Jovanotti's Barletta concert cancelled after asbestos found at venue, 33,000 tickets sold

Concert cancelled over asbestos find

The Jovanotti concert scheduled for August 17 at the former paper mill area in Barletta has been officially cancelled after Arpa Puglia, the regional environmental protection agency, found a 6-to-8-centimetre piece of asbestos near the entrance of the industrial site. The local health authority ASL Bat declared the 50-hectare site unsuitable, citing the risk that 33,000 expected attendees could trample hidden asbestos fragments and release hazardous fibres into the air. The decision was formalised on August 12 by the Provincial Commission for Public Entertainment at the Prefettura of Barletta-Andria-Trani, after the commission reviewed the environmental findings.

Maurizio Salvadori, CEO of Trident Concert, the organising company, announced the cancellation during a press conference and said the company is evaluating whether a venue in Bari could host the Jova Summer Party on September 19. Tickets sold for the original date would remain valid if a new venue is confirmed; otherwise, refunds would be available, including pre-sale costs but excluding commission fees.

Inspections and bureaucratic timeline

The site was identified in November 2025, with tickets going on sale on November 16. For months, no objections were raised. Approximately two months ago, a complaint was filed with the Prosecutor's Office concerning the health of the area, noting an asbestos storage site located about 600 metres from the concert zone. A first sampling requested by ASL and Arpa in late June returned negative results for asbestos. A private survey commissioned by Trident found asbestos only behind and beside the factory, about 200 metres from the stage, in an area considered safe for the public. However, an Arpa inspection in early August found the asbestos fragment at the entrance, prompting the cancellation.

Salvadori expressed frustration with the bureaucratic process, noting that the affair dragged on for two and a half months and that the stage was nearly fully assembled when the stop order arrived. Workers dismantling the stage were told they must wear white protective suits.

“The point is that when there is a complaint to the Prosecutor's Office, the most comfortable position is to say 'let's not do it'. I am tempted to say that if someone walks into the San Nicola stadium and throws a piece of asbestos inside, one could hypothesize there are others and therefore ban concerts at the San Nicola too.”

Mayor and city react

Barletta mayor Cosimo Cannito called the cancellation a defeat for the entire city.

“There are those who fought to the last for this great event to take place. And there are those who today, unfortunately, celebrate a defeat that is not of one political side, but of the entire city.”

Cannito thanked citizens who supported the event and said the municipal administration had fought on the side of Barletta, its residents, workers, and the thousands who had chosen the city. Salvadori separately exonerated the municipal government, saying the mayor and administration had battled for the concert to proceed.

Broader tour context

The Jova Summer Tour had already stopped in Olbia and Montesilvano. At the Montesilvano concert, approximately 80 people were assisted by emergency services for illness, with 6 cases requiring hospital transport. The Barletta stop had also drawn attention over disability access: the family of Simone, a 40-year-old fan who is blind and has difficulty walking, had tried since February to secure accessible seating, finding disabled spots sold out on the booking site.