Festival del Giornalismo Culturale

A festival that puts culture at the center of information

The Festival del Giornalismo Culturale — known as FGCult — is one of the most recognized in-depth events in the Marche region. Founded in 2013, it brings some of the most authoritative voices in Italian journalism, literature, science, and philosophy to Urbino, in the province of Pesaro and Urbino, every October. The festival was born from a precise idea: to investigate how culture is reported by the media and how journalism can remain a tool for knowledge and not just a chronicle.

Urbino, a unique Renaissance setting

The main venue is the Ducal Palace, a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance and home to the National Gallery of the Marche, a UNESCO World Heritage site along with the historic city center. Meetings take place in charming locations such as the Throne Room, the Hanging Garden, but also at the Palazzo Battiferri of the University, the Nuova Luce Cinema, and in the churches and cultural spaces of the center. Walking from one venue to another means crossing the ducal city of Federico da Montefeltro, in a continuous dialogue between historical heritage and contemporary debate.

Who organizes the festival

FGCult is promoted by the IFG Urbino – Institute for Journalism Training and the University of Urbino Carlo Bo, with the support of the Marche Region and the collaboration of the National Gallery of the Marche. The direction is entrusted to Lella Mazzoli and Giorgio Zanchini, with the presidency of Piero Dorfles. Over the years, the event has built a solid identity: each edition revolves around a theme that serves as a common thread for panels, lectures, interviews, exhibitions, and shows.

How the program is structured

The festival is divided into several phases: a Festival OFF with preparatory events in various municipalities in the Marche during September, a preview evening, and then the main days of the Festival ON in Urbino, with dozens of events concentrated over a long weekend. Professional debates, dialogues with writers and scientists, film screenings, book presentations, and exhibitions alternate. All events are free admission until seats are filled, a distinctive feature that makes the festival open to students, the curious, and enthusiasts.

Why it's worth attending

• Meetings with big names in Italian journalism and culture
• Prestigious venues in the heart of Urbino's UNESCO historic center
• Free and multidisciplinary program, from science to cinema
• An opportunity to visit the ducal city outside the peak tourist season

For those who love ideas and quality debate, FGCult is an event to mark on the calendar: a weekend in October when Urbino becomes the capital of Italian cultural journalism.