Seminare Idee Festival of Prato
Prato's festival of ideas: three days of dialogue, science, literature, and thought
About Seminare Idee Festival
A festival of ideas in the heart of Prato
The Seminare Idee Festival of Prato is a cultural event that brings the city and the surrounding province to life every June with a packed schedule of intellectual gatherings. Launched in 2025, the festival has quickly established itself as one of the most anticipated events in the Tuscan cultural calendar, attracting some of the most authoritative voices in literature, science, philosophy, and current affairs. The format is simple and inclusive: all events are free to attend, subject to availability.
One word, a thousand perspectives
The hallmark of Seminare Idee is the selection of a single theme that serves as the common thread for each edition. Following the "Courage" of the inaugural year, the festival explored the theme of "Desire," inviting speakers from diverse disciplines—psychoanalysis, literature, science, poetry, fashion, music, sports, and entertainment—to engage with the same concept. This multidisciplinary approach allows the audience to follow a coherent journey over three days, moving from philosophical dialogue to scientific lectures, and from poetry readings to evening performances.
Festival venues
Seminare Idee turns the entire city into its stage. Events are held in Prato's most representative locations:
- Teatro Politeama Pratese, the beating heart of the evening events
- Teatro Metastasio, the city's historic theatre
- Museo del Tessuto, which showcases Prato's manufacturing identity
- Chiostro di San Domenico, an evocative open-air setting
- Palazzo Datini and Palazzo delle Professioni
- Giardino Buonamici, a green space in the historic centre
Space for the youth: Kids & Teens
A dedicated section, Seminare Idee Kids & Teens, offers workshops on science, art, literature, and music designed for children and teenagers, involving the next generation in the shared reflection. It is a testament to a festival that aims to speak to the entire community, from primary school students to adults.
A local project
The festival is conceived and directed by Annalisa Fattori and Paola Nobile and promoted by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Prato, with the support of the Tuscany Region and in collaboration with the Province of Prato. It is a virtuous example of how foundations and local authorities can provide the community with high-level cultural growth in a city—Prato, in Tuscany—that pairs its textile tradition with a vibrant and recognizable cultural vocation.
Seminare Idee Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Seminare Idee Festival of Prato focused on the keyword Desire, spread over three days (June 5-7) with 32 free events, 35 speakers, and numerous city venues involved. The festival was preceded by a series of "Waiting for Seminare Idee" events on June 3 and 4.
Directors Annalisa Fattori and Paola Nobile crafted a programme weaving together psychoanalysis, science, literature, and current affairs, with dialogues and lecture-performances distributed between the Teatro Politeama, Teatro Metastasio, Museo del Tessuto, Chiostro di San Domenico, Palazzo Datini, and Palazzo delle Professioni.
Programme Seminare Idee Festival 2026
Friday, June 5
- 18:00 — Teatro Politeama: Massimo Recalcati, "The Face of Desire" — the inaugural lecture by the psychoanalyst
- 21:45: Gino Castaldo in a lecture-performance
Saturday, June 6
A packed day featuring guests from literature, philosophy, fashion, and culture: Natasha Solomons, Paolo Di Paolo, Francesco Piccolo, Maurizio Ferraris, Marianna Aprile, Marina Spadafora and Roselina Salemi (sustainable fashion), Camilla Baresani (conviviality), Luca Bottura, Valerio Aprea, Sara Zambotti, Gianvito Martino, Giuseppe Pastore, Guido Bosticco (workshop by reservation), Mapi Danna, Roselina Salemi, and other guests, as well as the editorial staff of Pratosfera.
Sunday, June 7
- 19:45 — Chiostro di San Domenico: Amalia Ercoli Finzi, "Eyes to the Sky" — the closing event by the renowned aerospace engineer
Other Sunday guests included: Antonella Anedda, Nadeesha Uyangoda, Pietro Del Soldà , Lama Michel Rinpoche, Federico Faggin, Antonella Lattanzi, and Alessandra Tedesco.
Seminare Idee Kids & Teens
For children and teenagers (3-14 years), workshops on science, art, literature, and music were held with Fondazione Golinelli, Chiara Manzan, Alice Barberini, Artebambini, Luca Piazza (DJing), and Nicoletta Verna.
Highlights Seminare Idee Festival 2026
Prices Seminare Idee Festival 2026
Practical information — Seminare Idee Festival
Getting there
Prato is easily accessible by train: Prato Centrale station is served by regional lines from Florence and Bologna and is just a few minutes from the historic centre. By car, take the A1 motorway (Prato Est or Prato Ovest exits) or the A11 Firenze–Mare. The nearest airport is Florence (Amerigo Vespucci), approximately 20 km away.
Admission and booking
All events are free to attend, subject to availability. Some workshops require booking; for the Kids & Teens section, booking via email is mandatory. We recommend arriving early for the most popular events.
Info and contacts
The full programme and updates are available on the official website and the festival's social media channels (Instagram and Facebook @seminare_idee_festival).
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Where does it take place — Seminare Idee Festival
Teatro Politeama Pratese
Via Banchelli 6, 59100 Prato