PUPI Charity Show in Naples: Zanetti, Lavezzi, and Stars in the Square

On Saturday, September 26, 2026, Piazza del Plebiscito will transform into an open-air stage to host "A Star-Studded Evening for PUPI," the grand charity show organized by the PUPI Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Javier Zanetti and his wife, Paula de la Fuente. The event will celebrate the foundation's 25th anniversary and will combine music, sports, and solidarity in an evening that promises to be historic for the city of Naples, in the year of Naples being the European Capital of Sport 2026.

Update September 2nd, new guests on stage

With less than four weeks to go until the event, the audience is enriched with new figures, increasingly linked to the history and heart of Naples. The Maradona family will be present in Piazza del Plebiscito, including Claudia Villafañe , arriving from Argentina, along with friends of the champion such as Andrea Carnevale , Ezequiel Lavezzi , and Diego Armando Maradona Jr .: all united in the great tribute narrated by Federico Buffa.

On the musical front, Tullio De Piscopo , a global icon of Neapolitan music, has confirmed his presence. He will reunite with LDA and Aka 7even after their success at Sanremo with "Andamento lento" and will present his new single "Miranda ." They will also be joined by Germán Denis and Giovanni Simeone , both of whom played for Napoli, and Ciro Ferrara , Maradona's longtime teammate and co-founder of the Cannavaro Ferrara Foundation.

Gianluca Gazzoli will host the evening . Remaining on stage, among others, are Max Pezzali and Elisa , with a new contribution, Lola Ponce and Gli Autogol , along with Max Sirena , CEO of Luna Rossa, to discuss the connection between Naples and the America's Cup.

The evening celebrates three anniversaries: the 25th anniversary of the PUPI Foundation , Naples European Capital of Sport 2026, and the 40th anniversary of Argentina's victory at the 1986 World Cup . Part of the ticket proceeds will go to projects and associations active in the Municipality of Naples, with a focus on social inclusion and the protection of children's rights; in Argentina, the "Sport Makes Us Equal" program, active since 2002, continues. Tickets are available on TicketOne starting from 29 euros.

An event that unites Naples and Argentina

The bond between Naples and Argentina is profound and runs through the figure of Diego Armando Maradona , but also through the Argentine community that has lived in the city for decades. Javier Zanetti's choice to celebrate the quarter-century of his founding in Naples is no coincidence: "This bond between Argentina and Naples, thanks to what Diego did, always inspires tremendous emotion," said the former Inter captain during the event's presentation at Palazzo San Giacomo with Mayor Gaetano Manfredi. 2026 also marks the fortieth anniversary of Argentina's World Cup victory in Mexico, a further element that makes the chosen date symbolic. The City of Naples is participating as a co-organizer, with Councilor for Sport Emanuela Ferrante emphasizing how the event is part of Naples European Capital of Sport 2026, a project that places sport at the center as a public good and a tool for inclusion.

On stage: music, football and memory

The evening's lineup features a mix of top-tier artists and football legends. On the musical front, Max Pezzali and Elisa will take to the stage , also offering a joint original performance, along with LDA , Aka 7even , Lola Ponce , Gli Autogol , and Fabrizio Romano . From the world of football , Ezequiel Lavezzi , German Denis , Roberto Carlos Sosa , and Neapolitans Fabio Cannavaro and Ciro Ferrara will participate . The most anticipated moment will likely be the tribute to Diego Armando Maradona, performed by Federico Buffa , with the participation of Claudia Villafañe and the champion's daughters. Zanetti anticipated that it will be a very emotional moment, already previewed and capable of deeply moving. There will also be a link to the America's Cup: Max Sirena , Team Director and Skipper of Luna Rossa, will bring the story of the competition that will see Naples as a protagonist in 2027, with the preliminary regattas already scheduled from 24 to 27 September, right during the days of the event.

Tickets, capacity and solidarity projects

The planned capacity is 7.000 . Tickets are available on TicketOne starting at €29, a price-controlled policy designed to encourage maximum participation. The square will be set up as an open-air theater, with attention to accessibility for people with disabilities and wheelchair users. The evening's proceeds will be donated to two areas: first, the PUPI Foundation's historic projects in Argentina, including the "Sport Makes Us Equal" program, which has supported over 1.200 families in education, sports, and health since 2002; and second, five selected projects in the Naples area in collaboration with the Cannavaro Ferrara Foundation . The projects supported include women's soccer initiatives in Scampia, educational programs for disadvantaged youth, Sport Without Borders programs, and sailing projects for social recovery. The evening's live television broadcast will further amplify the initiative's reach.

25 years of commitment to childhood

The PUPI Foundation (Por Un Piberío Integrado) was founded in 2001 by Javier Zanetti and Paula de la Fuente to create a concrete space for the protection of the rights of children and adolescents in vulnerable situations. Over 25 years, the foundation has developed educational, sports, and healthcare programs in Argentina, becoming a point of reference for over 1.200 families. "We are helping many families, and our hope is to give these people the opportunity to have a better future," explained Zanetti. The choice of Naples as the venue for the celebrations represents a recognition of the special relationship between the city and Argentina, but also an opportunity to build a bridge of solidarity between two geographically distant entities united by common values. Mara Sapia, director of the foundation, added: "The Pupi Foundation has been working as a team for 25 years to try to give people and children a better future." The September 26 event will also be a way to thank the Italian people for the sensitivity they have shown towards the foundation's projects over the years.