Conversazioni sul Futuro

A festival of ideas in the heart of Salento

Conversazioni sul Futuro is one of Puglia's leading cultural festivals: every autumn, it transforms the historic center of Lecce into a vast space for debate and storytelling about the present and the future. Promoted by the Diffondiamo idee di valore association and coordinated by Gabriella Morelli, the festival weaves together journalism, literature, science, art, and civic engagement to explore the many facets of the world we live in today.

The origins of the event

The festival was founded in 2013 (the first two editions were titled Xoff) and has grown over the years to become a highly anticipated fixture in the cultural calendar of the Municipality of Lecce and the entire Puglia region. Its format is that of a "diffused festival": dozens of free or low-cost meetings, spread over five days and across multiple locations in the city, capable of attracting a large and diverse audience.

The languages of the program

The heart of the event lies in the conversations: dialogues between guests on current affairs, geopolitics, human rights, science, the environment, technology, and innovation. Alongside the talks, many other formats are featured:

• Book presentations with Italian and international authors;
• Monologues, theatrical performances, and evening concerts;
• Screenings of films and documentaries;
• Workshops and activities dedicated to schools and families.

The city-wide venues

The festival inhabits some of the most beautiful spots in the Salento capital: the Officine Cantelmo, the Teatro Paisiello, the Convitto Palmieri, the Biblioteca Bernardini, the Complesso degli Agostiniani, the Castello Carlo V, Piazza Sant'Oronzo, as well as the DB D'Essai cinema halls and the spaces of the University of Salento. It is an itinerary that invites the public to discover the city while attending the meetings.

An international scope

With over 160 guests per edition, Conversazioni sul Futuro brings leading voices of Italian and international culture to Lecce: journalists, writers, scientists, activists, and artists from all over the world. It is this open and plural perspective, combined with the welcoming atmosphere of Salento, that makes the festival a unique experience in the Puglian landscape.