Leggenda Festival
The reading and listening festival in Empoli
About Leggenda
Leggenda, the reading and listening festival
Every spring, Empoli, in the heart of the Florence province, turns into a great city of stories thanks to Leggenda, the reading and listening festival organized by the Municipality of Empoli. For four days, the squares, historic palaces, and cloisters of the center welcome authors, illustrators, theater companies, and artists in a program designed for children, teenagers, families, and adults. The festival has a strong educational focus: each year, it involves over one hundred local school classes in meetings with authors during school hours.
Two souls: reading and listening
The festival is structured around two complementary sections. The reading section brings writers and illustrators to Empoli to share contemporary and classic stories, addressing crucial themes like peace, memory, and coexistence, alongside more imaginative and lighthearted tales. The listening section, curated by the GialloMare company, offers theatrical performances, comic parades, urban performances, installations, and workshops that animate the streets and courtyards of the city, creating scenic and poetic moments.
The festival venues
The heart of the event is Piazza Farinata degli Uberti, Empoli's monumental square, flanked by symbolic spaces such as Palazzo Leggenda (home to the municipal children's library), the evocative Chiostro degli Agostiniani, and the Largo della Resistenza. Each location hosts a part of the program, from readings to exhibitions, and from evening shows to spaces dedicated to the little ones.
An appointment for all of Tuscany
Founded in 2018, Leggenda has quickly become one of the main Italian festivals dedicated to children's and family reading, a cultural landmark for Empoli and the entire Tuscany region. Its free format, the quality of its guests, and its focus on the school world make it an event anticipated by thousands of readers of all ages, capable of blending Italy's editorial tradition with the festive and participatory spirit of a local village fair.
- Four days entirely free of charge
- Meetings with authors and illustrators of books for all ages
- Shows, parades, and workshops in the historic center
- Illustration exhibitions at Palazzo Leggenda
- A wide section dedicated to schools and early childhood
Leggenda — edition 2026
Leggenda 2026: the ninth edition
From May 21 to 24, 2026, Empoli hosted the ninth edition of Leggenda, with 67 public events distributed across 17 locations in the historic center and 103 school classes involved. The artistic direction was entrusted to Silvia D'Achille, while the listening section was curated by GialloMare.
Guests and evening meetings
Among the guests of the reading section: Alessandro Barbaglia, Nicoletta Bortolotti, Azzurra D'Agostino, Simone Frasca, Nicoletta Gramantieri, Angelo Mozzillo, Teresa Porcella, Lorenzo Sangiò, Anna Sarfatti, Giorgio Scaramuzzino, and Nello Trocchia. The evening series Luci sul Festival in Piazza Farinata degli Uberti featured Marco Malvaldi with Scimmia sapiens, Alex Corlazzoli with La pubblica (d)istruzione, Carlo Greppi with Le scarpe di Lorenzo, and Nicoletta Verna with L'inverno delle stelle.
New features and exhibitions
A new addition this year was the Teatromerenda, a theatrical game with fairy tale characters in Piazza Farinata degli Uberti, with a snack offered by Unicoop Firenze. At Palazzo Leggenda, from May 16 to 24, the Mostre Leggendarie showcased over 300 illustrations. Spaces dedicated to the little ones included Il Nido dei Nidi and school activities in the Chiostro degli Agostiniani.
Programme Leggenda 2026
2026 Program
67 free events in 17 locations in Empoli, from May 21 to 24, 2026.
- Reading section: meetings with Alessandro Barbaglia, Nicoletta Bortolotti, Azzurra D'Agostino, Simone Frasca, Nicoletta Gramantieri, Angelo Mozzillo, Teresa Porcella, Lorenzo Sangiò, Anna Sarfatti, Giorgio Scaramuzzino, Nello Trocchia
- Luci sul Festival (Piazza Farinata degli Uberti): May 21 at 6:30 PM Marco Malvaldi; May 22 at 6:30 PM Alex Corlazzoli and 9:30 PM Carlo Greppi; May 23 at 9:30 PM Nicoletta Verna
- Teatromerenda: theatrical games with fairy tale characters in Piazza Farinata degli Uberti
- Mostre Leggendarie (Palazzo Leggenda, May 16-24, 10 AM-6 PM): over 300 illustrations by Lorenzo Sangiò, Gaia Stella, Simone Frasca, Paolo Proietti
- Il Nido dei Nidi (Largo della Resistenza, May 23-24): space for children aged 1 to 6
Highlights Leggenda 2026
Prices Leggenda 2026
Practical information — Leggenda
How to get there
Empoli is easily accessible by train: the station is located on the Florence-Pisa line, just a few minutes' walk from the historic center. By car, take the FI-PI-LI expressway and exit at Empoli. It can also be easily reached by train from the Florence or Pisa airports.
Admission and bookings
All festival events are free to attend. Some appointments require booking, which opens in the days leading up to the festival. Exhibitions at Palazzo Leggenda are open to the public.
Information
Full program and updates are available on the official website leggendafestival.it and on the Municipality of Empoli's channels.
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Where does it take place — Leggenda
Piazza Farinata degli Uberti
Via Giuseppe Del Papa 41, 50053 Empoli