Following the debut edition, the Director of the Archaeological Park of Segesta said “The time has come to trust young people” as the series moves to a historic Palermo royal residence on 1st June
Aura’s debut edition sold out beside the ancient Doric temple at Segesta, and now the series moves to Palermo. On 1st June, Richie Hawtin headlines at Palazzina Cinese, an 18th-century royal residence built as a retreat for King Ferdinand III, as Aura continues its programme of electronic music events at Sicily’s most culturally significant locations.
The debut edition of Aura drew a sold-out crowd to the Parco Archeologico di Segesta in western Sicily, one of the island’s most significant ancient sites, home to a remarkably preserved Doric temple overlooking the surrounding countryside. The response from both audience and site confirmed what the Aura team had set out to demonstrate; electronic music and heritage locations can coexist in a meaningful way.
Luigi Biondo, Director of the Archaeological Park of Segesta, said: “A connection between nature and architecture – this is exactly the path we shared with Aura, an event that brings the world together through music and beauty. The time has come to place our trust in young people, because they are the ones who will help us find new paths, and care for the extraordinary places that surround us.”
Few artists have shaped contemporary techno as decisively as Richie Hawtin. Founder of the M-nus label and a defining figure of the Windsor-Detroit scene, he reached international recognition through his Plastikman releases and DJ sets that have continually pushed the technical limits of live performance. From early ’90s warehouse sets to headline slots at Time Warp, DC10 and his long-running Ibiza residency ENTER., Hawtin has remained one of the genre’s most consistent innovators.
Aura works in close partnership with local authorities and site custodians to stage events at heritage locations across Sicily, with each edition contributing to regional tourism and raising the international profile of the sites involved. The Palermo show is the second in a broader 2026 programme, with further events and locations to be announced.
Further information and tickets are available at www.aurafestival.it
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Richie Hawtin
Horacio Cruz
