Readers' Festival

Celebrating reading in the heart of Noci

For the first time, the Readers' Festival comes to Noci, a village in the Murgia dei Trulli area of Bari, bringing two days of books, meetings, and performances to the most evocative spaces of the historic center. On July 4th and 5th, 2026, the Chiostro delle Clarisse, the former Town Hall, and Largo Porta Nuova will become the stage for a widespread event that celebrates the pleasure of reading for all ages, from children to adults.

A community-driven project

The Readers' Festival is a national initiative conceived and promoted by the I Presìdi del Libro association, which involves dozens of Italian municipalities in promoting reading every year. In Noci, the event is part of the project «Noci: Roots of Culture, Sprouts of Reading», winner of a grant promoted by the Center for Books and Reading under the 2024-2026 National Action Plan for the promotion of reading. It is led by the Municipality of Noci and the «Mons. A. Amatulli» Municipal Library, in collaboration with local schools, independent bookstores, cultural associations, and cooperatives.

Workshops, exhibitions, and performances

The program alternates between training sessions and events open to everyone. The star of the first day is actor and trainer Alfonso Cuccurullo, recognized by the Nati per Leggere project, who will lead workshops on reading aloud and silent books, as well as the evening performance «Storie impossibili» (Impossible Stories). There is also plenty of space for illustration, with an exhibition dedicated to local artist Lucio Notarnicola and an original workshop that combines reading and yoga for children.

• Creative workshops for children, teenagers, and seniors
• Exhibition of picture books and silent books
• Musical readings and family performances
• Bookshop and meetings with authors and illustrators

An event for the whole community

With free admission and the choice to animate the most beautiful corners of the historic center, the Noci Readers' Festival aims to be a meeting point for families and all citizens of Puglia, transforming streets, cloisters, and squares into places where stories come to life. It is a small but significant example of how culture can take root in a municipality and blossom in new generations of readers.