08 · FAQ
The site · ground rules
Before youenter.
Getting here, getting in, getting home. The practical layer beneath the pulse.
01 · Getting there
Reach the source.
RCF Arena is at Via dell'Aeronautica 17, in the green park of Campovolo, Reggio Emilia — the largest open-air concert venue in Europe (103,000+ capacity). Every route converges here.
High-speed
Reggio Emilia AV (Mediopadana) is 800m from the arena — 6 minutes on foot to the gate. Frecciarossa and Frecciargento stop here direct from Milan, Bologna, Florence and Rome.
Regional train
Reggio Emilia Centrale station → free shuttle bus every 15 minutes to the arena. Journey time approx. 15 min.
Bologna airport (BLQ)
30 minutes by Frecciarossa to Reggio Emilia AV, then 6-min walk to gate. The fastest route from any international connection.
Milan airports
Milan Linate (LIN): 1h 10m by Frecciarossa. Milan Malpensa: take the Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale, then direct Frecciarossa (~1h 30m total).
Other cities
Verona: ~30 min by regional. Parma: ~20 min. Florence: ~45 min Frecciarossa. Rome: ~2h direct high-speed. All stop at Reggio Emilia AV.
Last train back
Last train from Reggio AV to Bologna departs at 02:32. Festival buses run to Reggio centre until 04:30.
Motorway exits
From Verona: exit Carpi. From Modena: exit Modena Nord. From Milan: exit Terre di Canossa. All well-signed toward RCF Arena / Campovolo.
P CHIONSO · €25
Access from Tangenziale. 1 km from the arena. Uncovered, lit, marked. Lots open at 10:00 and close at 02:00.
P AEROPORTO
Access from Viale Partigiano. 1 km from the arena. Recommended for visitors who have booked a tent pitch.
Arrival window
Recommended arrival: 12:00–15:00. Peak congestion is in the last two hours before doors (17:00). Plan early if driving.
Booking
Both lots bookable on ParkForFun (parkforfun.com). Optional "Ticket assicurato" insurance: +€2.50 for a refund if you cannot attend.
Transfers
Parking is non-refundable but transferable via the official "cambio targa" process on ParkForFun.
Bike parking
Free guarded bike parking — 1,500 spots — available directly at the gate. No booking required.
Security
Bring your own lock. Guarded area is staffed during event hours but valuables should remain with you inside the arena.
Cycle routes
Reggio Emilia has a well-developed cycle network connecting Campovolo to the city centre. (Detailed cycle map to be confirmed.)
E-bikes
E-bikes welcome at the same guarded lot. No charging points on-site — bring a full battery for late-night return.
Sustainability note
Arriving by bike or train is the pulse-aligned choice. Pulse of Gaia is working toward carbon-neutral transport for all five nights. See Sustain for the full pact.
Shuttle service
Free shuttle from Reggio Emilia AV (Mediopadana) to the arena every 15 minutes throughout the event day. Included with full ticket pass.
Return service
Festival buses run from the arena to Reggio city centre until 04:30. Last shuttle departs shortly after arena close (02:30).
Stop locations
(Exact stop locations and timetable to be confirmed closer to the event.) Check the festival app for live updates on event days.
Accessibility
Shuttle buses are accessible. For step-free boarding assistance, contact concerti@maniamicheonlus.org 14 days ahead of your date.
Doors open
General doors open at 17:00 on every show date. Early Entry gates open at 16:45. Recommended arrival window for parking and campsite: 12:00–15:00.
02 · Where to stay
Sleep, maybe.
Reggio Emilia sells out fast on festival nights. Book early or sleep in Modena, Parma or Bologna and ride the high-speed in.
Hotel Posta ★★★★
A 17th-century palazzo in Piazza del Monte. 2.4 km from arena, 10-min cab. Partner rate -12% with code RCF2026POSTA. From €248/night. Code ships with ticket confirmation.
Best Western Classic ★★★★
Right next to Mediopadana high-speed station. 5-min walk to AV. From €189/night. Ideal for Night II (5 Jul) — last train back to Bologna runs at 02:38.
B&B Hotel Reggio Emilia ★★★
3.1 km from arena, walking distance to the gate. From €142/night. Good choice if you have an early train out the morning after.
Partner codes
Rates negotiated with seven partner hotels — discount codes ship in your ticket confirmation email. No commission is paid to Pulse of Gaia.
Booking tip
July festival nights are the busiest of the year in Reggio Emilia. Book any Reggio hotel before June or expect premium prices and limited availability.
Modena
15-minute Frecciarossa from Reggio Emilia AV. Best Western Premier Milano Palace from €178/night. Considerably cheaper than Reggio on festival nights.
Parma
20-minute fast train, hourly service. Grand Hotel de la Ville Parma from €158/night. Good food district near the station — eat before the pulse.
Strategy
Book Modena or Parma if Reggio is sold out or too expensive. You'll catch the same train back and still make the last shuttle at 02:30.
Bologna
30-minute Frecciarossa from Bologna. Royal Hotel Carlton from €195/night. Note: last festival-night train from Reggio to Bologna returns at 01:18 — won't make a 03:00 EDM closing. Choose Bologna only for 4 Jul or 17 Jul nights.
Tent pitches
2×2 m pitch, max 2 people. 0.9 km from the arena — a 10-minute walk to gate. The cheapest option and genuinely walk-in-distance.
On-site facilities
WC, paid showers, bar, phone charging stations, designated smoking area. No kitchen — food and drink available inside the arena.
Check-in / out
Check-in from 10:00, check-out by 10:00 the following day. Arrive early for the best spot.
Booking
Book via ParkForFun. The tent pitch booking does not include car/bike parking — book P AEROPORTO separately if you're driving in.
Important
Wild camping is not permitted anywhere else on site. The official tent area on Via Antonio Marro is the only authorised campsite for the festival.
Family rooms
Several Reggio Emilia partner hotels offer family rooms. (Specific family room availability and codes to be confirmed in your ticket email.)
Multi-night stays
For the Weekend Pass (4–5 Jul), a 2-night stay in Reggio is the easiest option. For all five nights, base yourself in Reggio or Modena.
Last-minute
(Last-minute deal information to be confirmed.) Check Booking.com directly using the festival dates — July 4, 5, 11, 17, 18 — and filter by distance from "RCF Arena Reggio Emilia".
Accessibility accommodation
Need step-free access or adapted rooms? Contact concerti@maniamicheonlus.org at least 14 days ahead. See the full Open to All page for all accessibility details.
03 · What's allowed
What you bring in.
Security at every gate. Know before you go. The rules exist to keep 103,000 bodies safe and the pulse clean.
Water bottle (empty)
Empty refillable water bottle allowed. Refill stations are distributed across the site — free, unlimited. Stay hydrated in the July heat.
Small bag
Max 30×20×15 cm. All bags searched on entry. Larger bags and backpacks must be left at the cloakroom (€5–10).
Phone & charger
Smartphones allowed. Portable chargers up to 10,000 mAh. Charging stations at every gate — bring your own cable.
Sunscreen & lip balm
Plastic containers only. No glass of any kind. SPF 50 minimum strongly recommended — July daytime temperatures reach 32°C.
Earplugs
Highly recommended. Available to purchase at the gate for €1. Protect your hearing without missing the frequency.
Medication
Prescription medication allowed with original packaging and proof of prescription. Declare at the gate. The medical team is briefed.
Glass, cans & alcohol
No glass, cans, or alcohol — even unopened, even sealed. The festival is cashless inside; all drink purchased with your RFID wristband.
Professional cameras & drones
Phones and compact cameras only. Professional cameras, long lenses, and drones are prohibited without press accreditation. See Press.
Selfie sticks & umbrellas
Both prohibited inside the arena. Sun hats are fine. The arena has covered bars, dry corridors, and shelter zones for weather contingencies.
Outside food & drink
No food or drink from outside the arena. Twenty kitchens inside — pasta, pizza, ramen, fully vegan options, coffee bars, Lambrusco bar.
Pets
No pets. Service animals (guide dogs, assistance dogs) are welcome with documentation. Contact concerti@maniamicheonlus.org in advance.
Other prohibited
Pyrotechnics, flares, flags on poles, weapons of any kind, laser pointers, oversized bags, camping gear inside the arena. Security decision is final.
How it works
Your wristband is your wallet. Load credit at the gate or via the festival app. Tap to pay at any kitchen, bar, or merch tent inside the arena.
Refunds
Unspent credit is automatically refunded the day after your last show. No action needed — it returns to the card you used to load.
Top-up
Top up at any time inside the arena at the credit stations near each gate. Card only — no cash accepted anywhere on site.
Cloakroom
Secure cloakrooms at gates A, B and D. €5 per item, €10 for backpacks. Lockers in the food district: €8 for the night, fits jackets and bags up to 30L. VIP Village ticket holders get a private cloakroom included.
04 · Conduct
The rhythm has rules.
The pulse is only possible when every body feels safe. A brief summary of the conduct framework — the full code lives at conduct.html.
The rule
Zero tolerance for harassment of any kind — verbal, physical, sexual, digital. There is no acceptable level. Security acts immediately; no warnings given.
How to report
Approach any staff member in a green vest, any security guard, or the safe space tent near every gate. Reports are treated confidentially and actioned immediately.
Consequences
Instant removal from the site. Festival ban for future events. Referral to law enforcement where applicable.
Bystander responsibility
If you witness harassment, speak up or alert a staff member. Silence is not neutral. Pulse of Gaia is built on the principle that protecting each other is part of the music.
Harm reduction approach
Pulse of Gaia takes a harm reduction approach to substances. Our welfare teams are there to support, not to prosecute. Ask for help without fear.
Where to go
Welfare tents are located near every gate and clearly signed throughout the site. Staffed by trained professionals throughout the night.
Medical team
A full medical team is on-site from doors open to arena close. Emergency response protocols are in place for every night. Your safety is the first pulse.
Alcohol
The festival is alcohol-free outside the arena (no drinking in queues or transport). Inside, alcohol is available at licensed bars via the RFID wristband. Legal drinking age in Italy is 18. Photo ID is checked at the bar.
The standard
Consent is active, enthusiastic, and ongoing. A past yes is not a permanent yes. This applies in the crowd, in close contact during sets, and in every social interaction on site.
Photography
Ask before you photograph other festival-goers. Don't post images of people without their permission. Privacy in a crowd is a right.
Full code of conduct
The complete code of conduct — including the Do / Don't framework and the safe space policy — lives at conduct.html. Read it before you arrive. It's short, clear, and binding.
05 · Lost & found
If a signal goes missing.
Everything found is logged and held. If something disappears into the pulse, we hold it for 30 days and then donate it to local charities.
Where to go
Lost and found is managed at the central info booth and the merch tent inside the arena. Both staffed from doors open until arena close.
Festival app
Found items are logged into the festival app in real time. Search by item description and claim by ticket reference number.
Claim process
Bring your ticket (digital or paper) and a description of the item. For high-value items (phones, wallets), ID may be required to collect.
Tips to prevent loss
Use the RFID wristband for all purchases — no need to carry a wallet. Label your belongings. Use the cloakroom for bags and valuables. Keep phones in front pockets in dense crowd areas.
After the festival
All uncollected items are held for 30 days post-festival. After 30 days, items are donated to Reggio Emilia local charities.
Online claim
(Online claim form link to be confirmed.) In the meantime, email info@cvolo.it with your name, ticket reference, and a description of the lost item.
Collection
(Post-festival pickup hours and address to be confirmed.) Watch the festival app and email list for the lost & found office location in the week after the event.
Contact
For lost items, email info@cvolo.it with subject line "LOST & FOUND — [your ticket reference]". Include a detailed description, the night you attended, and the approximate location you last had the item.
06 · Contact
Reach us.
Every question has a route. Send it to the right signal and we'll respond as fast as the rhythm allows.
info@cvolo.it — for general festival enquiries, ticketing questions not handled by Ticketmaster or Vivaticket, and logistics questions not covered in this FAQ.
Response time
(Response time to be confirmed.) During the festival weeks, response times may be longer. Check this FAQ page and the festival app first — most answers are here.
Ticketing
For ticket purchases, transfers and refund queries, contact the platform directly: Ticketmaster or Vivaticket. Their support teams handle all transactional issues.
Organiser
Pulse of Gaia 2026 is organised by C.VOLO SPA, Via Ruini 10, 42124 Reggio Emilia (RE), Italy. All formal correspondence should be addressed to the organiser directly.
Press page
Full accreditation process, logos, wordmark downloads, press releases and image bank at press.html.
Accreditation
Press accreditation is handled by Parole & Dintorni srl, our press office. Accreditation opens 30 days before each show. Apply with publication, masthead and photo samples.
Pit passes
Pit passes are limited to first three songs, no flash. For urgent same-day requests, CC info@cvolo.it with "PRESS URGENT" in the subject line.
Photo policy
Accredited photographers must agree to the festival photo policy on application. Non-accredited photographers: phones and compact cameras only, no professional lenses or drones.
Accessibility page
Full details — step-free routes, raised platforms, companion tickets, quiet spaces, service animals, BSL/ASL — at access.html.
Contact
Email concerti@maniamicheonlus.org at least 14 days before your show date. Include your ticket reference and the support you need.
Companion ticket
Free companion ticket available with proof of disability. Apply via the accessibility contact email above — not through the standard ticket platforms.
Design principle
Pulse of Gaia is designed with accessibility from day one, not as an afterthought. Every gate, every route, every space built for every body. See Open to All.
Volunteer page
Full volunteer application — roles, dates, requirements, and the application form — at volunteer.html.
Roles available
Stage crew, welcome team, sustainability ambassadors, accessibility support, bar and food, waste and recycling. (Full role list to be confirmed.)
What you get
Festival access on your working days, staff catering, training, and the knowledge that you are part of the pulse from the inside. Apply at volunteer.html before places fill.
Frequently asked
Everything else, answered.
Fifteen most-asked questions about the pulse. If yours isn't here, write to info@cvolo.it — we add new ones every week.
Trip planner · how you get here
Pick your origin. See the route.
Train, flight, car — distance, time, cost, CO₂. The festival's bias is toward the train; the math shows you why.
Trip planner
How will you get here?
Pick where you're coming from. We'll show you the fastest train, the cheapest flight, and how much CO₂ you'd save going low-carbon.
Choose a city above and we'll do the math.
Where to stay · partner hotels
Live rates for festival nights.
Six partners across Reggio Emilia, Modena, Parma and Bologna — plus the on-site tent camp. Direct Booking.com links, no commission.
Open the gate