There have been several returns to analogue, perhaps timid and reserved for those who became adults before the web and social networks, and buying vinyl records has perhaps been the most relevant manifestation in recent times, together with participation in spiritual retreats and more or less demanding walks in nature.
But now the need to share physical experiences with others, shoulder to shoulder, becomes serious. It is under the stars, within music, in creative festivals and in those of makers that this urgency is satisfied and that is realized increased sociability that adults are increasingly looking for.
Augmented sociality: beyond digital reality
The full definition is analogue augmented sociabilityin sociology we prefer to replace the last word with the term experiential: occasions, perhaps confined to a short time, in which sociality is amplified by living and having experiences together with others, so intense and significant as to be “increased”.
Unlike the digital augmented realityit is precisely direct sharing that increases perception. Friendships between adults, in fact, arise precisely from doing something together because that is where connections and a certain degree of happiness are produced. Neuroscientific studies talk about how happy sharing influences a person’s well-being and in particular an experiment currently underway is giving interesting results.
It’s about Longevity Ravea science program that studies how rhythm, movement, and shared energy affect the brain, heart, immune system, and our long-term resilience. This was established by the measurements developed by very advanced devices which show how joy spreads within the group, to propagate itself, starting a process of individual transformation.
The rhythm that extends life and the science of joy
But above all about longevity: dancing all night extends your life. But the project is interesting because it investigates the set of environmental, social, sensory and behavioral stimuli that determine the duration of health. And being happy is the secret ingredient, which travels on the tracks of synchronicity: then the (physical) connection with others is highly satisfying and the experience immersive.
Increased sociality is served, among very different proposals, but linked by a common logic: the outcome of the performance does not matter, rather the participation in something as grandiose as shared physical presence. Here are some examples (but it will be enough to follow your passions to find the right place for your increased sociality).
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival it is one of the largest events dedicated to the arts in the world and involves the city from 7 to 31 August. From big names in the world of entertainment to emerging artists, the festival encompasses every genre of live entertainment, including theatre, cabaret, dance, circus, children’s shows, musicals, opera, music, exhibitions and events. Immersion is guaranteed and sharing is very high.
From the stages of Budapest to the forests of Somerset
Something similar also happens in Budapest where it Sziget Festival transforms the island of Óbuda (in the Danube which crosses the city) into a musical planet: between 11 and 15 August hundreds of shows are scheduled with names such as Florence + The Machine, Soul Wax, Underworld, Bring Me The Horizon, but also art and performances on around 50 stages which attracted 450 thousand people in 2025. You share the island itself with others, which becomes the place for your stay, yoga lessons and culinary tastings.
To echo him is Tomorrowlandamong the largest electronic music festivals in the world, home to Boom, Belgium. Two weekends in July (17-19 and 24-26) for this second edition, which embraces all genres of electronic dance music with hundreds of world-famous artists performing on over 15 different stages. Love for nature, for others and for oneself is the philosophy of Tomorrowland, a land of special effects, wonder and connection.
Change of scenery: under the vault of heaven to contemplate the stars. It happens atExmoor Dark Skies Festival (16 October – 1 November) in the homonymous national park in Somerset (UK) which has now earned one of the top positions in the top list of the most important astronomical events in Europe, followed by thousands of people last year.
Shared creativity: the future of vegetable gardens and high tech
Nature is a great catalyst for increased sociality and in Italy it deserves attention Green Festival in Turinthe first format of widespread events dedicated to the plant world and its relationship with man and the urban environment, scheduled from 4 to 24 May. There are many events, from the opening of secret gardens, normally closed, to the creation of small shared vegetable gardens. The doing, in this case, is projected onto the future in the care of those small, miraculous creations.
Another change of scene: creativity festivals. An example above all is theIceland Knit Fest (5-7 June). Now in its tenth edition, it brings together knitting, yarn and weaving enthusiasts from every corner of the planet in a very small town in Iceland for courses, conferences and creative exchanges with local wools and yarns. Then there’s the high tech version. We meet to discover the latest news and share inventions, projects and knowledge.
An example is We Make Future in Bologna (24-26 June), a place that creates connections between companies, start-ups and international stakeholders, as well as a place for training and debate. In 2025 there were 73 thousand people from 90 countries. It’s on stage in London SXSW London (June 1-6). Which presents itself as «a catalyst for bold thinking and real-world impact. It’s the place where open debate fuels discovery, where unexpected conversations spark collaboration, and where cutting-edge ideas become the next big innovations.” Launched last year, it involved over 25 thousand people in a calendar of meetings, workshops, film screenings and music. But above all, an idea: optimism can change the world and shape the future.
