Rodari IN-VISIBLE Festival
Three days of imagination and creativity at the Fabbrica delle Candele in Forlì, in the spirit of Gianni Rodari
About Rodari Festival Forlì
A festival born from Rodari's imagination
The Rodari IN-VISIBLE Festival is a cultural event that each spring transforms the Fabbrica delle Candele in Forlì, in the heart of Romagna, into a large, widespread laboratory dedicated to creativity, imagination, and language. Promoted by the Municipality of Forlì and organized by the State Comprehensive Institute no. 7 "Carmen Silvestroni," the festival celebrates the legacy of Gianni Rodari, a master of imagination and author of the famous Grammar of Imagination, by dialoguing each year with another literary great.
The 2026 edition: a bridge to Italo Calvino
The third edition, held from March 25 to 27, 2026, had the theme "IN-VISIBLE: a bridge between Gianni Rodari and Italo Calvino": an invitation to look beyond appearances and recognize the value of what often remains hidden. Three intense days of activities for children, families, teachers, and students enlivened the spaces of the Fabbrica delle Candele from afternoon to evening.
- Evening performances presented by the city's schools
- Creative workshops inspired by the worlds of Rodari and Calvino
- Exhibitions, including "MagicLand, green living" curated by Flavio Milandri, with the urban forest as a metaphor for relationships and growth
- Animated readings, street games, and artist performances
- Screenings of short films made by students from Forlì schools
An event rooted in the educational community
The festival is the culmination of an annual program of free artistic workshops involving kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools in the area. The 2026 edition recorded record numbers: over 7,000 attendees and more than 2,300 students involved, confirming steady growth over the years.
Forlì, city of imagination
The capital, along with Cesena, of the province of Forlì-Cesena, in Emilia-Romagna, Forlì offers during the festival a unique opportunity to experience culture as a shared experience across generations. The Fabbrica delle Candele, a former industrial plant converted into a cultural and creative center for young people, is the ideal setting for an event that uses imagination as a concrete tool for growth and citizenship.
Rodari Festival Forlì — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Rodari IN-VISIBLE Festival offered, from March 25 to 27, a rich program of activities that enlivened the Fabbrica delle Candele from the afternoon (starting at 4:30 PM) until the evening.
Among the main offerings: the exhibition "MagicLand, green living", curated by Flavio Milandri and displayed in the Sala Rossa, which presented the urban forest as a metaphor for relationships and growth; street games with Nonno Banter; performances by street artists and animated readings in the afternoon (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM), with evening performances at 8:30 PM by the city's schools. On March 25, the short film "Prima che tornino i grandi" (Before the Grown-ups Return), made by students from the Aurelio Saffi primary school and the Girasole kindergarten, was presented.
The event, promoted by the Municipality of Forlì and organized by Comprehensive Institute no. 7 "Carmen Silvestroni," concluded with record numbers: over 7,000 total attendees.
Programme Rodari Festival Forlì 2026
2026 Program
- March 25-27, from 4:30 PM: daily opening of activities at the Fabbrica delle Candele
- Exhibition "MagicLand, green living" (Sala Rossa), curated by Flavio Milandri
- Afternoon (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM): street games with Nonno Banter, street artist performances, animated readings
- Evening (8:30 PM): performances by the city's schools
- March 25: presentation of the short film "Prima che tornino i grandi" (Aurelio Saffi primary school and Girasole kindergarten)
- Creative workshops and meetings for schools, families, and teachers
Highlights Rodari Festival Forlì 2026
Prices Rodari Festival Forlì 2026
Practical information — Rodari Festival Forlì
Where
Fabbrica delle Candele, Viale Bologna 30, 47121 Forlì (FC), Emilia-Romagna. The center is located a few minutes from the historic city center.
How to get there
By train: Forlì station on the Bologna-Rimini line, a short distance from the venue. By car: Forlì exit from the A14 motorway, then follow signs for the center. By plane: Bologna and Rimini airports nearby.
Admission
Festival activities are free to enter. For workshops and performances dedicated to schools, booking may be required through the participating institutions.
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Where does it take place — Rodari Festival Forlì
Fabbrica delle Candele
Viale Bologna 30, 47121 Forlì