Fogli(e) in Fiera

A fair for resilient publishing

Fogli(e) in Fiera is the Roman event dedicated to small and medium-sized independent publishing, created to give visibility to a vibrant editorial scene often overshadowed by large groups. Promoted by the Il Talento di Roma association, founded and chaired by Chiara Mazza, the fair takes place in the Municipality of Rome, capital of the Lazio Region, and is produced in collaboration with the Department of Culture of Municipality II of Rome Capital.

The name plays on the ambiguity between the fogli (sheets) of printed paper and the foglie (leaves) of trees: in its first editions, the fair was held outdoors in the greenery of Parco Virgiliano-Nemorense, among publishers' stalls and the canopy of Roman pine trees.

From the park to San Lorenzo

With its third edition in 2026, the event moved to the Ex Dogana - The Social Hub, on via dello Scalo San Lorenzo, one of the iconic sites of urban regeneration in the Capital. The former 19th-century freight yard, now a cultural and social hub, offers a large, covered space that has allowed for an expanded program and a doubling of the number of exhibitors.

The San Lorenzo district, historically working-class and a university hub, is one of the areas in Rome most densely populated with independent bookstores, publishing houses, and cultural associations: a natural setting for a fair that focuses on books outside commercial circuits.

What you will find at the fair

• Publishing stands: over twenty independent publishing houses, including Voland, Rubbettino, Exòrma, Ensemble, Rogas, Croce Edizioni, Alterego, Argento Dorato, and Future Fiction.
• Presentations and meetings with authors, translators, journalists, and series editors.
• Literary magazines and experimental editorial projects, with monographic issues presented in preview.
• Readings and performances: poetry, theater, musical readings, tango, choral music, and evening concerts.
• Children's workshops and family activities, with sessions also designed for schools.
• Civic engagement: meetings with Amnesty International Italy and organizations like FuoriRiga, active since 2014 in Rome's juvenile detention center.

A piece of the Reading Festival

Fogli(e) in Fiera is not an isolated event: it serves as the highlight of the Reading Festival, a widespread series of events that animates libraries, parks, schools, and community spaces throughout Municipality II for the entire month of June. The 2026 edition was titled Words Beyond All Borders and concluded on June 30th with theatrical performances and meetings across the municipal territory.

Why it's worth visiting

Those who attend the fair are not just looking for a book to buy: they are looking for direct contact with the people who make the books. At the stands, you will almost always find the publishers themselves, available to talk about their catalog, translation choices, and the challenges of distribution. It is a rare experience that restores a sense of community to reading.

The atmosphere is informal and welcoming, with a mixed audience of university students, local families, avid readers, and curious passersby. Free admission and the evening scheduling of many events make the fair easily accessible even to those who work.

A tribute to Plinio Perilli

The 2026 edition was ideally dedicated to Plinio Perilli, a poet, essayist, and literary critic who passed away recently, and who for years generously supported the work of independent Roman publishers. The inaugural meeting was dedicated to him, a moment that set the tone for the entire event: small publishing as a place of research, risk, and freedom.