Festival of Despair

A festival that laughs at despair

The Festival of Despair is one of the most original cultural festivals in Puglia. Born in Andria, in the heart of the Barletta-Andria-Trani province, it takes seriously a feeling that we usually prefer to hide: anguish, failure, and the restlessness of contemporary life. However, it does so with intelligence and irony, transforming despair into a subject for storytelling, debate, and performance. Conceived and organized by the Circolo dei Lettori di Andria under the artistic direction of Gigi Brandonisio, the festival weaves together literature, theater, comedy, philosophy, and music in a program that lasts over a month, between June and July.

The Chiostro del Seminario Vescovile

The symbolic venue of the event is the Chiostro del Seminario Vescovile, an intimate and evocative space in the historic center of Andria that hosts most of the evening meetings. Talks, book presentations, concerts, monologues, and readings take place around the cloister, in an intimate atmosphere that fosters a direct dialogue between guests and the audience. Over the years, the festival has expanded its offerings, including sections dedicated to young people, such as the one curated by the Futuro Anteriore Festival, the Andria event that looks toward the visions of tomorrow.

The 2026 edition: aging poorly

In 2026, the festival celebrates its tenth edition with a sharp and self-deprecating theme: "Aging sucks. Ten years of aging poorly." The program, which runs from June 13 to July 25, reflects on aging not just as a matter of age, but as an experience that involves the body, relationships, politics, and collective illusions. The festival opens with writer Ermanno Cavazzoni and closes on July 25 with actor Paolo Rossi and his Operaccia Satirica.

Guests and program

Every edition brings together writers, journalists, comedians, and musicians of national renown in Andria. Among the protagonists of the tenth-anniversary edition are names such as Luca Bizzarri, Sabina Guzzanti, Francesca Mannocchi, Paolo Rossi, Concita De Gregorio, Nicola Lagioia, Mario Desiati, Roberto Mercadini, and many others, featuring readings, live performances, and reflections on current events.

• Meetings and talks with writers and journalists
• Theatrical performances, monologues, and comedy
• Concerts and singer-songwriter events
• Book presentations and readings
• Section dedicated to young people with the Futuro Anteriore Festival

Andria and Puglia

The festival is deeply rooted in the city of Andria, one of the main centers of the Barletta-Andria-Trani province and a gateway to the famous Castel del Monte. Today, the event represents an important piece of the Apulian cultural summer, capable of attracting audiences from all over the region and beyond, and complementing the local gastronomic and landscape offerings with high-quality intellectual programming.

Information and tickets

Events mainly take place in the evening in the Chiostro del Seminario Vescovile and other spaces in the historic center. Tickets are on sale online on the official festival website and at the secretariat at Largo Seminario 18 in Andria.