, you realize it was absolutely worth it. Experiencing it from both an artistic and organizational direction, as well as being an artist, was a bit of a tour de force, but also a privilege. On one hand, there was the responsibility of making everything work, and on the other, the joy of getting on stage and enjoying that energy with everyone else. What I take away, however, isn’t just what happened on stage, but also everything that emerged offstage: artists meeting, hugging, exchanging ideas, influencing each other, and sharing a genuine day filled with music, ideas, and immense passion. When these things happen, you understand that a festival has truly achieved its goal. And a huge thank you to my ‘partners in crime,’ Vincenzo and Gianluca: we had miles of conversations, brainstorming sessions, messages at all hours, and ideas that seemed crazy… but in the end, they all found their place. The most beautiful thing is that this team spirit extended to the stage, thanks to all the artists who participated and transformed a program into a shared experience. In short, a lot of hard work, a lot of heat, and few hours of sleep, but a result that repaid us far beyond all expectations. And that, in the end, is the best applause we could have received.” (Alessandro Deledda)
