Lectorinfabula – Castellana Grotte Stop

Lectorinfabula stops in Castellana Grotte

Founded in Conversano in 2005, Lectorinfabula is one of the longest-running and most renowned cultural festivals in Puglia. In recent years, the event, organized by the Fondazione Giuseppe Di Vagno (1889-1921), has transformed into a widespread festival that reaches beyond the borders of Conversano to embrace the entire south-eastern Bari territory. Among the participating municipalities is Castellana Grotte, in the province of Bari, world-famous for its karst caves and increasingly active on the cultural front.

The theme of the 2026 edition: «The Contested Future»

The 22nd edition, scheduled from September 17th to 27th, 2026, revolves around the theme «The Contested Future: the sense of limits, the measure of rules». Ten days of meetings with journalists, writers, intellectuals, and scholars to reflect on what awaits us: the limits of development, the meaning of rules, and the relationship between generations. Among this year's new features is the «Generative Squares» format, designed to foster dialogue between young people and experts, alongside historical formats such as Librexpression, Pagina '21, and the «Alessandro Leogrande» School of Narrative Reportage. In total, approximately 160 meetings and over 200 guests are expected, involving local schools, libraries, and bookstores.

What to expect in Castellana Grotte

The Castellana stop is set for Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026. The heart of the day is a roundtable dedicated to the theme «Culture and Health», with the participation of writer and screenwriter Francesco Carofiglio, who will also present his new book. The meetings will be held in the city center's cultural spaces, from the «Giacomo Tauro» Civic Library to venues that hosted previous editions, such as the Centro Studi Viterbo and Largo San Leone Magno. The detailed program with times and guests will be announced by the organizers in August on the official website and the festival's social media channels.

A festival spread across nine municipalities in the Bari area

In 2026, the Lectorinfabula network brings together nine municipalities: Conversano (the historic base), Bari, Castellana Grotte, Mola di Bari, Noci, Noicattaro, Putignano, Rutigliano, and Turi. It is a community festival model that unites a territory rich in history and culturally vibrant, with the goal of bringing major public debate topics to smaller towns as well. The event is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the Puglia Region, and the involved municipalities.

Why it's worth it

For those visiting Puglia in late September, Lectorinfabula is the perfect opportunity to combine the discovery of Castellana Grotte and its famous Caves with a cultural festival of national and European scope, where you can listen to authoritative voices in an informal and participatory atmosphere. A different way to experience the territory, amidst pages, debates, and lively squares.