Taobuk – Taormina International Book Festival
The international book festival of Taormina
About Taobuk
Taobuk, international culture in Taormina
The Taobuk – Taormina International Book Festival is one of Italy's leading literary festivals with an international reach. Founded in 2011 and conceived and directed by Antonella Ferrara, it takes place every June in the town of Taormina, in the province of Messina, in the heart of eastern Sicily. Each edition attracts over 200 guests from more than 30 countries: writers, Nobel laureates, philosophers, scientists, economists, artists, and key figures in international public debate.
A multidisciplinary festival
Taobuk is more than just a literary festival: it is a cultural project that weaves together literature, philosophy, geopolitics, economics, science, visual arts, cinema, music, and dance. Each edition revolves around a theme word that runs through meetings, lectio magistralis, book presentations, and major debates, organized into several thematic areas. This formula has turned the festival into a laboratory of ideas where books become a starting point for reflecting on the present.
The Taormina venues
The festival comes alive in the city's most beautiful spaces: the majestic Ancient Theatre of Taormina, the stage for the evening events and the Gala, as well as Palazzo Corvaja, the garden of Palazzo dei Duchi di Santo Stefano, Casa Cuseni, the Palazzo dei Congressi, and various locations throughout the historic center. Meetings are spread throughout the day, from morning until evening, transforming Taormina into a festival-city.
The Taobuk Gala and the Taobuk Awards
The highlight of the event is the Taobuk Gala at the Ancient Theatre, during which the Taobuk Awards are presented to high-profile figures from the world of literature, art, science, and civil engagement. The gala evening is broadcast by Rai, bringing the image of Taormina and Sicily to a national audience.
Taormina and Sicily
Overlooking the Ionian Sea with a view of Mount Etna, the town of Taormina has always been a destination for writers, artists, and travelers. Taobuk fits into this tradition of cultural hospitality, enhancing the Mediterranean identity of Sicily and projecting it onto an international stage. The festival is now one of the most anticipated summer cultural events in the Sicilian Region.
Taobuk — edition 2026
Taobuk 2026: Trust
The 16th edition of the Taobuk – Taormina International Book Festival was held from June 18 to 22, 2026, with Trust as the theme word: a daily choice capable of holding together relationships, institutions, knowledge, and democracy. The program was developed around six thematic areas, from the word that holds us together to the social pact, from the relationship between humans and machines to the geographies of trust.
Guests and awards
Over 200 guests from more than 30 countries took part in the festival. The Taobuk Awards were presented, among others, to Abdulrazak Gurnah, Haruki Murakami, Dacia Maraini, Jonathan Coe, Adonis, Anish Kapoor, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, economist Esther Duflo, and Bernard-Henri Lévy; the Sicily Prize went to Felicia Kingsley and Eduardo Mendoza.
The Taobuk Gala at the Ancient Theatre
The highlight was the Taobuk Gala on June 20 at the Ancient Theatre of Taormina, hosted by Antonella Ferrara and Massimiliano Ossini, with the Symphony Orchestra of the Teatro Massimo Bellini of Catania conducted by Vitali Alekseenok. The evening was subsequently broadcast on Rai 1.
Programme Taobuk 2026
Program divided into six thematic areas dedicated to Trust: The word that holds us together; How we become human; The social pact; Is the future a promise?; Humans and machines; Geographies of trust. Meetings, lectio magistralis, and presentations from morning to evening in multiple venues in the historic center.
Taobuk Gala – June 20, 9:00 PM, Ancient Theatre of Taormina, with the presentation of the Taobuk Awards.
Highlights Taobuk 2026
- Edition theme: Trust
- Over 200 guests from more than 30 countries
- Taobuk Awards to Gurnah, Murakami, Maraini, Coe, Adonis, Kapoor, Ravasi, Duflo
- Sicily Prize to Felicia Kingsley and Eduardo Mendoza
- Taobuk Gala at the Ancient Theatre hosted by Antonella Ferrara and Massimiliano Ossini
Prices Taobuk 2026
Practical information — Taobuk
How to get there
By plane: Catania Fontanarossa Airport (approx. 60 km), connected to Taormina by bus and train. By train: Taormina-Giardini station, then bus or taxi to the historic center. By car: A18 Messina-Catania motorway, Taormina exit.
Venues
Events are held at the Ancient Theatre, Palazzo Corvaja, the garden of Palazzo dei Duchi di Santo Stefano, and various locations in the historic center, which is pedestrian-friendly and accessible on foot.
Tickets
Many daytime meetings are free of charge until capacity is reached; for the Taobuk Gala at the Ancient Theatre and some evening events, booking or ticket purchase is required. It is recommended to check the official website taobuk.it for the updated program and access details.
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Where does it take place — Taobuk
Teatro Antico di Taormina