Un Mare di Diritti
Lampedusa's human rights festival, curated by students and Amnesty International
About Un Mare di Diritti
A human rights festival in Lampedusa
Un Mare di Diritti is a festival dedicated to human rights held in Lampedusa, part of the municipality of Lampedusa and Linosa in the Pelagie Islands, in the province of Agrigento, Sicily. The event is promoted by Amnesty International Italy in collaboration with students from the Ettore Majorana High School and the Municipality of Lampedusa and Linosa. For two days, the central Piazza Castello becomes an open-air laboratory for discussion, art, and performance.
A project led by the youth
The festival's most distinctive feature is that it is led by the students of the Majorana school, coordinated by Francesca Corbo of Amnesty International Italy. They curate the organization and content, blending artistic performances with debates on topics such as gender equality, fighting stereotypes, bullying, and the criminalization of solidarity. Art thus becomes a concrete tool for active citizenship in a place that has long been a symbol of welcome and rights in the Mediterranean.
A growing community
Edition after edition, the project has expanded its reach, involving new local social groups: among these, the Lampedusa Music School and the La Coccinella senior center, which have turned the festival into an intergenerational meeting point for the entire Lampedusan community. Guests across the various editions have included national artists, actors, and musicians, alongside Amnesty International Italy spokesperson Riccardo Noury.
Lampedusa and human rights
Choosing Lampedusa as a stage is no coincidence: Italy's southernmost island has long been at the heart of the European debate on the rights of migrants. Un Mare di Diritti gives the spotlight back to the inhabitants, especially the youth, telling the story of the island not just through news headlines, but through its capacity for hospitality, its culture, and its desire for participation.
- Where: Piazza Castello, Lampedusa (Municipality of Lampedusa and Linosa, AG)
- When: Late spring (end of May / early June)
- Promoters: Amnesty International Italy and Ettore Majorana High School
- Admission: Free
Un Mare di Diritti — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Un Mare di Diritti was held in Lampedusa on May 23 and 24, 2026, once again in Piazza Castello. The festival, now in its third year, confirmed its format of blending art and civic engagement, with a particular focus on gender discrimination and the criminalization of solidarity.
Announced guests for the two evenings included actors Serena Iansiti, Edoardo Purgatori, and Massimo Ciavarro, musicians Ibla and MILLE, and Amnesty International Italy spokesperson Riccardo Noury. A new feature of this edition was the active involvement of the Lampedusa Music School and the La Coccinella senior center, confirming the festival's vocation as a moment of unity for the entire island.
Programme Un Mare di Diritti 2026
Two evenings in Piazza Castello featuring artistic performances, music, and debates curated by Majorana students. Guests: Serena Iansiti, Edoardo Purgatori, Massimo Ciavarro, Ibla, MILLE, and Amnesty International Italy spokesperson Riccardo Noury. Key themes: gender discrimination and the criminalization of solidarity.
Highlights Un Mare di Diritti 2026
- Third edition of the Lampedusa human rights festival
- Guests: Serena Iansiti, Edoardo Purgatori, Massimo Ciavarro, Ibla, MILLE, Riccardo Noury
- Collaboration with the Lampedusa Music School and the La Coccinella senior center
Prices Un Mare di Diritti 2026
Practical information — Un Mare di Diritti
Getting there
Lampedusa is accessible by plane from Lampedusa Airport, with flights from Palermo and Catania (and seasonal connections from other Italian cities), or by sea via ferries and hydrofoils from Porto Empedocle (Agrigento). Piazza Castello is located in the town center, easily reachable on foot from the port.
Admission
Access to the Un Mare di Diritti events in Piazza Castello is free of charge.
Tips
The island is very busy during the festival; it is advisable to book flights, ferries, and accommodation well in advance. The evenings take place outdoors, so bringing a light jacket for the evening is recommended.
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Where does it take place — Un Mare di Diritti
Piazza Castello