Novellara Book Festival

A Novellara Book Festival for Everyone

The Novellara Book Festival debuted in May 2026, transforming the arcades of the historic center of Novellara, in the heart of the Reggio Emilia plain in Emilia-Romagna, into a large, spread-out space dedicated to reading, art, and encounters. Promoted by the associations Cuori di Lana and Ilde, the festival was born with a precise idea: to present the book not just as an object to be read, but as a tool for creativity and civil engagement, capable of uniting an entire community.

The Artist Book and the Circular Books Exhibition

The exhibition heart of the event was the artist book exhibition, dedicated to the theme of circularity, with works collected in the catalog Circular Books. Artist book, circular thought, accompanied by photographs by Laura Sassi. Under the arcades, the works of numerous local artists and creatives found their space. On Saturday, a captivating "open display case" guided tour was held, led by Elisa Pellacani in two sessions, morning and afternoon, to discover up close the fragility and beauty of these book-objects.

Encounters with Authors

Every evening, at 9 PM under the arcades, the festival offered an encounter with an author. Among the events were the presentation of Lucia Levrini's book in dialogue with Sandra Piccinini, Giovanni Laurent Cossu's Offertorio dedicated to don Pasquino Borghi, and the volume Alzati e cammina! by Dr. Giovanni Gelmini. An evening program that intertwined narrative, poetry, historical memory, and reflection on life.

Children, Schools, and Workshops

Ample space was reserved for the youngest attendees. Various workshops took place in the shops and spaces near the festival: the "illegible books" by Nubivago Kids, the creation of a book with Maura Belluti, and the "flowering book" workshop with Milly at Fioreria Il Girasole. The town's schools participated with exhibitions of drawings from the L. Orsi middle school and the Arcobaleno kindergarten, confirming the event's collaborative and participatory nature.

A Festival of Solidarity

From its very first edition, the Novellara Book Festival has had a clear solidarity purpose: supporting the Blue Team project of Pallacanestro Novellara, dedicated to children with autism. Art and reading thus became an occasion for fundraising and awareness-raising, fully in line with the event's civic spirit. Admission to all events was free.