During Vinitaly 2026, Verona is set to embrace its nightlife side as well with “Vinitaly and the Night”, a project bringing together three special events organized by House of Maq and hosted in one of the city’s most striking venues: the Gallerie Mercatali di Verona, located directly opposite Veronafiere.
Three nights, three different identities, one common vision: turning the official off-fair program into an experience that blends music, entertainment, social dining and international nightlife. From hypnotic electronic sounds to dinner show elegance and the energy of classic American house music, on April 11, 12 and 14 the Gallerie Mercatali will become one of the beating hearts of Verona after dark during Vinitaly.
April 11: “Taste Beats in Space” with Ricardo Villalobos
The opening chapter of Vinitaly and the Night takes place on Saturday, April 11, with “Taste Beats in Space”, a night set to make a strong impact on the official Vinitaly off-fair clubbing scene.
From 10.00 pm onwards, the Gallerie Mercatali will host one of the most influential names in global electronic music: Ricardo Villalobos, the headline guest of the night. Joining him behind the decks will be Arapu and Michele Preda, for a sonic journey shaped by hypnotic textures, extended rhythms and a slow-building energy designed for the dancefloor.
The event is also part of the distinctive identity built over the years by Crazy Horse Night, a nightlife reality that has previously brought artists such as Sven Väth and Luciano to Verona, and now continues its path with another internationally oriented booking.
A key part of the experience will be the venue itself: a former fruit and vegetable market now transformed into an event space, where guests dance beneath the arches of a one-of-a-kind industrial structure. Its metropolitan character and contemporary atmosphere make it the perfect setting for a night expected to be immersive, intense and memorable.
Several ticket options are available for the April 11 event. The Premium Early Bird Ticket includes entry from 9.00 pm, a standing gala dinner with included selection until 10.30 pm, and one drink of choice from 10.30 pm. The Backstage Early Bird Ticket includes entry from 10.00 pm, a backstage access wristband, and one glass of Lugana wine from the Lugana Consortium. The Silver Standard Early Bird Ticket includes entry from 10.00 pm and one glass of Lugana wine from the Lugana Consortium.
April 12: “The Iconic Sunday – Custoza Dinner Night”
The second event, scheduled for Sunday, April 12, shifts tone and atmosphere, offering a format that combines live entertainment, dining and club culture. Titled “The Iconic Sunday – Custoza Dinner Night”, it is designed for those who want to begin the evening at the table and end it on the dancefloor.
The night will open with a dinner show by Alessandro Ristori and The Portofinos, a name associated with elegance, performance and a timeless musical imagination. It promises a refined and engaging start, turning dinner into a moment of spectacle and shared experience.
Then, as the lights dim and the rhythm changes, the evening moves into a different dimension with a DJ set by Ralf, one of the most iconic figures in the Italian electronic music scene. His set marks the transition from dinner show to club night, in an event carefully designed to guide the audience through different moods and moments of nightlife entertainment.
With this second chapter, Vinitaly and the Night confirms its ambition to present versatile formats capable of speaking to different audiences while highlighting the relational, glamorous and musical side of the Vinitaly off-fair experience.
April 14: closing night with “And Let the Singer Be Heard”
The series will come to a close on Tuesday, April 14, the final night of Vinitaly, with the party “And Let the Singer Be Heard” created more than twenty years ago by house music queen Barbara Tucker, the party arrives in Italy for the first time in this format thanks to the radio RIN Italia Network. It marks an important debut in Verona, bringing with it a concept deeply rooted in the most authentic tradition of American house music.
The evening will naturally center on Barbara Tucker, one of the most iconic voices in the international house scene. Joining her will be Ultra Naté and Julie McKnight, alongside four live musicians, for a night where vocals, live performance and dancefloor energy come together in a powerful and direct way.
After dinner, the celebration will continue with DJ sets by Albert Marzinotto and Samuele Sartini, who will keep the dancefloor alive late into the night and provide the perfect send-off for the final evening of the official Vinitaly 2026 off-fair program.
With this closing event, Vinitaly and the Night rounds off its journey with a proposal that combines musical heritage, live show appeal and an unmistakable international spirit, reaffirming Verona’s role as one of Italy’s entertainment capitals during wine week.
An off-fair program with an international nightlife outlook
With “Vinitaly and the Night”, House of Maq presents a project that expands the Vinitaly experience beyond the exhibition halls, offering exhibitors, buyers, industry professionals and the city itself a program built around artistic quality and venue identity.
Thanks to their strategic position opposite Veronafiere and their strong visual impact, the Gallerie Mercatali become the ideal stage for three nights that are different yet complementary: the electronic depth of Ricardo Villalobos, the spectacular elegance of Alessandro Ristori followed by Ralf, and the celebration of vocal American house music with Barbara Tucker, Ultra Naté and Julie McKnight.
Three dates, three worlds, one destination: experiencing Verona after dark.
Further info and reservation here
