Festival of Slowness
Three days to slow down and rediscover the value of time in the heart of Parma
About Festival of Slowness
A festival that invites you to slow down
In the heart of Parma, in Emilia-Romagna, the Festival of Slowness is now an eagerly awaited event for thousands of people who choose each year to stop, reflect, and rediscover the pleasure of slow time. Born in 2014 from an idea by the Association of Virtuous Municipalities, the festival is organized by the Turbolenta APS Association together with the same network of Virtuous Municipalities, with the patronage of the Municipality of Parma, the Province of Parma, and the Emilia-Romagna Region.
All Down to Earth: the theme for 2026
The twelfth edition, scheduled from June 5 to 7, 2026, with a preview on May 15 at the Auditorium Paganini, is titled "Tutti giù per terra" (All Down to Earth): an invitation to rediscover play as a tool for community, cross-pollination, and intergenerational encounters. For three days, the city transforms into a large, widespread space for culture and social life, with over fifty events spread across Piazzale San Francesco, Borgo delle Colonne, the Casa della Musica, historic galleries, and the squares of the city center.
Talks, performances, music, and games
The program intertwines talks and dialogues with prominent guests, open-air theatrical performances, concerts, book presentations, exhibitions, workshops for children and adults, and actual game tables set up in the streets. Topics include the environment, new generations, human-scale cities, emotions, and limits, always with accessible language and the aim of creating community.
- Talks and discussions with writers, journalists, scientists, and communicators
- Theatrical performances in squares and historic courtyards
- Evening concerts and open-air DJ sets
- Workshops and activities for families and children
- Exhibitions, artisan markets, and food and wine offerings
A sustainable and accessible festival
Consistent with the philosophy of the Virtuous Municipalities, the festival is a plastic-free event, with free water fountains distributed along the route, and pays particular attention to accessibility: a "decompression room" is provided for those who need breaks, created in collaboration with local organizations. Participation is free for almost all events, with the exception of some workshops and a few specific events. The Festival of Slowness is today one of the most recognizable cultural events in Parma and Emilia-Romagna, capable of combining major names in Italian culture with an intimate, local dimension.
Festival of Slowness — edition 2026
The XII edition of the Festival of Slowness, titled "Tutti giù per terra" (All Down to Earth), animated the center of Parma from June 5 to 7, 2026, with a preview on May 15 at the Auditorium Paganini. Three days of talks, performances, concerts, and workshops spread across Piazzale San Francesco, Borgo delle Colonne, and the Casa della Musica.
Among the most anticipated guests were: writer Viola Ardone, journalist Riccardo Iacona, actor Andrea Pennacchi, musician Massimo Zamboni, art historian Jacopo Veneziani, neuroscientist Vittorio Gallese, urban planner Elena Granata, and the final concert by Nada. Participation was free for almost all events.
Programme Festival of Slowness 2026
The XII edition was structured over three days (plus the May 15 preview) with over fifty events spread throughout the historic center. Below is a selection of the program.
Preview — Friday, May 15
- 9:00 PM — Auditorium Paganini: "Crescere, la guerra" (Growing Up, War), performance with Francesca Mannocchi
Friday, June 5
- Talks with art historian Jacopo Veneziani and neuroscientist Vittorio Gallese
- Theatrical performances in the city squares
- Live podcast with Matteo Caccia
Saturday, June 6
- 11:30 AM — Piazzale Salvo d'Acquisto: Ed è subito sera (And it's suddenly evening) (poetry) with Massimo Vitali
- 12:00 PM — Colonne 28: Caro Vik ti scrivo (Dear Vik, I'm writing to you), book presentation by Anna Maria Selini
- 12:00 PM — Galleria San Federico: The Game, participatory theater by Trickster-p
- 3:00 PM — Colonne 28: A Panda likes to talk about emotions with Giacomo Bevilacqua
- 5:30 PM — Borgo del Naviglio: game tables with Orso Ludo and Parma Gamers
- 6:30 PM — Piazzale San Francesco: Direct Take on New Generations with Riccardo Iacona
- 7:00 PM — Casa della Musica Concert Hall: The City Belongs to Everyone, book by Elena Granata
- 8:45 PM — Piazzale San Francesco: Cucù Verdiano (Verdi Off / Teatro Regio)
- 9:00 PM — Piazzale San Francesco: Shakespeare and me, theater with Andrea Pennacchi and Giorgio Gobbo
- 10:30 PM — Piazzale Salvo d'Acquisto: Raffaele Kohler Swing Band (music)
Sunday, June 7
- Presentation of the book "Chiamami adulto" (Call Me Adult) by Matteo Lancini with Federico Taddia
- Talk with writer Viola Ardone
- Final concert by Nada
Full program at lentezza.org.
Highlights Festival of Slowness 2026
Prices Festival of Slowness 2026
Practical information — Festival of Slowness
How to get here
Parma is easily reachable by train (Parma station on the Milan-Bologna high-speed line) and by car via the A1 motorway (Parma exit) and the A15. The events take place in the historic center, easily reachable on foot from the station in about 15 minutes.
Main venues
Piazzale San Francesco, Borgo delle Colonne, Casa della Musica, Piazzale Salvo d'Acquisto, Galleria San Ludovico, and other squares in the historic center.
Admission
Participation is free for most events. Some workshops and specific events may require booking. Full program and updates at lentezza.org.
Contacts
Email: [email protected] — Tel: +39 338 4309269.
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Where does it take place — Festival of Slowness
Piazzale San Francesco, Borgo delle Colonne e centro storico
Piazzale San Francesco, 43121 Parma