Pistoia, Italian Book Capital
A year of events, readings and new experiences
Pistoia
More than 1,500 events, innovative projects and initiatives for all ages turn the city into an open cultural laboratory for everyone.
2026 will be the year of Pistoia as Italian Book Capital. This recognition brings with it a rich programme of readings, meetings, cultural projects and initiatives designed to involve the entire city, for a total of more than 1,500 events.
The initiatives involve not only the two civic libraries, San Giorgio and Forteguerriana, but also booksellers, publishers, authors, illustrators, reading groups, schools and many other figures from the local book world. The programme ranges from lifelong learning for adults to activities for children, from book presentations to reading games, from scientific outreach to art exhibitions. The common thread is the theme of adventure, expressed through the slogan Reading is an adventure!
Among the main events are the Climate Fiction Days in March, the first Italian festival dedicated to literature on climate change; in April, the Festival del Giallo, one of the most important national events for lovers of noir, mystery and crime fiction; in May, Dialoghi di Pistoia, the contemporary anthropology festival featuring renowned Italian and international authors.
Alongside the many cultural appointments, the title of Book Capital brings a series of original initiatives aimed at regular readers and newcomers alike. These include the Librobus, a small van that every two weeks reaches elderly residents who cannot travel independently and brings them to the library; the wedding list in bookshops, allowing couples to choose books for their new home; the Libro sospeso, inspired by the Neapolitan tradition of the “suspended coffee”; and reading games that reward participants with vouchers to be used in local bookshops.
The programme also includes Tales on the Phone, read by volunteers to children forced to stay at home due to illness; Book Parties, moments of shared silent reading inspired by a New York initiative; and mystery book bags prepared by librarians, containing themed suggestions and a complimentary book.
The result is a wide array of opportunities for every taste and age group, making the city, for a full year, a place to discover beyond its historic heritage and culinary excellence, offering a lively and rewarding cultural experience.
Opening Ceremony
The official opening ceremony of the year of Pistoia CIDL 2026 will take place on Saturday 10 January 2026 at 4 pm at the Teatro Manzoni in Pistoia, with the institutional participation of the Mayor of Pistoia, Anna Maria Celesti, and other local and regional authorities.
The central moment of the afternoon will be a lectio magistralis by Aldo Cazzullo, entitled Francis and Dante: the Birth of a Nation. The talk will explore the roots of Italian identity through two key figures in our history: Saint Francis, the “first Italian” who spoke to the people in the language of the people, and Dante Alighieri, the father of the Italian language and of the very idea of Italy.
Admission to the theatre is free of charge, subject to availability.
Click here to view the January programme.
