From Naples to London with food, music, cinema, art and sense of community. On October 11th and 12th, the British capital resonated once again with the vibrant spirit of the Pulcinella’s city thanks to the edition 2025 of the San Gennaro Fest which returned to King’s Cross in Coal Drops Yard, celebrating Italian identity, culture and creativity.
“The first edition in 2024 showed us the extraordinary power of this Festival: thousands of people in the streets, online engagement, and a vibrant energy of community,” says one of the organizers, Davide Magliulo, Director of Little Italy UK. “This year, we returned with an even richer line-up, expanding into cinema, art and new creative visions. It was more than a festival – it was a living celebration of Neapolitan spirit in the heart of London.”
Over two days, Coal Drops Yard was transformed into a contemporary piazza with authentic Italian street food, artisanal producers, independent chefs and traditional recipes in order to “recreate Naples’ atmosphere in one of London’s most dynamic cultural districts”.
From ancient chants to DJ sets, folk traditions to contemporary sounds, the programme embraced both local and international artists, with special guest Tommaso Primo who brought to London “his unique Neapolitan songwriting” to London. Live performances, flash mobs, children’s activities and collective ceremonies animated the streets, echoing Naples’ popular devotion and cultural vitality.
The multidisciplinary festival was organised by Little Italy UK – the collective founded by Davide Magliulo, Vincenzo Ferrara and Tommaso Mazzara – and the most important new addition was Cinema Pop Selection which presented an international short film showcase. From 300 submissions worldwide, 20 finalists have been selected to compete in three categories: Pop Vision, Roots & Identity, and Italian Sound.
Born in Naples, San Gennaro POP reimagines the patron saint not only as a religious symbol but as a contemporary global icon – crossing cinema, photography, music, design and digital storytelling. The project connects communities across Italy, the UK, the USA, Brazil and Japan, exploring themes of faith, identity, diaspora, and pop culture.
With its second edition and “Join the Miracle” as slogan, San Gennaro Fest had the ambition to “strengthen its role as a cultural bridge between Naples and London while becoming part of a growing international network that now spans London, Brighton, New York, Boston, Las Vegas, and São Paulo”.
