Edunova – Festival of Education
The festival weaving humanism, technology, and new generations in Civitanova Alta
About Edunova
A festival dedicated to education within the walls of Civitanova Alta
Edunova is the Festival of Education that transforms the historic village of Civitanova Alta, in the Municipality of Civitanova Marche (Province of Macerata, Marche), into a large, widespread laboratory of ideas. Founded in 2025 on the initiative of the Istituto Comprensivo Sant'Agostino of Civitanova Marche-Montecosaro, the event is a meeting point for teachers, students, families, and professionals in the educational world, where experiences, tools, and visions are shared to rethink school and learning in an innovative, inclusive, and participatory way.
«Humans in Tech»: humanism and artificial intelligence
The theme of the 2026 edition is «Humans in Tech» and focuses on the relationship between human beings and new technologies. The festival investigates the encounter between humanistic culture and artificial intelligence, with particular attention to the value of words, creativity, and critical thinking in the digital world. It is a reflection that starts from school but concerns the entire community, because today's educational challenge is to learn to consciously inhabit a rapidly changing world.
Cinema, culture, and new technologies
One of the most important innovations is the collaboration with the Fondazione Marche Cultura and the Marche Film Commission, which bring a program to Civitanova that intertwines cinema, education, and innovation. Cinema thus becomes a tool for learning and discussion, with screenings, short films made by students, and meetings with industry professionals. The village of Civitanova Alta confirms itself as an ideal space for this dialogue, where art, landscape, and technology converse.
A network between school and territory
Edunova is a choral project involving the Municipality of Civitanova Marche with its patronage, the Marche Region, cultural institutions, and numerous professionals. Conceived and directed by the school principal Gloria Gradassi, the festival puts schools at the center, enhancing the work of teachers and students and transforming the village into an open-air classroom. Historic halls, art galleries, theaters, and multimedia spaces host the various events, spread over several days.
Who is it for
- Families with children and teenagers, thanks to interactive workshops and 0-6 year old spaces
- Teachers and educators, with certified training courses
- Students, protagonists of projects and short films
- Anyone curious about the relationship between humanism, school, and technology
With free admission to all events, Edunova is an event that combines the cultural identity of Civitanova Marche with the desire to imagine the future of education.
Edunova — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Edunova, the second in its history, brought four days dedicated to education and the relationship between humans and technology to Civitanova Alta, under the title «Humans in Tech». Organized by the Istituto Comprensivo Sant'Agostino in collaboration with Fondazione Marche Cultura and Marche Film Commission, it enlivened the historic village with events designed for schools, families, and professionals.
The program intertwined workshops for children and teenagers, certified training for teachers, exhibitions, cinema, and discussion moments on digital technology and artificial intelligence, confirming Edunova as one of the most original educational festivals in the Province of Macerata. All events were free admission.
Programme Edunova 2026
Wednesday, May 6 (pre-festival)
- 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM — Teacher training «Philosophy in Primary School» with Roberto Mancini (University of Macerata), Ex Bonifazi venue
Thursday, May 7 — Official Opening
- 6:00 PM — «AI sì AI no» with Giobbe Covatta (text by Paolo Consorti), Teatro Annibal Caro, Civitanova Alta
Saturday, May 9
- Exhibition opening «Manifesti Ribelli» (Spazio Multimediale San Francesco)
- Exhibition opening «Grande come un virus», conceived by CNR (Pinacoteca Moretti)
- AVIS competition award ceremony (San Francesco)
- Award ceremony for «Leopardi e il Paesaggio» with generative writing demonstration (Teatro Annibal Caro)
- In the evening, meeting with writer Daniele Aristarco (Teatro Annibal Caro)
Sunday, May 10
- Panel «Visions of the Future» with university professors and tech industry professionals
- 9:00 PM — Screening of the film Nirvana (1997) with discussion, in the presence of set designer Giancarlo Basili, director Gianluca Santoni, and moderator Michele Fofi (Teatro Annibal Caro)
Throughout the weekend
- Interactive workshops (ages 6-13): philosophy, debate, Chinese language, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, virtual reality
- 0-6 years space «Once Upon a Time There Was the Future» (Plesso Morvillo): storytelling and interactive experiences
- Human Library: direct person-to-person dialogues
- Short films made by students, including «Il posto più bello» (on Leopardi's thought, filmed at the Cassero of Montecosaro)
- Training sessions for educators and parents
Highlights Edunova 2026
Prices Edunova 2026
Practical information — Edunova
Where
The events take place in the historic center of Civitanova Alta (Civitanova Marche, Province of Macerata), in multiple locations: Teatro Annibal Caro, Spazio Multimediale San Francesco, Pinacoteca Moretti, Plesso Morvillo (0-6 years space) and other places in the village.
How to get here
By car: take the Civitanova Marche exit of the A14 highway, then head up towards Civitanova Alta. By train: Civitanova Marche-Montegranaro station, from which you can reach the upper village by bus or car. The nearest airport is Ancona-Falconara Airport (Marche).
Admission and booking
All events are free admission; booking is recommended for some events. Full program and information at www.edunovafestival.it.
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Where does it take place — Edunova
Civitanova Alta (centro storico)