Bob Dylan Opens Italian Tour at Milan’s Unipol Dome Under Strict Phone-Free Rules
Bob Dylan opened the Italian leg of his Lights of Autumn Tour
on November 2, 2026, at the Unipol Dome in Milan, playing a strict phone-free concert where all audience smartphones were locked inside sealed Yondr pouches upon entry, as reported by Corriere della Sera. The 85-year-old singer-songwriter has scheduled performances on November 5 at the Palazzo dello Sport in Roma and November 7 at the Unipol Arena in Bologna, enforcing a mandatory policy to prohibit smartphones in the auditorium and keep the focus entirely on the music.
Audiences entering the Milan venue were required to place their devices into specialized magnetic pouches distributed by staff, retaining the locked phones with them throughout the night. According to BolognaToday, anyone needing to use a device during an emergency had to step out to a designated zone where staff members unlocked the case. noted that the production featured no background ledwall graphics or video projections, leaving Dylan performing largely in shadow behind his keyboards without addressing the crowd directly.
Dylan’s Milan concert continued a pattern of performances in Italy dating back to the early 2000s. reports that he performed in Piazza Duomo, Brescia, in 2001; at Villa Erba, Cernobbio, in 2004; at Lazzaretto, Bergamo, in 2008; and at PalaBam, Mantova, in 2018. His 2026 tour also echoes past collaborations, including a 1987 performance at the Arena with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and appearances with Santana in 1984 and Mark Knopfler in 2011, as noted in Source 5.
Setlist Shifts and the Rejection of Nostalgia on Stage
The Italian dates follow similar phone-free restrictions used during Dylan’s 2023 performances at Milan’s Teatro degli Arcimboldi. highlights that Dylan’s setlist for the 2026 tour emphasizes recent works, with songs like “To Be Alone with You” from Nashville Skyline and “Man in the Long Black Coat” from Oh Mercy, alongside classics like “Tangled Up in Blue” and “I Shall Be Released.” However, he avoided playing “Like a Rolling Stone” since 2019 and “Visions of Johanna” since 2018, as noted in Source 3. A quote from Martin Scorsese’s No Direction Home underscores Dylan’s enigmatic presence: “un bel giorno, agli inizi degli anni sessanta del ventesimo secolo, ha ricevuto un calcio in culo dallo Spirito Santo.”
Frequently Asked Questions About the Tour
How do spectators access their phones during a Bob Dylan concert?
Event staff place smartphones inside a locked Yondr pouch at the venue entrance, which attendees keep with them at their seats. To use a device during an emergency, spectators must walk to a designated, supervised area in the foyer where staff unlock the pouch. explains that this policy, first used in Dylan’s 2022 European tour, was also adopted by Jack White in 2018 and Madonna during her 2019–2020 Madame X Tour.
Which Italian cities are included in the 2026 tour dates?
The Italian leg of the Lights of Autumn Tour features shows in Milan at the Unipol Dome on November 2, Rome at the Palazzo dello Sport on November 5, and Bologna at the Unipol Arena on November 7. also notes that Rome’s jazz scene will feature Paolo Fresu on November 1 and Steve Coleman’s Five Elements on November 5, while Source 3 mentions Joe Bonamassa’s solo Italian date at Assago’s Unipol Forum on November 4.
Are cameras or recording equipment allowed inside the venue?
No audio, video, or photographic recording is permitted. According to Corriere della Sera, the restriction is mandatory and applies to all audience members for the entirety of the performance. adds that this policy aims to “dedicate all attention to the stage,” a practice Dylan has repeated in previous tours, including 2023’s Arcimboldi dates.
What kind of music does Dylan play on this tour?
Dylan’s setlist blends his recent catalog with a band that fuses blues, country, and analog soundscapes. highlights selections from his 2021 album Rough and Rowdy Ways, including “I Can’t Seem to Say Goodbye” and “Goodbye Jimmy Reed,” alongside older tracks like “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” which he last performed in 2003. The tour also includes “All Along the Watchtower,” a rock milestone, though its inclusion remains uncertain.