Festival of Wonder
Philosophy, science, art, and business on the shores of Lake Maggiore
About Festival of Wonder
A festival that intertwines knowledge
In Laveno-Mombello, in the Province of Varese, on the shores of Lake Maggiore, the Festival of Wonder is a cultural event that challenges divisions between disciplines. Philosophy, science, art, and business meet in a program of talks, performances, exhibitions, and installations, designed to interpret the present through the lens of wonder and curiosity.
A different theme each year
Each edition of the festival revolves around a theme. In 2026, the common thread is "History, stories, and tales", an exploration of how narratives shape our understanding of the world and the risks of distortion in the digital age. The program alternates conferences, debates, theatrical performances, artistic installations, and musical moments, with the participation of renowned scholars, scientists, artists, and writers.
Art, dialogue, and community
The festival is not just a series of encounters: it actively involves the community, with projects that connect generations and installations that tell the story of the region. Through street art, theatrical performances, and exhibitions set up in various locations in the town, the Festival of Wonder transforms Laveno-Mombello into an open-air cultural laboratory.
Culture accessible to all
One of the festival's distinctive features is its accessibility: most events are free, with the exception of some social gatherings. This choice makes the Festival of Wonder an open and inclusive event, capable of attracting a curious audience from all over the Lombardy Region and beyond.
Festival of Wonder — edition 2026
The fourth edition of the Festival of Wonder enlivens Laveno-Mombello from May 8 to 24, 2026, with programming also extended to Luino. The 2026 theme, "History, stories, and tales," explores how narratives shape our understanding of the world and the risks of distortion in the digital age.
The opening days (May 8-10) feature the inaugural talk with VareseNews director Marco Giovannelli, the theatrical performance based on Shakespeare's "The Tempest" by Davide Lorenzo Palla, workshops, panels with scientists and experts, artistic installations, and street art by Andrea Ravo Mattoni.
Programme Festival of Wonder 2026
Opening Days (May 8-10)
- Inaugural talk with Marco Giovannelli, director of VareseNews
- Theatrical performance: Shakespeare's "The Tempest" adapted by Davide Lorenzo Palla
- Workshop on narrating the European Union and nature
- Panel with climatologist Stefano Caserini, AI expert Davide Tosi, and writer Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer
- Artistic installations and musical moments
- Street art with Andrea Ravo Mattoni
Throughout the duration (until May 24)
- Three exhibitions, including "Stories make worlds" in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano School of Design
- Guests: historian Simona Colarizi, Buddhist master Lama Michel Rinpoche, and other scholars
Highlights Festival of Wonder 2026
The inaugural talk, the performance of Shakespeare's "The Tempest," the street art by Andrea Ravo Mattoni, and the three exhibitions with the Politecnico di Milano.
Prices Festival of Wonder 2026
Practical information — Festival of Wonder
How to get there
Laveno-Mombello is located on the Lombard shore of Lake Maggiore, in the Province of Varese. It can be reached by car via the SS629; it is connected to Milan and Varese by train lines and to Intra by ferry. Events take place in various locations in the town.
Times and admission
The festival takes place over several weeks in May. Most events are free, except for lunches and aperitifs at WUNDERbar. Detailed program at festivaldellameraviglia.org.
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Where does it take place — Festival of Wonder
Laveno-Mombello (varie sedi)