A monumental stage, more than 900 lighting fixtures, 1,200 square meters of LED screens, and a creative vision that continues to evolve year after year. For Vasco Live 2026, lighting designer Giovanni Pinna signs the third chapter of a scenic project that has now become a fully-fledged visual identity, refined season after season through continuous technical, artistic, and production-driven optimization.
The large triangular structure dominating the stage remains the unmistakable symbol of the show, an architectural element that has accompanied the tour for three years and continues to be reimagined through new lighting solutions and increasingly sophisticated programming.
As Giovanni Pinna explains: “We’ve been carrying this concept with us for three years now. The dominant triangle, the stage that returns each time, although with different configurations in terms of patterns and graphics… in short, we’re introducing new technical solutions, but we’re still working within the same framework.”
For Pinna, this creative continuity is a key asset. Working within the same conceptual and technical environment allows for continuous refinement and performance improvements.
“For me, this reconfirmation of the concept is very important because it gives you the opportunity to improve exponentially every year. From the first year to the second, we achieved significant improvements in workflow, programming, and timing. Working more or less within the same technical environment allows you to move much faster and with greater confidence.”
A large-scale lighting system
The scale of the production is striking. The lighting system comprises approximately 900 fixtures in total, including nearly 600 moving lights distributed across the stage, scenic structures, and audience coverage areas.
The system is designed to support the massive scale of the venues while maintaining a constant visual dialogue with the giant LED setup, without ever being overwhelmed by it.
“The battle with the massive LED wall could be unequal, but there is a strong sensitivity in finding the right balance. I have the ability to level all parameters, and there is constant work on the visual balance of the show. With 1,200 square meters of screen, you need to create a scenic visual that works across all its video and lighting components.”
A particularly notable configuration was implemented for the Ferrara show, a venue with unique characteristics that required an extension of the lighting system onto the delay towers.
“Ferrara is a very special situation, long and deep, almost a small Modena Park. Together with the production and with Vasco, there is always a strong focus on ‘filling’ the entire space, so we also installed lighting on the delay towers.”
Claypaky at the heart of the show
Within this massive rig, 235 Claypaky moving lights form a central pillar of the lighting design. The setup includes 135 Ultimo Hybrid and 95 Ultimo Sharpy units, along with wash fixtures strategically integrated into the scenography. For the Ferrara date, an additional 40 Ultimo Hybrid were deployed on four delay towers, 10 per tower.
The major innovation of 2026 is the extensive integration of the Ultimo Sharpy into the concept.
“Ultimo Sharpy is a new entry for this stage, with hundreds of units very well distributed and highly present throughout the show, alongside the Ultimo Hybrid, with which it pairs very well.”
Ultimo Sharpy, the beam moving light heir to the legendary Sharpy
One of the defining aspects for Pinna is the use of a traditional discharge lamp source, a feature increasingly rare on the market but still capable of delivering a unique aesthetic and stage impact.
“I’ve always been a fan of the purity and penetration of the beam produced by the lamp. I did extensive comparisons before starting, and my conviction remained the same. There are products that may be brighter or more powerful in certain specific conditions, but overall, for me, there is no comparison. The consistency of the beam, the way you visually perceive it, immediately tells you there’s a lamp inside. I like that. For this type of application, in my personal opinion, it’s unbeatable.”
Beyond beam aesthetics, Pinna also highlights the fixture’s versatility and performance in the demanding context of Vasco Rossi’s production.
“It’s a very complete fixture, and in this context it also performs extremely well at long distance. We are talking about a gigantic stage where lighting efficiency really matters.”
Another key factor is IP66 protection, now an essential requirement across the entire rig.
“At this point, I want all fixtures to be weather resistant. I don’t want to deal with water issues anymore, we almost always get them in these situations. Ultimo Sharpy is currently one of my favorite moving lights.”
Ultimo Hybrid, uncompromising versatility
If the Ultimo Sharpy is the most visible new addition to the tour, the Ultimo Hybrid confirms itself as one of the most versatile tools in the entire lighting system. Pinna exploits its full operational range, seamlessly transitioning between beam, wash, spot, and profile functions depending on the narrative needs of each song.
“I’m appreciating the Ultimo Hybrid more and more: it works beautifully, and environments like this really highlight its versatility. I often use them wide, just to paint the stage like a wash and fill the scene. Then, of course, they also deliver in beam mode, and with the right focus they pair extremely well with the Sharpy. They double the punch when used in that mode.”
The same versatility proved essential on the Ferrara delay towers, where ten units per tower were used dynamically across multiple roles.
“I didn’t assign these fixtures to a single function. Song by song, I used the Ultimo Hybrids from the hall as wash, spot, and effects. I mixed the programming extensively, and the fixture allows me to do exactly that.”
With Vasco Live 2026, Giovanni Pinna once again confirms a design philosophy rooted in continuous evolution, in the pursuit of balance between light and video, and in the selection of tools capable of delivering personality, reliability, and performance. In this context, Ultimo Sharpy and Ultimo Hybrid emerge as key protagonists of a system that, year after year, continues to grow alongside Italy’s biggest rock show.