MystFest – International Mystery Festival
The festival of mystery and crime on the Riviera of Cattolica
About MystFest
The mystery festival that has colored Cattolica's summer since 1973
MystFest – International Mystery Festival is one of the longest-running and most beloved cultural events on the Romagna Riviera. Born in 1973 in Cattolica, a pearl of the coast in the province of Rimini (Emilia-Romagna), the festival has spanned over fifty years of history, becoming a national benchmark for fans of mystery, noir, and crime literature. The pulsating heart of the event is the renowned Gran Giallo City of Cattolica Award, a competition for unpublished mystery and noir short stories, the winner of which is published in the prestigious Il Giallo Mondadori series.
A week of noir, true crime, and investigative journalism
MystFest is not just literature: it's a grand collective narrative that intertwines cinema, TV series, podcasts, and investigative journalism. The days are filled with encounters with authors, master lectures, round tables on true crime, screenings, and debates that animate the squares, the beach, and the city's iconic locations. Over the years, the festival has hosted the biggest names in the Italian mystery and investigative scene, transforming Cattolica into a summer capital of mystery.
The 2026 theme: truth and its masks
The 2026 edition, the 53rd in its history, is dedicated to the theme "All the truth (or at least what we need)": a reflection on the concept of truth that spans investigative journalism, fictional narratives, fake news, and the increasingly complex relationship between reality and media representation. The artistic direction is entrusted to journalist and author Alessandro Garramone, assisted by organizational director Sergio Canneto, under the organizational management of Approdi srl.
A free admission event
Among MystFest's distinctive features is its popular and accessible nature: events are free admission, designed to engage both tourists vacationing on the Riviera and the most passionate readers. The main square, the open-air arena, and the seaside spaces become a large cultural lounge under the Romagna summer stars for a week.
MystFest — edition 2026
For its 53rd edition, MystFest returns to Cattolica from July 6th to 12th, 2026, moving from the traditional end of June to the second week of July. The chosen theme is "All the truth (or at least what we need)", an investigation into the concept of truth that spans journalism, literature, podcasts, cinema, and television. The artistic direction is entrusted to Alessandro Garramone, with Sergio Canneto as organizational director. The major innovation is the MystFest Hub, a free summer school dedicated to emerging young authors and storytellers on contemporary writing languages.
Programme MystFest 2026
Structure of the days
MystFest 2026 structures each day into three moments: in the morning, the MystFest Hub summer school with training and workshops; in the afternoon, meetings and presentations on the beach; in the evening, major events in the main square with debates and prominent guests. The common thread: truth and its representations, between investigation, fiction, and true crime.
Announced events
- July 7th — Lecture by Edoardo Camurri "What is truth?", followed by a debate with Gianluigi Nuzzi.
- July 8th — Meeting with Maddalena Ravagli and Leonardo Fasoli on Italian crime and a screening related to the "Giulio Regeni" case.
- July 9th — Round table on true crime.
- July 10th — Panel on geopolitics and investigative journalism.
- July 11th — "The Night of the Investigators" with Mariolina Venezia, Alessandro Robecchi, and Carlo Lucarelli.
Guests
Among the announced names: Edoardo Camurri, Gianluigi Nuzzi, Francesca Fagnani, Teresa Ciabatti, Carlo Lucarelli, Alessandro Robecchi, Mariolina Venezia, Maddalena Ravagli, Leonardo Fasoli, and Simone Manetti, in collaboration with OnePodcast.
Gran Giallo Award and MystFest Hub
The 53rd Gran Giallo City of Cattolica Award for unpublished mystery and noir short stories is renewed, with the winner published in the Il Giallo Mondadori series. The MystFest Hub (July 8-10) offers free training with included accommodation for selected young authors.
Highlights MystFest 2026
Prices MystFest 2026
Practical information — MystFest
Where it takes place
MystFest takes place in Cattolica (RN), Emilia-Romagna, with its main venue in Piazza Primo Maggio and events spread across the squares, the beach, and the city center.
How to get there
Cattolica is accessible by train (Cattolica-San Giovanni-Gabicce station on the Adriatic line) and by car via the A14 motorway, Cattolica exit. In summer, the city is also well-connected to the nearby towns of Rimini and Riccione.
Admission and information
Admission to events is free. For the complete program, schedules, and registration for initiatives like MystFest Hub and the Gran Giallo Award, consult the official website mystfest.com or contact the staff at 0541 966778.
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Where does it take place — MystFest
Piazza Primo Maggio
Piazza Primo Maggio, 47841 Cattolica