Lucca City of Paper
The book and paper festival at the Real Collegio in Lucca
About City of Paper
A festival celebrating paper in all its forms
In the heart of Lucca, the capital of its province in Tuscany, the Real Collegio opens its doors for Lucca City of Paper, a festival dedicated to books, paper, printing, culture, and writing. This event explores the deep connection between paper, the history of books, and the publishing industry, offering visitors a weekend of discovery, meetings, and creativity with completely free admission.
The publishing fair
The beating heart of the event is the book fair hosted under the porticoes and within the historic halls of the Real Collegio: over 60 stands bring the event to life, featuring publishing houses, authors, writing collectives, cultural associations, and paper artisans. It is the perfect opportunity to discover small and medium-sized independent publishers, meet authors in person, and take home volumes often impossible to find in large bookstores.
Meetings, workshops, and exhibitions
The Lucca City of Paper program is packed with events: book presentations, round tables, author meet-and-greets, manual printing demonstrations, photography exhibitions, and artistic workshops take place throughout the day. There are also plenty of appointments dedicated to children, with animated readings, origami workshops, and activities designed to engage the whole family.
An event that grows every year
Founded just a few years ago, the festival has grown rapidly, attracting about 15,000 visitors in a single weekend and becoming a staple in the cultural calendar of Lucca and all of Tuscany. The 2026 edition also introduced the new Lucca City of Paper Poetry Prize and a collaboration with "Le Vie degli Antiquari," confirming that the event is in constant evolution.
Organizers
Lucca City of Paper is promoted by the Lucca City of Paper Association, which brings together entities such as Nati per Scrivere, Studio Lombardi Comunicazione, Nps Edizioni, and the blog L'Ordinario. A project born from the passion of those who believe in the culture of paper and books as a tool for connection and community.
City of Paper — edition 2026
The fifth edition of Lucca City of Paper confirmed the festival's growth, with over 70 exhibitors transforming the Real Collegio into a major meeting point for publishers, artists, and readers. Among the main novelties of 2026, the creation of the Lucca City of Paper Poetry Prize, a competition designed to showcase immediate and fresh poetry, and the collaboration with "Le Vie degli Antiquari." Also confirmed were the "We Are Our City" competitions for students and the L'Ordinario School Prize.
Programme City of Paper 2026
Saturday, April 25
- 3:00 PM — Marley Supercane (the German Shepherd star of the web)
- 3:00 PM — Magic show with Matthew X
- 4:15 PM — Pasquale Sgrò presents "L'altro ispettore. Vietato pensare"
- 5:30 PM — Beatrice Luzzi presents "Una famiglia a due piazze"
- Giada Lucarelli with "Io sorrido per sempre"
- Tommaso D'Errico with "Io non ho paura del Lupo"
Sunday, April 26
- 11:30 AM, 3:00 PM, 4:30 PM, 6:30 PM — Renaissance dances with the "Lo Studiorum" group
- 3:00 PM — Magic show with Matthew X
- 3:30 PM — Elena Magnani presents "Spuma di mare"
- 4:15 PM — Eleonora Puglia presents "Zucchero filato e fili d'acciaio"
- 4:15 PM — Tommaso Martinelli presents "Eva e Maria"
- 5:30 PM — Nicola Santini presents "Un po' d'istruzione, un po' di distruzione"
- 6:00 PM — Sara Rattaro presents "Il vestito di mia madre. Storia di Teresa Mattei, antifascista"
Workshops and activities
- Stencil workshop with Laura Tedeschi
- Origami workshops for children
- Charcoal drawing with Silvia Talassi
- Animated readings in the Sala Rodari dedicated to the little ones
Highlights City of Paper 2026
Prices City of Paper 2026
Practical information — City of Paper
When and where
The festival takes place at the Real Collegio, located at Piazza del Collegio 13 in Lucca, with continuous hours from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Admission is free.
How to get there
By train: Lucca station is just a few minutes' walk from the historic center and the Real Collegio. By car: Lucca can be reached via the A11 Firenze-Mare motorway (Lucca exit); we recommend parking outside the city walls and continuing on foot. The nearest airport is Pisa, about half an hour away.
Contacts
Secretariat: [email protected], tel. +39 339 5072683. Information for exhibitors: [email protected].
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Where does it take place — City of Paper
Real Collegio
Piazza del Collegio 13, 55100 Lucca