Pompeii 2026

Pompeii

The amphitheatre of Pompeii, built around 70 BC with the private funds of Gaius Quinctius Valgus and Marcus Porcius, is the oldest known Roman amphitheatre built in stone — predating Rome's Colosseum by about a century. Believed to have held some 20,000 spectators, it was buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 and preserved beneath the ash along with the rest of the city.

In modern times the stone ellipse has returned to life as a concert setting: Pink Floyd famously filmed Live at Pompeii here in 1971, and the archaeological park now stages summer concert series under the stars, letting audiences hear music inside a two-thousand-year-old arena.

Getting there

The amphitheatre lies within the Pompeii archaeological park in the modern town of Pompei, in the Metropolitan City of Naples. Event access is through the park's entrances, so check your ticket for the gate indicated for your show and allow time to walk through the site.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the amphitheatre of Pompeii? It dates to around 70 BC, making it the oldest known stone-built Roman amphitheatre, older than the Colosseum.

Are concerts really held inside the ancient arena? Yes — the archaeological park hosts summer concerts in the amphitheatre, following in the footsteps of Pink Floyd's 1971 film.