Over four intense days, Turin once again affirmed its role as a European capital for experimental sound and performance. From the 30th of October to the 2nd of November, C2C Festival reached full capacity for the fourth consecutive year, welcoming 42,000 attendees, forty percent of whom travelled from abroad. Each venue was incredible, from the industrial resonance of Lingotto Fiere and the grand precision of Teatro Regio to the intimacy of Combo and the elegance of Le Roi.

This edition held a particular weight. It was the first without Sergio, whose presence shaped the festival’s soul. As Artistic Director Guido Savini stated, this year demanded courage and unity to preserve the continuity of what has become one of Turin’s cultural pillars. C2C has grown into a civic and artistic symbol, standing for innovation, community, and the transformative power of music.

The festival featured 68 artists from 21 countries across 6 venues, with 21 Italian exclusives and 7 debuts. Beyond the performances, it expanded through C2C Talks at Teatro Regio, the C2C HQ at Combo, and the return of C2C Kids! at Fonderie Limone, which introduced younger generations to sound experimentation.

This twenty-third edition also introduced TMLAB, Transnational Music Lab, a European project promoting collaboration among artists and institutions. Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Piedmont Region, the City of Turin, and several foundations and partners, C2C Festival proved once again its depth and resilience. What began as a platform for avant-garde sound has become a shared act of continuity, where memory and innovation coexist in rhythm.

C2C Festival 2025 gathered some of the most relevant names in contemporary electronic music, reinforcing its position as a space where precision, risk and emotion coexist. The lineup united artists who represent distinct directions in today’s sound culture, from intimate experimentation to large-scale rhythmic control.

Bill Kouligas’ appearance as the Friday night closer came as a surprise. His performance combined analytical precision with emotional, moving through complex sonic territories with ease. The set held a perfect equilibrium between risk and control, creating an atmosphere that felt cerebral yet physical. It marked one of the most memorable moments of the festival, a closing that encapsulated both refinement and forward motion.

Four Tet delivered a performance of rare balance and focus. His set was a quiet conviction. Floating Points followed with his signature clarity, combining mathematical structure with instinctive rhythm, creating a perfect balance between intellect and energy.

Blawan brought a raw, physical edge to the program. His live set unfolded with mechanical pressure and hypnotic timing, a reminder of how techno can still feel urgent and alive. Skee Mask maintained that tension, shaping sound with sharp precision and deep texture, while DJrum offered a more introspective passage, built on layered percussion and emotional depth.

DJ Python carried the night into warmer territory, his rhythm marked by sensual restraint and tropical undertones that expanded the emotional landscape of the festival. A. G. Cook shifted the mood again, connecting pop deconstruction with club experimentation in his distinctive, unpredictable flow.

Barker, Mechatok, and Smerz each brought distinct interpretations of electronic performance: Barker’s meticulous build of frequency and rhythm; Mechatok’s digital fragility; and Smerz’s fluid combination of voice, production, and performance. Their presence outlined the festival’s interest in sound not only as entertainment but as a reflection of sensibility and identity.

Across four days, C2C Festival confirmed its devotion to sound as cultural form. The musicians on its 2025 stage did not simply perform; they articulated a way of listening shaped by intellect, physicality, and collective focus. Each artist contributed to a sense of continuity between past and future, between memory and invention.