Contropelo – Antispeciesist Festival

Contropelo, the first antispeciesist festival in Aielli

Contropelo is a cultural and activist festival dedicated to antispeciesism, debuting in 2026 in Aielli, a small village in the Marsica area, in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo. The event was conceived by illustrator and cartoonist Violinoviola, a resident of Aielli, in collaboration with the Libert'aria Association, the cultural group that manages the historic town's library.

A dialogue on the relationship between humans and other animals

The festival serves as a platform for dialogue through various mediums, from art to scientific outreach, to discuss the complexity of our relationship with other animals: covering themes of care, abandonment, exploitation, and the possibility of new forms of coexistence. Activism, ethical reflection, and artistic sensitivity come together in a program designed for adults, families, and the curious.

The program

The two-day event offers a rich calendar of activities spread throughout the village:

• Live music performances and live painting sessions;
• An accessible nature walk through trails, wild herbs, and local wildlife;
• A mime performance by the Animot collective;
• Photography exhibitions dedicated to forest animals, sanctuaries, and livestock;
• A refreshment area with vegan cuisine and food trucks.

During the festival, a fanzine featuring original illustrations by Violinoviola and essays on livestock farming, climate, and animal rights will also be distributed.

Guests and sanctuaries

Announced guests include animal sanctuaries such as Capra libera tutti, Belli e ribelli, and the Piccolo Rifugio Antispe of Nocera Umbra, dog trainer Michele Minunno, and veterinarian Marta Fragola. The Nora collective, the Reiette collective from Pisa, and the transfeminist and ecologist assembly Corpi e Terra will also participate.

Aielli, the village of murals

Contropelo is part of the cultural journey that has made Aielli famous throughout Italy thanks to the urban art project Borgo Universo and the murals that decorate the houses of the historic center. A small municipality in the province of L'Aquila that, through literature, public art, and stargazing, has established itself as a laboratory for cultural regeneration in the heart of Abruzzo.