Elba Book Festival

A festival for independent publishing on the Island of Elba

The Elba Book Festival is the first Italian island festival entirely dedicated to independent publishing and the defense of so-called bibliodiversity—the richness and variety of editorial voices that thrive outside major commercial circuits. The event takes place every July in the charming medieval village of Rio nell'Elba, a hamlet of the Municipality of Rio, in the Province of Livorno, at the eastern end of the Island of Elba, in Tuscany.

The festival squares

The heart of the festival beats between two locations in the historic center. In Piazza del Popolo, stands are set up for about twenty independent publishers from all over Italy, where readers can browse catalogs often unavailable in bookstores and engage directly with the editors. From sunset onwards, Piazza Matteotti becomes the main venue for evening gatherings: presentations, round tables, staged readings, and debates with writers, journalists, artists, theater actors, and book industry professionals.

Literary awards

The Elba Book Festival is also a landmark for two major accolades. The Lorenzo Claris Appiani Prize, dedicated to literary translation, commemorates the young lawyer from Elba who passed away prematurely; it is promoted in collaboration with the Association, the Appiani family, and the CeST of the University for Foreigners of Siena, awarding the best translation from a foreign language each year. The Demetra Prize, on the other hand, is dedicated to environmental literature and is divided into several categories, ranging from non-fiction to fiction, and from children's books to graphic novels.

A program for all ages

In addition to evening meetings, the festival offers Elbakids, a series of creative and educational workshops designed for young readers and spread throughout the village's historic center, as well as literary walks and moments of cultural insight. Admission to events is traditionally free, in keeping with the festival's popular and educational vocation.

The twelfth edition 2026

In 2026, the Elba Book Festival reaches its twelfth edition, scheduled from July 21 to 24, with the theme "Naviganti": an image that evokes the island, the journey, and the ability to navigate through stories and ideas. An unmissable stop for those visiting the Island of Elba in summer who wish to combine the sea, culture, and the discovery of unconventional publishing.