Pistoia Giallo Festival
Four days dedicated to noir literature and crime fiction in the heart of Pistoia
About Giallo Pistoia
The crime fiction festival in the heart of Tuscany
The Pistoia Giallo Festival is one of the most beloved literary events for fans of crime and noir fiction in Italy. Organized by the Giallo Pistoia Association, it transforms the Tuscan provincial capital of Pistoia into a capital of mystery every year, attracting writers, journalists, screenwriters, and scholars from across the country. Four days of meetings, book presentations, round tables, exhibitions, and award ceremonies explore the many facets of crime storytelling, from classic whodunits to contemporary thrillers.
Festival venues
The beating heart of the festival is the San Giorgio Library, which hosts most of the meetings and a themed exhibition, while the official inauguration takes place in the evocative Sala Maggiore of the Town Hall. Over the years, the festival has also involved other iconic city landmarks, such as the Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi, helping to showcase Pistoia's historical and cultural heritage.
A program of authors, tributes, and awards
The festival offers a packed calendar of events: previews, author dialogues, training seminars, themed marathons, and tributes to the great masters of the genre, from Andrea Camilleri to Agatha Christie, and from Edgar Allan Poe to Fruttero & Lucentini. There is no shortage of literary recognition, such as the national Giallo in Provincia competition and the award for the best thesis dedicated to a crime author, organized in collaboration with the University of Florence.
Pistoia, city of books
The event is part of the broader cultural journey that saw Pistoia serve as the Italian Capital of Books, confirming the literary vocation of this Tuscan city. For those who love the thrill of a good mystery, the Pistoia Giallo Festival is an unmissable appointment that combines entertainment, cultural depth, and local discovery.
Giallo Pistoia — edition 2026
The 16th edition of the Pistoia Giallo Festival took place from April 17 to 20, 2026, with the theme "Fear, Genius, and Madness: The Universe of Crime Fiction," dedicated to three fundamental elements of the genre's narrative. The edition was part of the rich calendar of Pistoia Italian Capital of Books 2026.
Among the most anticipated events were tributes to Andrea Camilleri and Agatha Christie, as well as honors for Edgar Allan Poe, Fruttero & Lucentini, and the cinema of Pupi Avati, marking fifty years since the film The House with Laughing Windows. The festival featured round tables, a marathon dedicated to Sherlock Holmes, seminars, and exhibitions.
Programme Giallo Pistoia 2026
Friday, April 17
- 09:30 — Official inauguration in the Sala Maggiore of the Town Hall
Saturday, April 18
- Meeting with Giovanni Grasso, journalist and writer, advisor to the President of the Republic, for the presentation of the novel Finché durerà la terra (Rizzoli)
Guests and protagonists
Announced authors and scholars included: Piergiorgio Pulixi, Sophie Hannah, Marco Buticchi, Luca Crovi, Luca Scarlini, Carlotta Fruttero, Giuseppe Zucco, Franco Forte (director of Giallo Mondadori), Marco De Franchi, Andrea Cotti, and Andrea Consorti.
Exhibitions and initiatives
- Exhibition Crime on the Poster: From Literature to Cinema at the San Giorgio Library (from April 8)
- Marathon dedicated to Sherlock Holmes
- Award for the best thesis on a crime author, in collaboration with the University of Florence
- National Giallo in Provincia competition and literary/graphic contests
Highlights Giallo Pistoia 2026
Prices Giallo Pistoia 2026
Practical information — Giallo Pistoia
Getting there
Pistoia is easily accessible by train: the railway station is on the Florence-Lucca-Viareggio line. By car, take the A11 Firenze-Mare motorway and exit at Pistoia. The San Giorgio Library is located on Via Sandro Pertini.
Admission
Festival events are generally free and open to the public, subject to availability. We recommend checking the official website for any booking requirements.
Information
Full program and updates are available on the official website www.giallopistoia.it.
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Where does it take place — Giallo Pistoia
Biblioteca San Giorgio