Lucca Noir
The crime and noir fiction festival in the heart of Lucca
About Lucca Noir
A festival for thrill-seekers
In the heart of the walled city, Lucca Noir is the premier Tuscan event for fans of crime, noir, and thriller genres. Organized by the Bambini Cattivi writers' collective, led by Andrea Giannasi and Fabio Mundadori, the festival brings together over fifty authors from all over Italy every year for two intense days of meetings, presentations, and mystery storytelling.
The event is held in Lucca, in the province of Lucca, Tuscany, and is part of the broader LuccaLegge city festival—a widespread cultural program dedicated to books and reading that animates the city every spring, thanks to the Reading Pact signed by the civic library and local cultural organizations.
What to expect
Lucca Noir is more than just a series of presentations: it is a complete immersion into the noir atmosphere. The program alternates between various activities designed to engage the public:
- Book and anthology presentations where authors share their investigations, true crime stories, secrets, and mysteries;
- Collective anthologies such as Lucca Giallo, Lucca Crimen, and Tarot Luna, written by dozens of authors;
- Thematic conferences, such as the one dedicated to fear in literature;
- Short film screenings dedicated to noir and mystery;
- A night tour of the city to discover the mysteries and crimes of Lucca;
- Murder mystery dinner, the social event that closes the festival.
The venue
The festival takes place at the Le Chiavi d'Oro Socio-Cultural Center (historically known as the Sala delle Chiavi d'Oro), an intimate space situated in the shadow of the famous Torre Guinigi, a symbol of Lucca known for the holm oaks on its summit. Its location, in the heart of the historic center enclosed by Renaissance walls, makes the experience even more evocative for visitors.
A spring appointment
Traditionally scheduled for March, Lucca Noir has established itself as one of the most anticipated stops for genre lovers in Tuscany. Each edition features a central theme and concludes with the awarding of literary prizes linked to the festival and the announcement of the following year's edition. It is a unique opportunity to meet authors, discover new voices in Italian noir, and be captivated by the dark charm of crime fiction.
Lucca Noir — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Lucca Noir brought together over fifty crime and noir writers from all over Italy, confirming its status as a highlight of the LuccaLegge city festival. Two days packed with meetings at the Le Chiavi d'Oro Socio-Cultural Center, featuring novel and anthology presentations, a conference on fear in literature, themed short film screenings, a night tour of Lucca's mysteries, and a closing murder mystery dinner. The event, which offered free admission and was curated by Fabio Mundadori, concluded with an awards ceremony and the announcement of the 2027 edition.
Programme Lucca Noir 2026
Friday, March 27
- 17:00 — Presentation of Collective Authors: Lucca Giallo / Lucca Crimen Anthology
- 17:30 — Presentation of books by Giuseppe Petrarca and Wladimiro Borchi
- 18:00 — Conference by Andrea Consorti on fear in literature
- Evening — Screening of noir short films and night tour of the city's mysteries
Saturday, March 28
- 15:00 — Diego Collaveri, Gianluca Gualducci, Giovanna Maccari
- 15:30 — Chiara Cassanelli, Alessandro Chiometti, Christian Capriello
- 16:00 — Claudia Cocuzza, Luca Ongaro, Luca Occhi
- 16:30 — Authors of the Tarot Luna Anthology, presented by Chiara De Magistris
- 17:00 — Paolo Di Orazio and Fabio Mundadori
- 17:30 — Mariacristina Pettorini presents her new crime novel
- 17:50 — Awards ceremony and announcement of the 2027 edition
- Following — Murder mystery dinner
Highlights Lucca Noir 2026
- Over 50 crime and noir authors from all over Italy
- Collective anthologies Lucca Giallo, Lucca Crimen, and Tarot Luna
- Conference by Andrea Consorti on fear in literature
- Night tour of Lucca's mysteries and noir short film screenings
- Closing murder mystery dinner
Prices Lucca Noir 2026
Practical information — Lucca Noir
How to get there
Lucca is easily accessible by train: the Lucca station is just a short walk from the walls, which lead directly into the historic center. By car, take the A11 Firenze-Mare motorway (Lucca exit). The Le Chiavi d'Oro Socio-Cultural Center is located inside the walled city, near the Torre Guinigi.
Admission
Admission to Lucca Noir is free. The murder mystery dinner may require a reservation and a separate fee: it is recommended to check the details on the official LuccaLegge channels.
Tips
The historic center of Lucca is pedestrianized: it is best to leave your car in the parking lots outside the walls. Lucca offers numerous accommodations in the center for those wishing to stay for both days of the festival.
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Where does it take place — Lucca Noir
Centro Socio-Culturale Le Chiavi d'Oro
Centro Socio-Culturale Le Chiavi d'Oro, 55100 Lucca