Feminist Festival

A city-wide festival in the heart of Prato

The Feminist Festival has become one of the most anticipated events on the cultural calendar of Prato, in the heart of Tuscany. Created to give voice and space to contemporary feminist thought, the festival brings the city to life throughout February with a network of events: not just a single stage, but a dozen locations that together become a large shared space for reflection and encounter.

Promoted by the Ipazia Association with the support of organizations such as Cesvot, CNA, CGIL, and UniCoop Firenze, the festival features around thirty events each year spanning various formats: round tables, book presentations, performances, workshops, screenings, and social gatherings. The common thread is intersectional feminism, explored through the lenses of social justice, rights, and the cultural transformations of our time.

The venues: a city that becomes a festival

The strength of the Feminist Festival lies in its widespread nature. Events take place in iconic spaces of Prato's cultural and community life, including:

• the Luigi Pecci Center for Contemporary Art, the main venue for the major Saturday afternoon talks;
• the Lazzerini Library, home to editorial presentations;
• the Terminale Cinema for screenings;
• the city's Arci clubs (Quinto Martini in Maliseti, Costa Azzurra, 29 Martiri in Figline) for more convivial gatherings;
• university and independent spaces such as Monash University, Toast Studio, and Capanno 17.

Themes and languages

Each edition chooses a focus to guide the program: from mental health to labor, from women's sports to body self-representation, and urgent issues like gender-based violence. Alongside in-depth discussions, the festival gives ample space to performative languages—stand-up comedy, vogueing, feminist karaoke, movement meditation—and experiential workshops open to everyone.

The festival caters to a broad, intergenerational audience: students, long-time activists, families (with workshops dedicated to children during the meetings), and the simply curious. The Province of Prato and the Municipality of Prato support the festival, which has established itself as a benchmark for feminist debate in Tuscany.

A free and participatory event

Almost all events are free to attend, with online booking recommended: a choice that reflects the inclusive and grassroots nature of the event. Only a few specific appointments—courses and shows—require a ticket. The Feminist Festival thus remains an opportunity open to anyone wishing to participate in the debate on rights and equal opportunities.