The May of Books – Messina
The national campaign promoting reading across libraries, bookstores, and public squares in Messina
About May of Books Messina
The May of Books in Messina
The May of Books is a major national campaign to promote reading, conceived by the Centre for Books and Reading (Cepell) of the Ministry of Culture, in which the Municipality of Messina has been participating for several years. For about five weeks, between late April and May 31st, the capital of the Strait transforms into a true city-wide literary hub: events are not concentrated in a single venue but spread across libraries, bookstores, schools, community spaces, and cultural sites throughout the city.
A city-wide reading network
In Messina, the event is coordinated by the Municipal Department of Culture together with the Culture service of the Metropolitan City of Messina, as part of the Reading Pact. The calendar is the result of collaboration among a wide network of stakeholders: cultural associations, independent bookstores, publishing houses, public and school libraries, teachers, and private citizens. It is this choral and participatory dimension that makes the May of Books in Messina a deeply felt event, capable of reaching diverse audiences, from adults to the youngest readers.
What to expect
The program, which is constantly updated throughout the weeks of the festival, offers a wide variety of formats:
- Meetings and dialogues with authors, featuring new book presentations;
- Readings, read-aloud sessions, and reading marathons;
- Workshops for children and teenagers in libraries and bookstores;
- Initiatives in schools and cultural venues across the city;
- Evenings dedicated to city libraries and their collections.
Each edition follows the official national theme, which is then adapted into local strands that guide the selection of guests and titles. Daily initiatives are announced as they are scheduled on the social media channels of the Messina Reading Pact.
A widespread celebration in the heart of Sicily
Nestled in the heart of the Sicilian spring, the May of Books represents an opportunity for Messina and the entire metropolitan area to rediscover bookstores and libraries as spaces for meeting and community. The fact that almost all events are free and widely distributed across the territory makes it an accessible event, designed to bring even those who do not usually frequent literary spaces closer to reading.
May of Books Messina — edition 2026
May of Books 2026 in Messina
The 2026 edition, the sixteenth of the national campaign, took place in Messina from April 23 to May 31, 2026, with the institutional theme "Every book is a living creature", dedicated to the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis and a reflection on reading as a living and generative experience.
Three thematic strands
The national theme was adapted in Messina into three in-depth strands:
- "Singing beauty", dedicated to the wonder of creation and the power of language;
- "Creatures on the move", on the exploration of emotions, relationships, and inner journeys;
- "Creatures in our time", focused on contemporary challenges and a conscious look at others and the environment.
The program
The event, coordinated by the Municipal Department of Culture of Messina and the Culture service of the Metropolitan City as part of the Reading Pact, offered a widespread calendar of initiatives for adults and children, hosted in bookstores, libraries, and open spaces in the area. Starting from April 23, daily appointments were announced on the social media pages of the Messina Reading Pact, with a constantly updated program.
Programme May of Books Messina 2026
2026 Theme
"Every book is a living creature" — national theme dedicated to the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis.
The three strands
- Singing beauty — the wonder of creation and the power of language.
- Creatures on the move — emotions, relationships, and inner journeys.
- Creatures in our time — contemporary challenges and a conscious look at others and the environment.
Format
Widespread calendar from April 23 to May 31, 2026: author meetings, presentations, workshops for children and teenagers, and readings hosted in bookstores, libraries, and cultural spaces in Messina and the metropolitan area. Daily initiatives are published on the social media channels of the Messina Reading Pact.
Highlights May of Books Messina 2026
Prices May of Books Messina 2026
Practical information — May of Books Messina
When
The festival takes place every year between late April and May 31st, with a widespread calendar of events.
Where
Events are held in libraries, bookstores, schools, and cultural spaces throughout Messina and the metropolitan area. There is no single venue: each appointment has its own location, indicated in the program.
Admission
Almost all initiatives are free of charge.
How to get there
Messina is accessible by train (Messina Centrale station), by car via the A20 (Messina–Palermo) and A18 (Messina–Catania) motorways, and by sea via the Strait ferries from Villa San Giovanni and Reggio Calabria.
Information
The updated program is published on the channels of the Municipality of Messina and the social media pages of the Messina Reading Pact.
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Where does it take place — May of Books Messina
Biblioteche, librerie e spazi culturali della città