Festival del Nerd
Pop culture takes over the center of Foggia with cosplay, comics, gaming, and concerts
About Festival del Nerd
The pop culture festival of the Capitanata
The Festival del Nerd is the largest event dedicated to pop culture, comics, and the geek scene in Northern Puglia. Every spring, it takes over the heart of Foggia, the capital of the Capitanata region, transforming squares, avenues, historic palaces, and theaters into one massive, sprawling theme park. Comics, cosplay, video games, anime, manga, cinema, TV series, and music intertwine in an event that has become a highly anticipated date for thousands of enthusiasts from across Puglia and neighboring regions.
A city-wide event in the historic center
The festival's formula is based on the city opening itself up to its visitors: activities are spread throughout the town center, from Piazza XX Settembre to the Teatro Umberto Giordano, passing through Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Via Dante, Palazzo Dogana, the Cinema Cicolella, and the Cathedral square. The main stage for performances and concerts is set up in Piazza Cesare Battisti. This urban, free-access format is the hallmark of the event, which brings the streets and squares of the Municipality of Foggia to life rather than confining itself to a trade fair pavilion.
What to find at the festival
- Cosplay: parades, contests, and themed gatherings that fill the city streets with color;
- Gaming and retrogaming: dozens of stations, video game tournaments, board games, and role-playing games;
- Comics and illustration: exhibitions of original artwork, book signings, masterclasses, and meetings with Italian and international authors;
- Concerts: live performances of cartoon theme songs and pop music on the main stage;
- Meet-and-greets: talks with voice actors, actors, creators, YouTubers, and streamers;
- Workshops: activities for children, families, and schools.
Culture, inclusion, and outreach
Beyond entertainment, the Festival del Nerd dedicates significant space to themes of great social value: inclusion, mental health, neurodiversity, and graphic medicine—the use of the comic medium for scientific and health communication. The event is organized by the Festival del Nerd Association with the support of the Municipality of Foggia, the Province of Foggia, and the Puglia Region, confirming a cultural project that combines pop entertainment with the growth of the Capitanata territory.
Festival del Nerd — edition 2026
The tenth edition of the Festival del Nerd took place in Foggia from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 24, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with the official inauguration at Palazzo Dogana. The official poster for the edition was signed by cartoonist Claudio Sciarrone. Three days of exhibitions, live painting, cosplay, concerts, gaming areas, and meetings with national and international guests filled the city center, with a program packed with masterclasses and moments dedicated to social inclusion, mental health, and outreach through comics, cinema, and pop culture.
The edition particularly celebrated the music of cartoon theme songs, a medieval village set up near the Cathedral, and a large section dedicated to graphic medicine and neurodiversity.
Programme Festival del Nerd 2026
Format and hours
Sprawling festival in the historic center of Foggia, from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM over the three days. Official inauguration on Friday, May 22 at Palazzo Dogana. Main venues: Piazza Cesare Battisti stage, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Via Dante, Piazza XX Settembre, Teatro Umberto Giordano, Cinema Cicolella, Palazzo Dogana, and the Cathedral square.
Music and cartoon theme songs
- Cristina D'Avena — the voice of Italian cartoon theme songs;
- Giorgio Vanni — the themes for Dragon Ball, Pokémon, Naruto, One Piece;
- Concerts and live performances on the main stage.
International guests and TV
- Darko Perić — "Helsinki" in the Netflix series Money Heist;
- Leonardo Graziano — voice actor for Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory), Naruto, and Killua (Hunter × Hunter);
- Lorenzo Branchetti — Nino Cotonio from La Melevisione.
Comics and illustration
- Gianfranco Florio (collaborations with Disney, Pixar, Marvel);
- Domenico Carbone (Marvel Comics, Moon Knight, Ultimate Wolverine), with an exhibition of his artwork;
- Alessio Fortunato and Giuliano Cangiano (Kangiano), bridging comics and graphic medicine.
Creators, gaming, and sports
- Content creators, YouTubers, and streamers like Marco Merrino (Croix89) and Mario Sturniolo;
- Over 30 gaming stations, tournaments, retrogaming, board games, and role-playing games (Crocevia dei Mondi);
- Cosplay parades and gatherings with guest cosplayers (Zhalia, Faenel, SuperAzzurro);
- Medieval village, climbing (Climbing Lab), and sports activities with athlete Mattia Faraoni.
Highlights Festival del Nerd 2026
Prices Festival del Nerd 2026
Practical information — Festival del Nerd
When
The festival takes place in May over a long weekend, with continuous hours from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Activities are distributed throughout the historic center of Foggia.
How to get there
By train: Foggia station is a major railway hub served by national and regional connections; the city center is reachable on foot in a few minutes. By car: A14 and A16 motorway exits towards Foggia. By plane: "Gino Lisa" Airport in Foggia or airports in Bari and Naples.
Admission
The event takes place in the public spaces of the city center with free admission. Some activities, areas, and tournaments may require booking or registration. We recommend checking the official website and social media channels for the detailed program.
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Where does it take place — Festival del Nerd
Centro storico di Foggia