FLIP – Independent Literature Festival of Pomigliano d'Arco
Four days of independent publishing in the green heart of Pomigliano d'Arco
About FLIP
A festival born from bookstores
The FLIP – Independent Literature Festival of Pomigliano d'Arco was founded in 2021 with a simple idea: to bring together those who sell and tell the stories of books every day. It is organized by the Wojtek bookstore, the children's bookstore Mio nonno è Michelangelo, and the literary blog Una banda di cefali, under the artistic direction of writer and publisher Eduardo Savarese, with the support of the Municipality of Pomigliano d'Arco. In just a few years, the event has become one of the most recognizable fixtures for independent publishing in Campania and Southern Italy, supported by the cultural promotion programs of the Campania Region.
The Giovanni Paolo II Park, the city's green heart
After an initial itinerant edition held across the Town Hall courtyard, Slargo Marco Pannella, the Palazzo dell'Orologio courtyard, and the Giorgio La Pira Cultural Center, the festival found its permanent home in the Giovanni Paolo II public park, described by the organizers as the "city's green lung." The stage, publishers' stands, children's area, and refreshment zones coexist under the trees: entry is free, and you can sit in the shade, moving from one talk to another without tickets or reservations. This formula has made FLIP a community event before being a literary festival: independent literature, according to the organizers, as an "act of resistance and care."
How the program is structured
The typical FLIP day follows a well-established rhythm that allows diverse audiences to find their space:
- Morning — readings, workshops, and meetings dedicated to children's and young adult literature, featuring guest authors and illustrators.
- Afternoon — presentations of new releases, dialogues with authors, and round tables on the craft of independent publishing, translation, and bookselling.
- Evening — main events with Italian and international guests, followed by live music or Vinyl Selection DJ sets until midnight.
- Throughout the event — the village with stands from independent publishing houses, local associations, and refreshment areas.
FLIP Poesia, the spring appointment
Since 2024, the festival has expanded with FLIP Poesia, three days entirely dedicated to contemporary poetry held between February and March in indoor city venues. The sections bear names that reflect the spirit of the event—Compasses, Fixed Stars, Constellations, Galaxies—and alternate between re-readings of past authors, established Italian voices, readings of unpublished works, and windows into translated foreign poetry. It is now an autonomous appendix that extends the festival well beyond the summer week.
A perspective that goes beyond Italy
One of the most recognizable features of FLIP is its annual invitation to foreign authors published in Italy by independent presses. Over the years, guests in Pomigliano d'Arco have included Romanian author Ioana Pârvulescu, Danish writer Naja Marie Aidt, Mexican author Brenda Navarro, Moldovan writer Tatiana Țîbuleac, English author Geoff Dyer, and Uruguayan writer Felipe Polleri, alongside Italian names such as Antonio Moresco, Wanda Marasco, Dario Voltolini, and Viola Ardone. Each edition revolves around a "compass word"—"The Opera in the Desert" in 2024, "Explorations" in 2025—which guides the meetings and readings.
Pomigliano d'Arco and the Province of Naples
Pomigliano d'Arco, a town in the Province of Naples known primarily for its industrial hub, is located just a few kilometers from the regional capital and behind Mount Vesuvius. FLIP reveals another side of the town: a city that, in summer, gathers in its public park to talk about books. Its location makes it easy to combine the festival with a visit to Naples, the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, or the Vesuvius National Park. Visitors from outside the region can use Pomigliano as a peaceful base for a cultural holiday in Campania at the end of summer.
FLIP — edition 2026
FLIP 2026 in brief
The new edition of the Independent Literature Festival of Pomigliano d'Arco spans four days, from September 3 to 6, 2026, returning the festival to its traditional early September slot after the late June 2025 edition. The venue remains the Giovanni Paolo II public park, in the heart of the city, in the Province of Naples.
2026 opened with a graphic update—the festival presented its new visual identity in February—and with the return of FLIP Poesia, three days dedicated to contemporary poetry held from March 20 to 22. Artistic direction is confirmed as Eduardo Savarese, supported by the three founding entities: the Wojtek bookstore, the children's bookstore Mio nonno è Michelangelo, and the literary blog Una banda di cefali.
What to expect
The festival structure is now well-established: mornings dedicated to children and young adults, afternoons with presentations and round tables on independent publishing, and evenings with main guests and music. The independent publishers' village remains open throughout the event, along with refreshment areas and local association spaces.
Programme FLIP 2026
Main edition — September 3, 4, 5, and 6, 2026
Dates are confirmed by the organization, but the detailed program with guests and times has not yet been released: as every year, it is announced progressively on the official website and the festival's social channels in the weeks leading up to the opening. The announced structure remains the consolidated one: mornings for children, afternoons of presentations and meetings with independent publishers, evenings with main guests, and live music in the Giovanni Paolo II Park.
FLIP Poesia — March 20, 21, and 22, 2026 (already held)
The spring edition dedicated to contemporary poetry was divided into four recurring sections: Compasses (re-readings and in-depth analysis), Fixed Stars (established voices of Italian poetry), Constellations (readings of unpublished works), and Galaxies (glimpses into international poetry).
- Friday, March 20 — 16:30 institutional greetings and presentation; 17:00 Compasses: Vittorio Imbriani; 18:00 Fixed Stars: Anna Toscano; 19:00 Constellations: readings of unpublished works; 20:00 Galaxies: poetry of the new millennium.
- Saturday, March 21 — 11:00 "Winter Poems" and workshop; 17:00 the poetry of Ivano Ferrari; 18:00 Fixed Stars: Alessandra Carnaroli; 19:00 Constellations: readings of unpublished works; 20:00 Galaxies: Lidija Dimkovska.
- Sunday, March 22 — 17:00 Compasses: poetry and violence; 18:00 Fixed Stars: poetry and translation; 19:00 Constellations: readings of unpublished works; 20:00 Galaxies: Palestinian poetry.
Among the voices featured over the three days: Anna Toscano, Ivano Ferrari, Alessandra Carnaroli, Lidija Dimkovska, Najwan Darwish, Zachary Schomburg, Anne Boyer, and Nico Bleutge.
Highlights FLIP 2026
- Four days of festival, from September 3 to 6, 2026, in the Giovanni Paolo II public park.
- The independent publishers' village, with stands, presentations, and meetings with booksellers.
- Mornings dedicated to children's and young adult literature, with workshops and illustrators.
- Evenings with main guests, followed by live music and DJ sets.
- The festival's new visual identity, presented in February 2026.
- The FLIP Poesia edition of March 20-22, 2026, with Anna Toscano, Alessandra Carnaroli, and Lidija Dimkovska.
Prices FLIP 2026
Practical information — FLIP
How to get there
By train: The Pomigliano d'Arco station is served by the EAV Circumvesuviana line (Naples–Nola–Baiano). From the Naples Porta Nolana/Garibaldi station, the journey takes about half an hour, followed by a short walk to the center.
By car: Take the Pomigliano d'Arco exit on the A16 Naples–Canosa motorway, or the Asse Mediano/Asse di Supporto from the Nola area. The Giovanni Paolo II public park is located in the city center; on festival evenings, it is advisable to arrive early to find parking.
By plane: Naples–Capodichino Airport is about twenty kilometers away.
Admission and prices
In recent editions, all FLIP events have been free to attend without reservation, with the exception of children's workshops, which have limited capacity. The festival is also supported by a crowdfunding campaign and contributions from supporters.
Tips
Evenings in the park can be crowded: bring a mat or a blanket if you want to enjoy the outdoor meetings in comfort. Refreshment areas and publishers' stands remain open until late at night. For program updates, it is best to follow the festival's Instagram and Facebook channels, where information is published first.
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Where does it take place — FLIP
Parco pubblico Giovanni Paolo II