Flight Artists Come Together at Monopolele 2026

Every year, ukulele players from around the world gather in Monopoli, Italy, for Monopolele Mediterranean Ukulele Fest, a celebration of music, friendship, and the global ukulele community.

Taking place from May 28th to June 1st, Monopolele 2026 filled the beautiful streets of Monopoli with five days of concerts, workshops, jams, and unforgettable moments, bringing together players from all backgrounds to share their love for the ukulele.

This year, the Flight family was well represented! Flight artists Sammy Turton (4stringboy) and Alessandro Pedroni took the stage as part of the festival lineup, sharing their music with ukulele fans from around the world.

They were joined by fellow Flight artists Vasko (Ukulele Cheats), Julia Traser, Justilele, Kat Heinrich, and Alyona Brickman, who also attended the festival, making Monopolele a true Flight family gathering.

For Julia Traser, the festival was especially meaningful:

“To me, it was honestly the best, mainly because it was the first ukulele festival I attended in my own country. I’ve been to ukulele festivals all over the UK and Europe, but being in Italy made it feel so magical. It was also brilliant because all the performances were free to watch, and they changed locations each night, giving everyone the chance to discover different parts of the city.”

— Julia Traser

Alyona Brickman also shared her experience from her first Monopolele:

“It was such a fantastic experience! It was my first time at Monopolele, but certainly not my last. I met lots of old and new ukulele friends (including fellow Flight artists!), jammed late into the night, and performed in the streets under the Italian sun. Definitely a highlight of 2026 already!”

— Alyona Brickman

For Justine (Justilele), Monopolele has become a yearly tradition:

“Monopolele 2026 was my third time at this festival, as it is so amazing I can’t resist returning every year! It was great to see so many Flight artists this year. Every Monopolele is different. What is so great about Monopolele, I hear you ask? Well, taking over a small, beautiful, historic town with ukulele players from all over the world is one thing. Add in delicious food and drink, beautiful beaches, turquoise waters, whitewashed little streets and boutiques to get lost in, late-night jams every night, ukulele music every minute of the day and night, street jams and open mics, magnificent evening concerts, and the most enthusiastic organizing committee. And it’s all run on donations! What’s not to love?”

— Justilele

Events like Monopolele remind us why we love the ukulele: it’s not just about the instrument, it’s about the people, the memories, and the connections made along the way.

A huge congratulations to the Monopolele team for creating such a special event, and thank you to all the artists and players who continue to spread the joy of music around the world.

See you at the next one! 🌊🎶

Watch Sammy’s performance: