SFestival – Rome Science Fiction Festival

SFestival, the Rome Science Fiction Festival

SFestival is the event that brings science fiction to the heart of Rome, spanning the Appio-Tuscolano district and the «Allarga.menti» Civic Hub. Established in 2024, the event is organized by the AllargoPannonia APS association with the patronage of Rome Capital and the VII Municipality. In just a few editions, it has become a landmark for fans of literature, cinema, and futuristic imaginaries in the Capital.

The 2026 Edition: «Cine_fanta_city»

The third edition, scheduled from November 12 to 15, 2026, revolves around the theme «Cine_fanta_city» and the relationship between science fiction, cinema, and the cities of the future. The festival opens on Thursday, November 12, at the Villa Lazzaroni Theatre, continues on Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th at the adjacent House of Culture, and concludes on Sunday, November 15, at the «Allarga.menti» Civic Hub on Via Numidia, in the Appio-Latino district. Admission is free.

Meetings, Screenings, and Guests

The heart of SFestival consists of panels and conversations with authors, critics, translators, screenwriters, and scholars of the genre. The days alternate between round tables on science fiction literature, screenings of cult films, dialogues on series and video games, live music sets, and themed aperitifs. Past editions have hosted tributes to major genre figures, focuses on feminist and Latin American science fiction, and meetings dedicated to sci-fi horror and transmedia storytelling.

The «Visions of the Future» Competition

Among the most distinctive initiatives is «Visions of the Future», a science fiction short story competition aimed at Roman schools, divided into three categories (primary, middle, and high school). The winning stories are awarded throughout the year, fostering creative writing among young people and introducing them to the themes of scientific imagination and the future.

A Neighborhood-Wide Festival

SFestival is designed as a widespread, itinerant event in the south-east quadrant of Rome: from the Theatre and the House of Culture at Villa Lazzaroni, along Via Appia Nuova, to the civic spaces on Via Numidia. This format ties the event to the fabric of the Appio-Tuscolano and Appio-Latino neighborhoods, involving schools, bookstores, associations, and cultural entities within the Lazio Region.

Rome and Science Fiction

With SFestival, the Capital adds a new chapter to its tradition of events dedicated to the fantastic and science fiction, offering readers, cinephiles, and the curious a free opportunity to explore possible and impossible worlds. An autumn appointment that combines popularization, entertainment, and participation, in the Municipality of Rome and the Lazio Region.