Festival of Contemporary Thinking

A festival that brings thought to the squares

The Festival of Contemporary Thinking is a cultural event that every year, at the end of summer, transforms Piacenza into a capital of ideas. Promoted by the Municipality of Piacenza and the Foundation of Piacenza and Vigevano, the festival offers a packed program of meetings, masterclasses, dialogues, shows, and performances dedicated to philosophy, art, science, and the major themes of current affairs. The beating heart of the event is the monumental Piazza Cavalli, complemented by numerous venues spread throughout the historic center, from noble palaces to theaters, from courtyards to museums.

The direction and identity of the event

The festival is curated by Alessandro Fusacchia, while the philosophical direction is led by Andrea Colamedici and Maura Gancitano, founders of the cultural project Tlon. This approach gives the event a rigorous yet accessible tone: the great issues of our time, from artificial intelligence to ecology, from justice to gender equality, are addressed with the language of critical thinking but made understandable to a broad, intergenerational audience.

Italian and international guests

Each edition attracts over two hundred guests, including philosophers, writers, scientists, artists, journalists, and activists from all over the world. Alongside the protagonists of the Italian cultural debate, leading international voices participate, in a dialogue that ranges from literature to geopolitics, from technology to visual arts. A central moment is the awarding of the International Festival of Contemporary Thinking Prize, an award given to a prominent figure in the global intellectual landscape.

Art, music, and performance

The festival is not just about debate: the evenings in Piazza Cavalli open and close with concerts, musical performances, and shows that combine live music, dance, and spoken word. The festive and popular dimension coexists with the reflective one, making the event an engaging experience for families, students, the curious, and enthusiasts.

Piacenza, city of culture

Included in the Rete Cultura Piacenza program, the festival represents one of the flagship projects of the city in Emilia-Romagna and a significant step in the journey that accompanies Piacenza in its cultural candidacy. The choice of completely free admission to all events underscores the event's mission: to make contemporary thought a common good, accessible to anyone who wants to spend four days of ideas in the heart of the city.