Libri in Nizza
Nizza Monferrato's festival of books and ideas: a late-October weekend of author talks, workshops, children's readings and a theatre show under the roof of the Foro Boario, built each year around a theme.
Why it's special
It brings nationally known writers, athletes, historians and psychologists to a wine town's old covered market. Almost everything is free, and there's a proper children's strand (Nati per Leggere readings by age group) alongside the main stage.
Programme · 2026
15th edition, themed "Super Umani" (illustration by Muriel Mesini). All events at the Foro Boario, Piazza Garibaldi; free except Friday's show, booking advised on Eventbrite from 9 October.
- Everything happens at the Foro Boario in Piazza Garibaldi.
- The talks are free, but booking via the festival's Eventbrite page is recommended (it opens in early October).
- The Friday-night theatre show is ticketed.
- Bring children on Saturday or Sunday afternoon for the Nati per Leggere readings (ages 3–5 and 6–9).
Libri in Nizza is Nizza Monferrato's festival of books and ideas, held each autumn in the Foro Boario, the covered former cattle market on Piazza Garibaldi. Over a long weekend the old covered market fills with author talks, conversations and workshops, plus a children's corner where volunteers from the Nati per Leggere programme read aloud by age group.
Each edition takes a theme. In 2026, its fifteenth year, the theme is Super Umani: the festival looks at the hero who goes home, takes off the cape and becomes simply human again. The guests are deliberately mixed: novelists and art historians share the stage with sports champions and psychologists. In the weeks before, Aspettando Libri in Nizza evenings introduce writers from the local area.
Nearly everything is free (booking is recommended), so it's easy to drop in between a tasting at the Enoteca and dinner in town. This year's full line-up is above.
Past editions
| Year | Dates | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 23–25 October 2026 | 15th edition, themed "Super Umani" (illustration by Muriel Mesini). All events at the Foro Boario, Piazza Garibaldi; free except Friday's show, booking advised on Eventbrite from 9 October. Lead-up – "Aspettando Libri in Nizza" author evenings on 23 Sept, 7 Oct (Adriano Francia and Francesco Bergamasco) and 21 Oct (Francesco Bellè and Paolo Ferrillo) Fri 23 Oct, 21:00 – "Francesco sulla strada", a show by Teatro degli Acerbi for the 800th anniversary of St Francis's death (€10, part of the proceeds to the "Pietra su pietra" project) Sat 24 Oct, 10:00 – opening and presentation of the 15th edition; "Lettura creativa e riscrittura curativa" workshop with Luca Garrone Sat 24 Oct, 11:00 – Federica Storace on «Vamos!», the story of missionary Sister Maria Troncatti Sat 24 Oct, 15:30 and 16:00 – Nati per Leggere readings for children (6–9, then 3–5) Sat 24 Oct, 16:00 – cross-country ski champion Stefania Belmondo, "Ho imparato a vincere" Sat 24 Oct, 17:00 – Andrea Masciaga (@nonepiudomenicaofficial), "Affamati. Storie di campioni venuti dal basso" Sat 24 Oct, 18:00 – Salvo Noè, "Siamo soli?", on loneliness in the age of constant connection Sun 25 Oct, 10:00 – second creative-reading workshop with Luca Garrone; 11:00 exhibition "In rotta verso le nuvole" (CISA Asti Sud and Il Palloncino Rosso) Sun 25 Oct, 15:30 and 16:00 – Nati per Leggere readings for children Sun 25 Oct, 16:00 – art historian Francesca Cappelletti, "Caravaggio, una vita in dieci quadri", with Arturo Galansino Sun 25 Oct, 17:00 – Nadia Terranova, "Quello che so di te" Sun 25 Oct, 18:00 – former Italian rhythmic-gymnastics captain Alessia Maurelli, "Vola come una farfalla" |
| 2025 | 23–26 October 2025 | 14th edition, at the Foro Boario. Thu 23 – Fri 24 Oct – school days (entry reserved for schools) Sat 25 – Sun 26 Oct – open to the public, free entry, with Nati per Leggere readings at the Biblioteca Civica U. Eco and talks including a round table on fantasy literature |
| 2024 | 24–27 October 2024 | Libri in Nizza 2024, the town's literature festival, at the Foro Boario. |