Kepos Fest

A garden of ideas in Putignano

Kepos Fest is one of the freshest and most ambitious cultural festivals in Puglia, hosted in Putignano, a town in the Metropolitan City of Bari world-famous for its Carnival. The name comes from the Greek kepos, meaning garden: it is no coincidence that the heart of the festival is Il Giardino, the green space managed by the Il Tassello Mancante association on Via Dante Alighieri, where culture flourishes like a plant tended to day after day. Here, words, music, and flavors intertwine in an experience that combines reflection and conviviality.

A multidisciplinary festival

Kepos Fest combines literature, journalism, legality, philosophy, art, music, and food and wine. Each evening alternates between book presentations and author meetings, dialogues on current events, a major masterclass, and, in closing, a concert of national caliber. Alongside the meetings, there are art exhibitions and tasting moments, making the festival a well-rounded journey between thought and pleasure. This formula has allowed the event to bring leading names from the Italian scene to Putignano in just two editions.

Who organizes it

The festival is conceived and promoted by the Il Tassello Mancante cultural association, based in Putignano, under the artistic direction of Mario Valentino. The association bases its work on democracy, openness, and equal social dignity, with the goal of making culture a collective act and giving a voice to young people and local talent. Kepos Fest is the flagship project of a broader ecosystem that also includes the Kepos Musica, Kepos Visioni, and Kepos Narrazioni sections.

Venues

The events mainly take place in the association's garden (Via Dante Alighieri 60) and, for some evenings, at the Spazio Eventi of the Cantine Giovanni Aiello (Strada Comunale Cacciottoli, on the provincial road to Conversano), which adds a winemaking backdrop to the festival in line with its food and wine soul.

Why it's worth visiting

• Great national guests from the worlds of journalism, philosophy, and entertainment in a human-scale city.
• A rare mix of spoken word, live music, art, and tastings.
• An evocative setting, between the greenery of a garden and local wine cellars.
• Access to many events with affordable tickets and some evenings by invitation.

For those visiting Puglia at the end of June, Kepos Fest is a precious opportunity to discover a different side of Putignano beyond its Carnival: a capital, at least for a few days, of ideas and debate.