Festivaletteratura
Mantua, the capital of books, for thirty years
About Festivaletteratura
Thirty years of festival
Festivaletteratura was born in Mantua in 1997 and invented a widespread and participatory model of literary festival in Italy, later imitated throughout the country. In 2026, the event reaches its thirtieth edition, confirming itself as one of the largest literary festivals in Europe. The 2025 edition closed with approximately 69,000 attendees, demonstrating its deep roots with the public.
The city that becomes a festival
The strength of Festivaletteratura lies in its relationship with the city: for five days, the historic centre of Mantua becomes a continuous stage. Meetings are held in squares, courtyards, theatres, and historic palaces, but also in unusual places such as the monumental cemetery or the fortified sites around the city. Hundreds of volunteers make the organisational machine possible, giving the festival its warm and collective character.
A programme that goes beyond books
Alongside meetings with Italian and international writers, the programme includes performances, concerts, animated tours, and workshops for children and young people. Over the years, the festival has developed participatory formats designed to stimulate direct dialogue between authors and the public, as well as projects such as poetry residencies and book-making workshops for the little ones.
Towards thirty years
The thirtieth-anniversary edition is accompanied by an introductory path, with a series of pre-festival initiatives in the preceding months. For the realisation of the XXX edition, the Lombardy Region has allocated a dedicated contribution. Festivaletteratura remains one of the main cultural drivers of Mantua (Province of Mantua) and a benchmark event for readers throughout Europe.
Festivaletteratura — edition 2026
From Wednesday to Sunday, from 9 to 13 September, Mantua hosts the XXX edition of Festivaletteratura. For five days, squares, palaces, and unexpected places in the city welcome meetings with Italian and international writers, performances, concerts, and animated tours.
The thirtieth-anniversary edition is accompanied by a series of pre-festival initiatives in the preceding months. The programme with guest authors is announced at the end of June, while the complete event calendar is published at the end of July on the official website.
Programme Festivaletteratura 2026
Festival structure
The festival is divided into five days, from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 September, with a very dense programme spread across numerous venues in the historic centre of Mantua.
- Meetings and dialogues with Italian and international writers
- Readings, performances, and evening shows
- Concerts and animated tours in the city's locations
- Workshops and activities for children and young people
- Participatory projects and residencies (poetry, book-making)
When the programme is released
The programme with the names of guest authors is announced at the end of June 2026; the complete programme, with times and venues for each event, is published at the end of July. All details on the official website festivaletteratura.it.
The detailed 2026 programme will be available in the weeks preceding the festival.
Highlights Festivaletteratura 2026
Prices Festivaletteratura 2026
Practical information — Festivaletteratura
When
From 9 to 13 September 2026 (Wednesday to Sunday).
Where
Historic centre of Mantua: squares, palaces, theatres, courtyards, and various venues.
Tickets
Meetings are partly free and partly ticketed, with tickets per event. The author programme is announced at the end of June, the full programme at the end of July: reservations and ticket sales on the official website festivaletteratura.it.
How to get there
Mantua is reachable by train (lines from Verona, Modena, Cremona) and by car from the A22 motorway (Mantova Nord/Sud exits). During the festival, it is recommended to move around the historic centre on foot, largely pedestrianised for the occasion.
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Where does it take place — Festivaletteratura
Centro storico di Mantova
Piazza Sordello, 46100 Mantova