Ju Buk Festival
The feminist and anti-fascist literary festival along the Transhumance route, between Scanno and Peschici
About Ju Buk Festival
Ju Buk Festival: Culture on the move along the Transhumance route
Originally founded as a literary showcase for female authors, Ju Buk Festival has established itself over the years as a cultural and political hub that blends critical thinking, journalism, publishing, activism, the arts, and collective memory. The sixth edition takes place from July 24 to August 12, 2026, ideally connecting two villages along the ancient Transhumance route: Scanno, in the heart of the Abruzzo National Park in the province of L'Aquila, and Peschici, on the Gargano peninsula in the province of Foggia. In Scanno, the festival finds a unique setting amidst the lakes, mountains, and forests of Abruzzo.
A women-led festival of books and civic engagement
Conceived and directed by sociologist, writer, and journalist Eleonora de Nardis Giansante, Ju Buk offers an intense schedule of debates, interviews, book launches, readings, exhibitions, photography, satire, stand-up comedy, and live music. The themes addressed touch on all dimensions of social life: gender-based violence, sexual and emotional education, discrimination, the new data capitalism, youth and mental health, memory, and local territories.
Guests and cultural voices
The 2026 edition features prominent writers and journalists such as Giulia Caminito, Nadeesha Uyangoda, Monica Acito, Maddalena Vianello, Lucia Tancredi, and Anna Rizzo, alongside well-known figures from journalism and television like Marianna Aprile, Azzurra Rinaldi, and Annalisa Cuzzocrea. The festival remains an open and participatory laboratory of ideas.
An event in the L'Aquila 2026 calendar
The sixth edition is part of the L'Aquila Italian Capital of Culture 2026 calendar, confirming the vital role that Scanno and the entire Abruzzo region play in the regional cultural landscape. The festival is supported by, among others, the municipalities of Scanno and Peschici, the Abruzzo Regional Council, the Fondazione Carispaq, and Sapienza University of Rome.
Free admission
All Ju Buk Festival events are free of charge: an inclusive, open, and participatory space designed to foster dialogue and public engagement.
Ju Buk Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Ju Buk Festival, the sixth, is held from July 24 to August 12 with stops in the villages of Scanno and Peschici, linked by the Transhumance route. The festival reaffirms its identity as a women-led literary event and a space for civic engagement, and is included in the calendar of L'Aquila Italian Capital of Culture 2026.
The program alternates between book presentations, debates, interviews, readings, exhibitions, photography, satire, and live music, with a special focus on themes such as gender-based violence, sexual and emotional education, discrimination, youth mental health, memory, and local territories.
Programme Ju Buk Festival 2026
Festival structure
The sixth edition of Ju Buk Festival runs from July 24 to August 12, 2026, with events between Scanno (AQ) and Peschici (FG). The program features book presentations, debates, interviews, readings, exhibitions, photography, satire, stand-up, and live music.
Announced guests
- Giulia Caminito — writer
- Nadeesha Uyangoda — writer and author
- Monica Acito — writer
- Maddalena Vianello
- Lucia Tancredi
- Anna Rizzo
- Marianna Aprile, Azzurra Rinaldi, Annalisa Cuzzocrea — journalists and well-known media figures
Awards
During the festival, the Ju Buk Award for Social Sustainability will be presented to individuals committed to narrating rights and local territories.
The detailed calendar with dates, times, and specific venues for the Scanno meetings is published on the official website and the festival's social media channels.
Highlights Ju Buk Festival 2026
Prices Ju Buk Festival 2026
Practical information — Ju Buk Festival
Getting there
Scanno can be reached by car via the A25 motorway (exit at Cocullo or Pratola Peligna-Sulmona), then following the Sagittario Valley along the SS479 road. The nearest train station is in Sulmona, which is connected to Scanno by local bus lines. Peschici, the festival's other location, is situated on the Gargano in the province of Foggia.
Admission
All events are free and open to the public.
Information
A detailed program and updates regarding the specific venues for the Scanno meetings are published on the festival's official website and social media channels.
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