festivalfilosofia

A festival that makes an entire city think

festivalfilosofia is much more than a series of conferences: it's an event that, every year in mid-September, transforms the historic centers of Modena, Carpi, and Sassuolo into one large open-air classroom. Founded in 2001 on the initiative of Michelina Borsari, it is now among the most attended philosophy events in Europe: the 2025 edition exceeded 100,000 participants. Everything is free, accessible, and spread throughout the city's spaces.

Carpi, one of the three festival cities

In Carpi, in the province of Modena, in Emilia-Romagna, the festival focuses on the monumental Piazza dei Martiri, one of the largest squares in Italy, and the courtyards of the Palazzo dei Pio, with the Cortile d'Onore and the Sala dei Mori. Here, masterclasses, exhibitions, and events designed for audiences of all ages are held, in a continuous dialogue between the city's Renaissance heritage and contemporary thought.

How the festival works

The heart of the event is the masterclasses: about fifty talks given by leading figures in Italian and international philosophy and culture, each dedicated to a facet of the year's theme. Around these, a rich creative program unfolds:

• Exhibitions and installations in the museums and historic palaces of the three cities
• Live performances and concerts in the squares
• Games and workshops for children, teenagers, and families
• Themed films and screenings
• The famous philosophical dinners, special menus served in partner restaurants and inspired by the year's theme word

A different theme every year

Each edition of festivalfilosofia revolves around a single keyword, chosen to interpret the present through the tools of thought. After "Paideia" in 2025, the 2026 edition will be dedicated to "Chaos", understood not only as disorder but as a generative principle, a force capable of opening new possibilities for thought and change in the face of the environmental, political, scientific, and technological crises of our time.

Why visit Carpi

Participating in festivalfilosofia in Carpi means experiencing philosophy in a concrete and popular way: you move from a talk in the square to an exhibition in a Renaissance palace, from a children's workshop to a themed dinner. It's an experience that combines high-level dissemination, conviviality, and discovery of Carpi's historic center, recognized as one of the most beautiful in Emilia-Romagna.