Cherasco Among the Stories Festival — 2nd Edition + 25th Cherasco History International Prize

A festival that tells the story of History in Cherasco

The 'Cherasco Among the Stories' festival is a cultural event that transforms the historic center of Cherasco (province of Cuneo, Piedmont) into a vast, open-air stage dedicated to history, storytelling, and public outreach. Now in its second edition in 2026, the festival was created to complement the long-standing and prestigious Cherasco History International Prize, which celebrated its 25th edition that same year.

The Cherasco History International Prize

Established in 1997 on the initiative of Banca di Cherasco and now organized by the Fondazione De Benedetti Cherasco 1547, the Prize is one of Italy's most important accolades for non-fiction and historical dissemination. In 2026, the main award went to British historian Richard Overy for his book Blood and Ruins: The Great Imperial War, 1931-1945 (Einaudi, 2025). The ceremony, held on Saturday, May 16th, at the Teatro Salomone, also saw the presentation of special awards: the journalism prize to Mario Calabresi, the economics prize to Silvia Maria Rovere, and the arts and culture prize to art historian Sharon Hecker.

The 2026 Program

The 2026 edition took place from May 15th to 17th with a packed calendar of free events. Guests included Aldo Cazzullo with his performance Francesco: il primo italiano, Viola Ardone, Matteo Cavezzali, Domenico Iannacone with Il senso dell'umano, Giovanni Minoli, Gianni Riotta, Luca Bianchini, and a musical dialogue with pianist Gloria Campaner and Luca De Gennaro.

• Friday, May 15th: Opening with schools, meetings at the Arco del Belvedere, and the inaugural evening with Aldo Cazzullo at the Teatro Salomone.
• Saturday, May 16th: Prize ceremony, dialogues with Michele Brambilla, Giovanna Pancheri, and Alberto Mingardi, and an evening performance by Domenico Iannacone.
• Sunday, May 17th: Free yoga class, meetings with Giovanni Minoli, Gianni Riotta, Luca Bianchini, and a musical dialogue with Gloria Campaner.

Historic Venues

Events are distributed across some of the town's most iconic landmarks: the Teatro Salomone, the Arco del Belvedere, the Church of San Gregorio, and Palazzo Salmatoris. This selection highlights the architectural identity of Cherasco, the famous 'City of Peace', known for its porticos, baroque churches, and the history of treaties and armistices signed within its walls.

An event for everyone

Promoted by the Municipality of Cherasco in collaboration with the Fondazione De Benedetti Cherasco 1547 and under the artistic direction of Idee al Lavoro, the festival offers a dialogue between academic rigor and accessible dissemination. All meetings are free to attend until capacity is reached, making culture an experience open to families, students, and history enthusiasts alike.