Confusion around Italy’s Hellwatt Festival after founder’s exit

The festival founder tells IQ that "Hellwatt still exists" after RCF Arena's operators distanced themselves from the original configuration

News By Hanna Ellington | 25 May 2026

Travis Scott at Openair Frauenfeld 2019
Travis Scott was among the names for Hellwatt Festival © Frank Schwichtenberg

Questions are circulating about Italy’s Hellwatt Festival after two rebrands, leadership changes, and growing scrutiny over logistics just weeks before the first scheduled concerts.

The event, originally billed as one of Italy’s largest live music launches, gained international attention after Kanye West was announced last December for an 18 July performance, the first sign of his reemergence on the touring circuit. It was due to be the first iteration of the Hellwatt brand.

West’s performance was due to close…

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