Storytelling Festival

A festival born from the short story

The Storytelling Festival is one of the most beloved literary events in Emilia-Romagna, hosted annually between late September and early October in the Municipality of Carpi, in the province of Modena. Its origins date back to 2006, when the event was founded as a competition dedicated to the Carpi writer Arturo Loria, with the aim of restoring centrality to an often overlooked narrative form: the short story. From this initial core, the festival has grown to become a nationally significant event, attracting important names from Italian and international culture, journalism, and publishing each year.

A large, widespread stage across the Terre d'Argine

The event does not only take place in Carpi: the festival is itinerant and also involves the municipalities of Campogalliano, Novi di Modena, and Soliera, united in the Union of Terre d'Argine. Libraries, squares, theaters, cinemas, and cultural centers become stages for a single, grand collective narrative. The vibrant heart of the initiative is the Arturo Loria Multimedia Library, which traditionally hosts the inauguration and numerous meetings.

Narration in all its forms

What distinguishes the Festa del Racconto is the desire to move beyond the classic book presentation format. Events prioritize direct dialogue between authors and the public and embrace diverse languages:

• meetings and masterclasses with writers;
• podcasts, musical readings, and theatrical performances;
• graphic novels, comics, and reports;
• writing workshops and projects for schools;
• a rich section dedicated to children and young people.

Over the years, the artistic and scientific direction has been entrusted to prominent figures in the Italian festival scene, and the review has hosted dozens of authors for each edition, always free of charge and with open access.

A community celebration

Promoted by the A. Loria Multimedia Library in collaboration with the Fondazione Campori, cultural institutions, and the Culture departments of the four municipalities, the Festa del Racconto also marks the official closing of the city's long summer cultural program. For visitors to Carpi, it is the perfect opportunity to discover the Renaissance historic center, dominated by the monumental Piazza dei Martiri, and to immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere of a city that makes culture and participation its distinctive traits.