Trentino Book Festival

A literary festival in the heart of Upper Valsugana

The Trentino Book Festival is one of the most beloved literary gatherings in Trentino-Alto Adige. Launched in 2011 under the guidance of artistic director Pino Loperfido, the festival spent years enlivening the Valsugana valley with meetings between renowned authors, journalists, and readers. Following the editions held between 2011 and 2019, the event returns in 2026 with a new home in Pergine Valsugana and a refreshed curatorial approach led by Loperfido alongside Elisa Vettori and Fabrizia Mosca.

The 2026 theme: "The Book as a Threshold"

This comeback edition is titled "The Book as a Threshold": viewing the book as a space for passage, encounter, and crossing between different worlds, stories, languages, and communities. The festival aims to restore a high-profile cultural hub to the region, blending literature, performing arts, civil reflection, and the enhancement of local landmarks. The organizers describe this as a "year zero" edition, setting the stage for the full-scale project planned for 2027.

A widespread stage in Pergine

The heart of the event is the Pergine Theater, but the entire town transforms into a widespread stage. Meetings also take place in the Theater Foyer, Sala Maier, Sala Serra, the Municipal Library, the Corte Ex-Filanda, Palazzo a Prato, and the Pergine Castle. The program is complemented by three exhibitions, including "Luca Chistè. A Prayer for Gaza" in the Theater Foyer and displays by Slow Food and Ethical Photography.

Renowned guests and civil themes

The festival attracts numerous figures from the literary and journalistic worlds to the municipality of Pergine Valsugana. Announced guests for 2026 include Gad Lerner, Cecilia Sala, Michela Marzano, Gherardo Colombo, Marcello Veneziani, Marco Albino Ferrari, Vittorino Andreoli, Ben Pastor, Giuseppe Festa, and many others, covering contemporary fiction, non-fiction, current affairs, and children's literature.

An event for the whole community

The Trentino Book Festival is designed for a broad audience, from fiction enthusiasts to families, with a dedicated section for children's and young adult literature. Almost all events offer free admission until capacity is reached, confirming the festival's commitment to being a truly popular event deeply rooted in the Autonomous Province of Trento.