Logos – Words from the Mediterranean

An island of words in the heart of Palermo

Logos – Words from the Mediterranean is a literary and multidisciplinary festival held at Parco Villa Filippina, in the centre of Palermo, the capital of Sicily. Born as a project by the Kalós publishing house and directed by writer Nadia Terranova – a two-time Strega Prize finalist – the festival serves as an open space for connection between stories, people, and communities, where literature engages with theatre, cinema, music, art, and cuisine.

The festival's philosophy

The vision behind Logos is to transform Palermo into a cultural crossroads of the Mediterranean, a space for reflection and freedom. The organizers describe the festival as "an island of words, sounds, images, and visions," capable of bringing together great names of Italian and international literature with the local public. The event is promoted by Kalós in collaboration with the Urania Association, which manages Parco Villa Filippina, a welcoming green oasis just a short walk from the historic centre of Palermo.

The 2025 'edition zero'

The festival took its first steps with an edition zero on November 29, 2025: a dynamic and participatory day designed to actively engage the city. Guests included the Spanish writer Manuel Vilas as guest of honour, alongside Sicilian talents such as Stefania Auci, Roberto Alajmo, Beatrice Monroy, semiotician Gianfranco Marrone, and director Costanza Quatriglio.

Towards the first official edition

Following the positive reception of the preview, Logos is expanding into a four-day event. The programme features meetings, presentations, talks, performances, screenings, concerts, and workshops, including a dedicated area for children. A publishing village brings together around forty independent publishers and bookstores with their own stands, while the involvement of local schools strengthens the civic and educational dimension of the event.

A Mediterranean crossroads

With its interdisciplinary programming, Logos – Words from the Mediterranean joins the rich landscape of Italian literary festivals, celebrating Palermo's identity as a gateway to the Mediterranean. The festival aims to build a bridge between cultures, languages, and generations, making the written and spoken word the primary tool for encounter between Sicily and the rest of the world.