Some journeys begin with a departure, while others take shape through words, stories, and encounters. Journeys capable of crossing distant places, but also exploring identities, emotions, traditions, and the transformations of contemporary society. It is precisely this idea of travel, understood as an experience of knowledge and an opportunity for exchange, that inspires the tenth edition of the International Travel Literature Festival, scheduled in Cagliari from October 29 to 31, 2026, at the Sa Manifattura venue and organized by the eponymous Committee.
For three days, the Sardinian capital will become a hub of literature, journalism, music, theater, and culture, welcoming some of the most renowned figures in the Italian artistic and cultural scene. This event chooses to tell the world through different languages, focusing on people and their ability to transform individual experiences into collective narratives.
The program brings together very different personalities, united by the ability to narrate reality and connect with the public.
The event will open on Thursday, October 29th at 6:00 PM with the talk "New Narratives," featuring Angelica Grivel Serra, Davide Piras, and Pierluigi Serra, in conversation with Andrea Frailis. This event introduces one of the central themes of the festival: the power of writing to interpret the present, give voice to diverse experiences, and construct new imaginaries.
At 7:00 PM, Beppe Convertini will present the book "Il paese delle tradizioni" (Rai Libri), along with Daniele Congiu and Anna Piras. This will be an opportunity to rediscover the value of popular traditions, communities, and the wealth of stories, gestures, and knowledge that continues to be a fundamental part of Italy's cultural identity.
The evening will continue at 8:00 pm with Giusy Ferreri, who will present her debut novel, "Le voci interrotte. La prima inchiesta di Minerva" (Solferino), in conversation with Matteo Bruni. After nearly twenty years of success in the Italian music scene, the artist with the unmistakable voice and beloved audiences makes her fiction debut with a gothic noir with fantasy undertones, set in Pavia and centered around a series of mysterious deaths in the music industry. This literary debut reveals a darker, more introspective side of the singer-songwriter, who has always been passionate about writing, and marks a new stage in her artistic journey, this time entrusted not to music, but to words.
The first day will close out at 9 pm with the Gustavo Gini Ensemble's concert "Tango and Other Stories – A Musical Journey Between Tango and Cinema."
On Friday, October 30th, the festival will focus on new narrative forms and languages that are particularly appealing to younger generations. At 6:00 PM, Cristina Pender and Sonia Melt will host the panel "The New Romance," hosted by Giampaolo Cassitta. This discussion will focus on a literary genre that has evolved in recent years, capturing new sensibilities and building an increasingly direct relationship with readers.
At 6:45 PM, Valerio Mieli will present the book "Scelgo Tutto" (La nave di Teseo), in conversation with Andrea Frailis. A novel that explores the possibilities of existence, the choices that shape each person's path, and the desire to live without giving up anything, through the story of a young protagonist faced with two possible lives.
At 7:30 pm, Rokia will present a panel discussion about her novel "Dangerous Love" (Magazzini Salani), in conversation with Angelica Grivel Serra. The presence of the author, whose audience is particularly young and who has made a name for herself thanks to new writing and reading platforms, demonstrates the event's commitment to embracing the transformations in publishing and the new ways in which stories are written, shared, and experienced.
The second day will conclude at 8:30 pm with La Pola and the show “Speriamo ci ricorda qualcuno – I personaggi”.
The final day, Saturday, October 31, will be particularly significant, featuring three meetings dedicated to the relationship between culture, society, memory, and the narrative of the present.
At 6:00 PM, Moni Ovadia will perform the monologue "Without Borders," a performance that directly reflects the spirit of the event. Through the power of words and theater, the theme of borders becomes an opportunity to reflect on differences, on the intersection of cultures, and on the possibility of recognizing in others a richness rather than a distance.
At 7:30 pm, the public will meet Domenico Iannacone, a journalist and television writer who has made listening and telling people's stories a hallmark of his work. In the talk "Where Borders End," in conversation with Bruno Murgia, journalism will become a tool for exploring stories often overlooked, restoring centrality to the human experiences and realities of our time.
The festival will close at 9 pm with Serena Bortone, who will present the book "Le dirimpettaie" (Rizzoli) in conversation with Andrea Frailis. This choral novel chronicles the lives of three women, their relationships, and the changes in Italian society, spanning decades of cultural and social transformation. This final event will focus on narrative and literature's ability to observe relationships, portray people, and give form to the many nuances of everyday existence.
The festival aims to transcend the idea of literature as an experience reserved for the few, instead highlighting its shared dimension. Books dialogue with music, journalism meets theater, and individual stories become tools for understanding broader phenomena. This intertwining of languages offers space for reflection on the very meaning of travel: not simply reaching a destination, but learning to observe what surrounds us with different eyes.
In a time marked by profound change, distance, and new forms of communication, the festival thus renews the value of direct encounters, listening, and speaking. Culture becomes a bridge between experiences and generations, a space where differences can dialogue and transform into opportunities for mutual understanding.
From October 29th to 31st, Cagliari invites the public to embark on a unique journey, without the need for suitcases or tickets. Simply let yourself be guided by the words, voices, and stories of those who, through literature, journalism, music, and theater, continue to tell the world and its infinite possibilities.
All events will be free to attend.
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