Sant'Andrea di Conza Book Festival
Two days of meetings, readings, and music in the historic center of Alta Irpinia
About Book Festival
An entire village turned into an open-air library
Every summer, at the end of August, the historic center of Sant'Andrea di Conza—a small town of just over 1,300 residents in the province of Avellino, in the heart of Alta Irpinia (Campania)—undergoes a transformation. Alleys, stairways, and squares fill with chairs, book stalls, wood and iron installations, and murals: this is how the Book Festival is born, two days where reading steps out of libraries and becomes a village celebration.
It is neither a trade show nor an elite exhibition: it is a widespread, free, and popular event where the public follows authors, moving from one square to another, among publishers' stalls and the notes of street musicians accompanying the night.
A story that began in 2013
The first edition dates back to 2013. Since then, the Book Festival has grown year by year to become the most anticipated cultural event in Alta Irpinia, capable of bringing writers, magistrates, television journalists, and actors to a mountain village at an altitude of 660 meters. Over the years, guests have included Walter Veltroni, Nicola Gratteri, Vinicio Capossela, Maurizio de Giovanni, Gad Lerner, Dario Vergassola, Francesco Piccolo, and Sigfrido Ranucci.
The event is an integral part of the Summer Recreational and Cultural Program, the long summer festival of the Municipality which reaches its 49th edition in 2026, and the project "Irpinian Itineraries between Culture, History, Theater, and Traditions," supported by FSC 2021/2027 funds together with the municipalities of Cairano, Conza della Campania, Lioni, Morra De Sanctis, and Teora.
The bid for Italian Capital of Books 2027
In 2026, the Festival takes on special significance: the Municipality has submitted its bid for Italian Capital of Books 2027 with the project "Where stories live. Reading places, inhabiting words," entering the shortlist of 31 official candidates examined by the Ministry of Culture and representing Campania alongside Agropoli and Pomigliano d'Arco. A milestone that rewards cultural work built over more than a decade precisely around this festival.
How it works: spaces and the rhythm of the two days
The heart of the event consists of two small squares in the historic center, Largo Abbruzzese and Largo Ginnasiale, which host presentations and dialogues with authors in parallel. Between them, alleys and small clearings host publishing house stands, art installations, and spaces dedicated to music and workshops.
- Meetings with authors and presentations of new editorial releases, moderated by local journalists and teachers;
- Monologues and theatrical readings, often performed by actors and writers bringing their own texts to the stage;
- Workshops for children and teenagers, from illustrated fairy tales to the "Clouds in the Village" comic book workshop;
- Literary speed dating, a format that puts debut authors face-to-face with small groups of readers;
- Book market, murals, and art installations along the route;
- Live music in the streets to close the evenings.
Admission to all events is free.
The village: the Episcopio and Alta Irpinia
Sant'Andrea di Conza is worth the trip beyond the Festival. The symbolic building is the Episcopio, an ancient 16th-century episcopal residence restored after the 1980 earthquake and now the municipal seat, with a theater and gardens that host shows in the summer. The village overlooks the Ofanto valley, a few kilometers from the archaeological area of ancient Compsa in Conza della Campania, in an area of rebuilt villages that have made culture a true strategy for rebirth.
Who it is recommended for
It is an event suitable for curious readers, families, and travelers looking for the most authentic inland Italy: you arrive in the afternoon, follow two or three meetings, have dinner in the village, and stay until night among music and conversation. Those who want to discover the truest Irpinia, far from mass tourism routes, will find a perfect opportunity here.
Book Festival — edition 2026
The 14th Book Festival, August 21-22, 2026
The 2026 edition concludes the 49th Summer Recreational and Cultural Program of Sant'Andrea di Conza, scheduled from July 31 to August 22, and arrives in a symbolic year for the Alta Irpinia village: that of the bid for Italian Capital of Books 2027. The historic center returns to transform into a widespread literary salon, with public meetings, presentations, artistic performances, and the presentation of the Lunettes Literary Prize.
The announced lineup is of national importance: Roberto Saviano, Concita De Gregorio, Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad, and Vincenzo Iurillo are expected in the village streets. As every year, access to all events is free, and the public moves freely between Largo Abbruzzese, Largo Ginnasiale, and the spaces set up in the alleys.
The Festival is preceded by a preview on Thursday, August 20, and is part of a summer calendar that has already brought theater, music, and gastronomy to the village, from the Cameristi del Maggio Fiorentino to the Cavatello Festival.
Programme Book Festival 2026
The detailed program, with times and locations for each event, is published by the organizers in the weeks immediately preceding the event. Currently, these elements are confirmed:
- Thursday, August 20 — Book Festival preview;
- Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22 — 14th Book Festival in the historic center: public meetings, literary salons, presentations, and artistic performances;
- Announced guests: Roberto Saviano, Concita De Gregorio, Plestia Alaqad, and Vincenzo Iurillo;
- Award ceremony for the Lunettes Literary Prize.
The Festival concludes the 49th Summer Recreational and Cultural Program (July 31 - August 22, 2026), which includes, among other things, the show "Francesco" with Sergio Rubini and the Cameristi del Maggio Fiorentino at the Episcopio Theater (August 1), the concert "Napule e Napulicchiu... under the stars" with Fabrizio Mandara and Luigi Bellino at the La Fonte Mill (August 7), "Letter to Eduardo" with Massimiliano Gallo (August 8), the Cavatello Festival with the Rosarossa concert (August 9), Maurizio de Giovanni with "The Miracle: Champions of Italy, once again" (August 11), "The Nine Test" with Maurizio Casagrande (August 13), and the 960 chess tournament (August 16).
Highlights Book Festival 2026
- Roberto Saviano guest of the 14th edition;
- Concita De Gregorio among the Italian journalism voices expected in the village;
- The testimony of Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad;
- Vincenzo Iurillo and investigative storytelling;
- Awarding of the Lunettes Literary Prize;
- The historic center set up as an open-air literary salon, among installations, murals, and book stalls;
- The edition of the bid for Italian Capital of Books 2027.
Prices Book Festival 2026
Practical information — Book Festival
How to get there
By car — Sant'Andrea di Conza can be reached from the A16 Naples-Canosa motorway (Alta Irpinia exits) or from the Ofantina state road, following signs for Lioni and Conza della Campania. The village is about 120 km from Naples and about 100 km from Salerno; the most convenient airport is Naples-Capodichino.
By public transport — connections are limited: there are regional bus lines from Avellino and Salerno to Alta Irpinia, but the car remains the most practical means, especially for the evenings.
Parking and access
The historic center is pedestrianized during the event: it is best to leave the car in the parking areas on the outskirts of the village and continue on foot. The streets are sloped and partly paved, so comfortable shoes are recommended.
Tickets
All Book Festival events are free to enter, with no reservation required. Some theatrical performances of the Summer Recreational and Cultural Program may be ticketed: it is advisable to check each time.
Where to sleep and eat
The village offers small accommodations and guest houses; for a wider choice, you can rely on the neighboring municipalities of Calitri, Lioni, and Conza della Campania. In the village and surrounding areas, you will find trattorias where you can taste Alta Irpinia dishes, from cavatelli pasta to local cheeses, accompanied by Irpinian wines.
Tips
At an altitude of 660 meters, August evenings can be cool: a sweatshirt is very useful. Meetings start in the late afternoon and continue until late at night, so it is advisable to arrive early if you want to find a seat at the main events.
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Where does it take place — Book Festival
Centro storico — Largo Abbruzzese e Largo Ginnasiale
Largo Castello 1, 83053 Sant'Andrea di Conza