Sports Culture Festival

Sport That Becomes Culture

The Sports Culture Festival is the event that, in Rimini, portrays sport not as pure competition but as a cultural, social, and educational phenomenon. Born from the energy of the Sportellate association—a publication and community that has been covering sports with an original perspective for years—the festival brings a packed program of meetings, talks, book presentations, live podcasts, open training sessions, and sports practice moments to the city for four days in early September. The stated goal is to promote sport in its noblest dimension: as a carrier of educational values, a tool for social inclusion, and an ally for everyone's physical and mental well-being.

A City That Becomes a Stage

The heart of the festival is the Cinema Fulgor, the historic Fellini-esque cinema in the center of Rimini, complemented by numerous other city locations that become natural backdrops for the events: the Gardens of the Palaces of Art, the Piazza sull'Acqua (Water Square), the Moab Court at Piazzale Kennedy, and the Casa del Volley (Volleyball House) at Villaggio Primo Maggio. This urban spread is consistent with Rimini's vocation, a city in the Province of Rimini in Emilia-Romagna recognized as one of Italy's capitals for sports events, capable of attracting tourism and major competitive events every year.

Guests Bridging Sport, Storytelling, and Civic Engagement

The festival's strength lies in mixing sports protagonists with voices from journalism and culture. In recent editions, champions and personalities such as basketball player Marco Belinelli, journalist and podcaster Pablo Trincia, former national volleyball coach Mauro Berruto, volleyball player Serena Ortolani, Paralympic athlete Daniele Cassioli, and ultramarathoner Michele Graglia have graced the stage. Through meetings, tournaments, clinics, and training sessions open to the public, the festival builds a dialogue between big names and audiences of all ages each year.

Why It's Worth Attending

• A rare festival that centers the culture of sport, not just the results.
• Close encounters with champions, journalists, and sports storytellers.
• A distributed format that brings Rimini's center to life, from the Cinema Fulgor to the seaside squares.
• Free admission to almost all events, with ticketing only for some appointments at the Fulgor.

The Sports Culture Festival is sponsored by the Municipality of Rimini and the Emilia-Romagna Region, and is produced in collaboration with Shark Sport Events.