Pulcheria Festival

An observatory on the feminine in the heart of Piacenza

Pulcheria is one of the longest-standing and most emblematic cultural events in the Municipality of Piacenza, in Emilia-Romagna. Founded in the early 2000s as an observatory on the female world and gender differences, over the years it has established itself as a public moment for reflection and comparison, capable of giving voice to the female universe. Through theatre, cinema, music, poetry, and words, the festival does not just tell stories about women, but explores it as a plural space of experiences, skills, and visions, fostering dialogue between generations, disciplines, and territories.

"Celestial Bodies": the 2026 edition

Promoted by the Department for Equal Opportunities of the Municipality of Piacenza in co-design with Favellarte APS and under the artistic direction of Samantha Oldani, the 2026 edition was titled "Celestial Bodies" and took place from March 17th to 29th. The subtitle "Imagining new orbits" encapsulates the spirit of a review that featured a dozen events including performances, screenings, and talks, animating the historic centre with voices from science, music, sport, education, theatre, and literature.

Guests and themes

Among the protagonists of the 2026 edition were musician Maria Antonietta, astrophysicist Patrizia Caraveo, cyclists Silvia Gottardi and Lidia Ronzoni from the "Cicliste per caso" project, social science communicators Karen Ricci and Carolina Capria, artist Chiara Bersani, actress Annagaia Marchioro with the show "Fulminata", and actor Lorenzo Maragoni. The themes addressed ranged from identity to female empowerment, from science to ecology, from the roles that inhabit complexity to new imaginaries.

Venues

The events were held in symbolic locations in the historic centre of Piacenza:

• Auditorium of the Fondazione di Piacenza e Vigevano
• Palazzo Farnese - Salone Pierluigi
• Cinema Politeama - Sala Ritz
• Teatro dei Filodrammatici
• Conservatorio Nicolini
• Auditorium Sant'Ilario and Circolo Arci Rathaus

The Pulcheria Award

The symbolic heart of the festival is the Pulcheria Award, an honour bestowed upon a figure who has distinguished themselves through talent, merit, and commitment in promoting equality, rights, and female empowerment, awarded during one of the festival's events. The event is supported by the Fondazione di Piacenza e Vigevano and is realised in partnership with numerous local third-sector organizations, from the Nicolini Conservatory to local anti-violence centres.

A free event open to all

All Pulcheria events are free admission; some require online booking via the official website. This is one of the festival's distinctive features: making a journey of culture and awareness accessible to all citizens, which, edition after edition, contributes to the cultural identity of Piacenza and Emilia-Romagna.