Naxoslegge — Festival of Narratives
The festival of narratives, reading, and books in Giardini-Naxos
About Naxoslegge
A festival born among the ruins of Sicily's first Greek colony
Naxoslegge is one of the most deeply rooted cultural events in Eastern Sicily. Founded in 2011 by Fulvia Toscano, who serves as its creator and artistic director, the festival takes place in Giardini-Naxos, a coastal town in the Province of Messina overlooking the Ionian Sea at the foot of Taormina. It is no coincidence that the festival chose this location: Giardini-Naxos stands where Naxos, the island's first Greek colony, was founded in 734 BC. Many of the events are held among the ruins of the Naxos-Taormina Archaeological Park and its Archaeological Museum, in a constant dialogue between the written word and ancient memory.
A "festival of narratives"
More than just a literary festival, Naxoslegge defines itself as a festival of narratives: alongside book presentations and author meetings, there is space for debates, awards, readings, theatrical performances, and moments that blend cinema, music, and gastronomy. The stated goal is to make not only writers but especially readers the protagonists, through a storytelling approach that traverses contemporary languages.
Locations and distributed venues
While its heart is in Giardini-Naxos, the festival has an itinerant vocation that takes it to various locations in Eastern Sicily: the Archaeological Museum of Naxos, the Teatro della Nike, as well as venues in Letojanni, Catania (the evocative Ursino-Recupero Library), and other towns in the area. This distributed formula allows for connecting the Ionian coast with its cultural hinterland and engaging a wide audience.
The 16th edition 2026: "Mythos"
The 2026 edition, scheduled from September 11 to 18, is the sixteenth and revolves around the theme "Mythos. The challenge of mythical thought": a reflection on the relevance of myth as a tool for interpreting the present, with particular attention to rewritings and reworkings of ancient narratives in dramaturgical form. The festival machinery started in the spring with the "Waiting for NaxosLegge" events, hosted at the Archaeological Museum of Naxos on May 31 and June 12, 2026.
An appointment for book and culture lovers
With fifteen editions behind it, Naxoslegge has established itself as a point of reference for those who love books, classical culture, and the dialogue between tradition and modernity in Sicily. Most events are free to attend, making it a precious opportunity for residents and tourists visiting the Taormina and Giardini-Naxos coast in September.
Naxoslegge — edition 2026
"Mythos. The challenge of mythical thought"
The sixteenth edition of Naxoslegge is dedicated to the theme of myth and mythical thought, explored as a key to interpreting contemporaneity. Particular attention is paid to rewritings and reworkings of ancient narratives in dramaturgical form, in the wake of the dialogue between classical tradition and today's languages.
Waiting for NaxosLegge
The path towards the 2026 edition was anticipated by the "Waiting for NaxosLegge" events at the Naxos Archaeological Museum: on May 31 with director Daniele Salvo and philosopher Alberto Giovanni Biuso from the University of Catania, and on June 12 with Luigi Tabita, director of the Mythos Troina Festival, and Gigi Spedale, director of the "Interpretare l'Antico" festival.
The complete program of the festival week, with guests and meeting times, will be announced on the official website and Naxoslegge social channels in the weeks leading up to the event.
Programme Naxoslegge 2026
The detailed program of the 16th edition (September 11-18, 2026), with guests, presentations, and meeting times, will be announced on the official Naxoslegge website in the weeks preceding the festival.
The preparatory meetings "Waiting for NaxosLegge" have already been held at the Naxos Archaeological Museum:
- May 31, 2026 — meeting with director Daniele Salvo and philosopher Alberto Giovanni Biuso (University of Catania), on myth and contemporary theater.
- June 12, 2026 — meeting with Luigi Tabita, director of the Mythos Troina Festival, and Gigi Spedale, director of "Interpretare l'Antico", on the theme "Rewriting myths, rewriting worlds".
Highlights Naxoslegge 2026
Theme of the edition: "Mythos. The challenge of mythical thought." Preparatory meetings at the Naxos Archaeological Museum with Daniele Salvo, Alberto Giovanni Biuso, Luigi Tabita, and Gigi Spedale.
Prices Naxoslegge 2026
Practical information — Naxoslegge
How to get there
Giardini-Naxos can be reached by car via the A18 Messina-Catania motorway (Giardini Naxos exit). By train, the reference station is Taormina-Giardini, on the Messina-Syracuse line. The nearest airports are Catania-Fontanarossa (about 50 km) and Reggio Calabria.
Festival venues
Meetings are held mainly at the Archaeological Museum of the Naxos Park and in other locations in the area (Teatro della Nike, Letojanni, Catania).
Admission and information
Most events are free to attend. For the detailed program and updates, it is recommended to consult the official website naxoslegge.com and the festival's social media channels.
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Where does it take place — Naxoslegge
Museo Archeologico del Parco di Naxos