Passaggi Festival della Saggistica
The major Italian review dedicated to non-fiction, in the heart of Fano
About Passaggi Festival
The festival that brings books to the piazza
Every year, at the end of June, Passaggi Festival transforms Fano, in the province of Pesaro and Urbino, into the Italian capital of non-fiction. Founded in 2013 and conceived by Giovanni Belfiori, it is now the most important review in our country entirely dedicated to non-fiction: essays, investigations, biographies, books on science, politics, economics, philosophy, and current affairs. For five days, the historic centre and the Adriatic seafront are transformed into a large open-air cultural lounge, with dozens of stages spread across squares, cloisters, courtyards of palaces, and beach establishments.
A city that becomes a bookstore
The formula that has made the festival famous is that of the city invaded by books: every place in Fano is dedicated to a theme. Piazza XX Settembre hosts major debates on politics, news, sports, and entertainment; Piazza Marcolini tackles contemporary issues such as democracy, artificial intelligence, geopolitics, and economics; the Ex Chiesa di San Francesco is the space for art and innovation; the Chiostro di San Paterniano welcomes spirituality and cultural identities; the Giardino Radicioni is the realm of comics and contemporary narrative languages; the Cortile di Palazzo Castracane is dedicated to poetry and political memory. On the seafront, Bagni Elsa offers encounters on music, while the Pincio stage concludes the evenings with shows and entertainment.
Over 300 guests, with free admission
Passaggi's strong point is the quality of its guests: each edition brings together over 300 protagonists of Italian and international culture, from writers to journalists, from scientists to philosophers, as well as personalities from sport, politics, and entertainment. All encounters are free and open to the public, a choice that makes the festival a major popular and inclusive event, capable of attracting thousands of visitors from all over the Marche region and beyond.
Awards and recognitions
During the event, the Premio Passaggi is awarded, dedicated to a prominent figure in non-fiction culture, and the Premio Andrea Barbato, named after the great journalist and reserved for excellence in Italian journalism. These are joined by numerous thematic sections, workshops for children, exhibitions, and evening shows.
Fano, between Roman history and the sea
The backdrop is Fano, one of the most vibrant cities on the Marche coast: the ancient Roman Fanum Fortunae, it preserves the Arch of Augustus, a compact historic centre, and a long Adriatic coastline. The combination of historical heritage, seaside life, and cultural programming makes Passaggi a unique event in the Italian literary festival scene, capable of combining intellectual depth and summer atmosphere.
Passaggi Festival — edition 2026
The XIV edition of Passaggi Festival enlivens Fano from June 24 to 28, 2026, with a theme that recalls the legacy of Vitruvius, the Roman architect linked to these very lands: "The Sense of Measure. Ideas, Cities, Civilizations. From Vitruvius to the Present". A reflection on balance and excess in contemporary society, explored through over 300 guests, 112 books presented, and 15 venues distributed between the historic centre and the Adriatic coast.
The festival maintains its completely free admission formula, with the city transformed into a large space for cultural debate that intertwines current affairs, science, politics, art, and entertainment.
Programme Passaggi Festival 2026
Theme and numbers of the edition
The XIV edition revolves around the theme "The Sense of Measure. Ideas, Cities, Civilizations. From Vitruvius to the Present", with over 300 guests, 112 books presented, and 15 venues between the historic centre and the seafront. All events are free admission.
The venues and their themes
- Piazza XX Settembre — debates on politics, news, sports, and entertainment (among the guests, Giuseppe Conte)
- Piazza Marcolini — democracy, artificial intelligence, geopolitics, economics, and social changes (with scholars like Nadia Urbinati)
- Ex Chiesa di San Francesco — art, innovation, and digital culture (with critic Vincenzo Trione)
- Chiostro di San Paterniano — spirituality and cultural identities
- Giardino Radicioni — comics, graphic novels, and contemporary narrative languages
- Cortile di Palazzo Castracane — poetry and political memory (with poets like Umberto Piersanti)
- Bon Bon Art Cafè — morning events on daily life and relationships
- Bagni Elsa (seafront) — music as cultural storytelling
- Palco del Pincio — evening shows and music (with guests like Fabio Balsamo of The Jackal)
- Mediateca Montanari Memo — programming for younger audiences
Announced guests
Among the numerous guests of the XIV edition: Giuseppe Conte, Telmo Pievani, Nello Cristianini, Tonia Mastrobuoni, Massimo Franco, Nadia Urbinati, Vincenzo Trione, Mario Giordano, Marco Materazzi, Paola Perego, Ivan Zazzaroni, Enzo Iacchetti, Umberto Piersanti, Maurizio Cucchi, Vasco Brondi, and Fabio Balsamo (The Jackal).
Awards 2026
- Premio Passaggi 2026 to Massimo Franco
- Premio Andrea Barbato 2026 to Tonia Mastrobuoni
Highlights Passaggi Festival 2026
Prices Passaggi Festival 2026
Practical information — Passaggi Festival
How to get there
Fano is easily reachable by train (station on the Adriatic line Bologna-Lecce, with stops for major Intercity and regional trains) and by car via the A14 motorway, Fano exit. The nearest airport is Ancona-Falconara, about 50 km away.
Venues
The encounters take place in numerous locations in the historic centre and along the seafront: Piazza XX Settembre, Piazza Marcolini, Ex Chiesa di San Francesco, Chiostro di San Paterniano, Giardino Radicioni, Cortile di Palazzo Castracane, Bagni Elsa on the seafront, and the Pincio stage.
Admission
All events are free admission (with the exception, generally, of some guided tours). Full program, times, and bookings on the official festival website.
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Where does it take place — Passaggi Festival
Centro storico e lungomare di Fano