Campania Libri Festival 2027 – Naples, Italy

Overview

Campania Libri Festival 2027 – Naples, Italy is the major publishing fair and literary festival of Southern Italy, promoted by the Campania Region and organized by Fondazione Campania dei Festival. The festival is conceived as a large, free and open cultural event that transforms the monumental spaces of the historic center of Naples into a vibrant hub for books, authors, publishers and readers from across Italy and abroad.

Housed primarily inside the Palazzo Reale in Piazza del Plebiscito and in the adjoining Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, the festival brings together hundreds of publishing houses, national and international authors, translators, illustrators, journalists and cultural operators. The project was entrusted to Fondazione Campania dei Festival, with editorial direction curated by philosopher Massimo Adinolfi, and has quickly become one of the most important cultural events in the regional calendar.

The fourth edition confirmed its position as a leading fair in the south, while the fifth edition introduced the evocative theme Jesce sole, a nursery rhyme and ancient propitiatory song that is one of the oldest records of the Neapolitan language, paying tribute to Maestro Roberto De Simone and to his seminal work Gatta Cenerentola. This approach shows the core identity of the festival, which is not limited to book presentations but integrates multiple disciplines including theater, music, ethnomusicology, poetry and visual arts to enrich the overall experience.

Campania Libri Festival is designed to be accessible to all, with free entry to the exhibition area and free access to meetings subject to booking and availability. The program combines publishing market activities, public readings, conversations with authors, educational workshops, professional meetings for the publishing chain, and special projects such as Romance Corner and collaborations with major national literary prizes. For visitors, it is both a fair where new releases can be discovered and purchased and a festival where contemporary cultural debates are staged in one of the most beautiful historic palaces in Europe.

Cultural Significance & Origins

The cultural significance of Campania Libri Festival lies in its role as a strategic infrastructure for reading and publishing in Campania and in Southern Italy. Fondazione Campania dei Festival was created following a call issued by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Activities and Tourism, and over time has managed major projects including the Campania Teatro Festival, whose slogan remains The theatre is reborn with you. In this institutional continuity, the Campania Region entrusted Fondazione with the organization of a new literary adventure focused on all forms of literature.

The origins of the festival respond to a precise cultural policy objective, which is to promote reading, support independent and large publishing, enhance the bibliographic heritage of the National Library and create a stable annual appointment that can attract authors of international stature to Naples. Unlike fairs that are purely commercial, Campania Libri Festival was born as a Festival della Lettura e dell’Ascolto, a festival of reading and listening, where the dimension of encounter between author and public is central.

Its location reinforces its cultural meaning. The Palazzo Reale and the Biblioteca Nazionale are not neutral containers but symbolic places of Neapolitan history, royal power and knowledge conservation. Holding a contemporary publishing fair inside a royal palace creates a dialogue between heritage and living culture, making books visible in the heart of civic life. The integration of the National Library, which occupies the eastern wing of the palace and preserves precious collections, allows the festival to host meetings in historic halls such as Sala Rari and Sala Tammurriata, where rare manuscripts and contemporary voices coexist.

Over successive editions, the festival has become a platform for reflecting on major themes such as bodies, traces, landscapes and powers, visibility and urban regeneration, and the relationship between publishing and territory. It has hosted projects such as Premio Elsa Morante Spin Off and collaborations with Giffoni Festival’s Experience, involving young people from educational programs and reinforcing the link between literature and youth formation.

Traditions, Rituals & Customs

Campania Libri Festival has already established its own traditions and rituals that mark its identity and distinguish it from other Italian book fairs.

The Opening in the Royal Palace: Every edition traditionally opens with an institutional moment in the Cortile d’Onore of Palazzo Reale, with greetings from the Campania Region, from the President and Director of Fondazione Campania dei Festival and from the editorial director. This ritual underscores the public and institutional nature of the event.

The Multi-Space Journey: The festival is organized as a walk through multiple named spaces inside the palace and library, such as Spazio Guarracino, Spazio Sibilla, Visibility Room, Sala Rari and Sala Tammurriata. Visitors move from one hall to another following a printed and digital program, creating a ritual of discovery within the monument.

The Libri Off Prelude: Before the main fair, the festival organizes Campania Libri Off, a series of meetings with writers in different towns of Campania that anticipates the major event. This Off program has become a tradition that extends the festival beyond Naples and builds anticipation.

Free Entry with Booking: The custom of free entry subject to reservation for meetings has become a distinctive practice. Access to the exhibition area is free, while access to individual meetings requires a free booking on the official website until capacity is reached, ensuring orderly access to historic halls with limited seats.

Tribute to Neapolitan Language and Song: Recent editions have introduced the ritual of dedicating the theme to a piece of Neapolitan cultural memory, such as Jesce sole, with an opening tribute to a master of ethnomusicological research. This links the book fair to the oral and musical traditions of Campania.

Solidarity Merchandise: At the info point, bags and festival t-shirts are available for purchase, with proceeds donated to charity partners such as AIRC, Fondazione AIRC per la Ricerca sul Cancro. This solidarity practice has become a recurring custom.

What to Expect at the Festival

Visitors to Campania Libri Festival 2027 can expect an immersive experience that combines the atmosphere of a publishing fair with that of a literary and cultural festival. As you stroll through the festival grounds inside Palazzo Reale, you will encounter numerous stalls filled with books from a diverse range of publishers, from large national groups such as Mondadori, Rizzoli and Salani to independent publishers from Campania and across Italy. Each publisher presents new releases, backlist titles, children’s books, poetry, graphic novels and non-fiction.

The program includes continuous meetings throughout the day, from morning until evening. Expect public readings, conversations with prominent Italian and international authors, presentations of novels, essays and poetry collections, round tables on current publishing topics and reflections on new challenges facing the industry. The festival also hosts special sections such as Romance Corner, which brings romance authors from publishers such as Newton Compton Editori, Giunti and Salani, and thematic focuses curated in collaboration with literary magazines such as newitalianbooks.

The spaces are evocative. You may attend a morning lecture in the Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, a few steps from the Galleria, and an afternoon poetry reading in a historic hall of the Royal Palace. The National Library itself is a cultural attraction, housing precious collections and offering a quiet, scholarly atmosphere. Between meetings, you can explore Piazza del Plebiscito, one of the largest squares in Italy, and enjoy the view of the Gulf of Naples.

The audience is diverse, including students, teachers, librarians, publishing professionals, families and tourists. The festival is designed to be family-friendly, with dedicated spaces for children and schools. All events are free, but some require reservations, so planning your personal schedule on the official website is recommended.

Date & Schedule

Official Dates: October 2027 (Dates TBD)

Schedule Overview:

Preview Events: Campania Libri Off meetings and preview events in theaters such as Teatro Politeama and in various locations across Campania in the weeks leading up to the main festival.

Main Festival Days: The core fair takes place over four days at Palazzo Reale and Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, Piazza del Plebiscito 1, Naples. Opening hours traditionally run from 10:00 to 20:00 with extended evening events.

Daily Program Structure: Mornings are dedicated to schools, professional meetings and publishing industry panels. Afternoons feature author presentations, public readings and thematic rooms such as Visibility Room and Spazio Sibilla. Evenings include headline events, performances and special tributes.

Booking: Access to the exhibition area is free. Access to individual meetings is free of charge subject to booking on the official website and while places are available. School meetings require separate booking procedures.

For exact hours and final calendar, please consult the official website https://campanialibrifestival.it/

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Main Events & Programme

Exhibition Fair of Publishing: The heart of the festival is the exhibition area set up inside Palazzo Reale, where publishers display and sell books. The fair showcases the entire publishing chain from Campania, with a focus on new Italian fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

Author Conversations and Presentations: A packed calendar of activities including presentations of new books, dialogues between authors and critics, and interviews with prominent guests. Previous editions have hosted internationally acclaimed writers such as Richard Ford and Italian authors such as Antonio Franchini, winner of Naples Award.

Thematic Rooms: The program is divided into spaces such as Visibility Room for debates on public reading and urban regeneration, Spazio Guarracino and Spazio Sibilla for literary presentations, and Sala Rari and Sala Tammurriata inside the National Library for more intimate encounters.

Romance Corner and Genre Focus: A dedicated space that brings together romance and contemporary fiction authors, with participation from major publishers and a strong engagement with young readers. This section continues beyond the festival with projects such as Romance Book Party.

Premio Elsa Morante Spin Off: The festival hosts events scheduled within the Elsa Morante Prize spin-off section, presented by journalists and cultural operators, offering discussions on prize-winning books and contemporary literature.

Tributes and Special Projects: Each edition includes special tributes, such as the tribute to Roberto De Simone and Gatta Cenerentola in the Jesce sole edition, and collaborations with youth projects from Giffoni Experience, involving fifty young people in cultural production.

Professional Meetings and School Programs: Panels for librarians, publishers, translators and teachers, organized in collaboration with the Italian Library Association and other partners, plus dedicated programs for schools with reservations.

Traditional Dress, Arts & Crafts

This section is adapted to reflect the literary and artisanal nature of the festival, focusing on the arts, crafts and material culture of Naples linked to books.

Cartapesta and Handmade Bookbinding: Naples has a long tradition of artisanal paper crafts. During the festival, visitors can discover exhibitions of handmade paper, artisanal bookbinding, restoration of ancient volumes from the National Library and traditional cartapesta, which is used for theatrical masks and religious statues.

Luminarie and Palace Scenography: The Royal Palace itself is a work of art, built in the seventeenth century and enriched over centuries. The festival scenography uses minimal and respectful installations that highlight the baroque architecture, the monumental staircase and the historic halls, rather than imposing external structures.

National Library Collections: The Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III preserves ancient manuscripts, incunabula and precious editions. Special guided visits and displays of rare materials are often organized during the festival, showcasing the art of illumination, calligraphy and conservation.

Illustration and Graphic Novel Art: A growing section of the festival is dedicated to illustration, comics and graphic novels, with original plates, live drawing sessions and meetings with illustrators, reflecting the artisanal dimension of visual storytelling.

Local Publishing Crafts: Small independent publishers from Campania showcase letterpress printing, hand-printed limited editions and self-produced zines, keeping alive craft techniques that are part of the region’s creative economy.

Festival Merchandise as Craft: The official bags and t-shirts, whose proceeds are donated to charity partners, are designed each year by local graphic designers and printed locally, becoming collectible items.

Traditional Food & Local Specialties

While the festival is centered on books, the gastronomic context of Naples is inseparable from the visitor experience and offers distinctive specialties to enjoy between events.

Pizza Napoletana: The most famous dish of Naples, with a soft, elastic crust and high, charred cornicione. The classic Marinara and Margherita can be enjoyed in historic pizzerias a few minutes walk from Palazzo Reale.

Sfogliatella and Pastiera: Sfogliatella riccia and frolla are layered pastries filled with ricotta and candied fruit, ideal for breakfast before entering the festival. Pastiera, a wheat and ricotta cake scented with orange blossom, is a traditional Easter specialty available year-round.

Cuoppo and Fried Specialties: Cuoppo is a cone of mixed fried seafood or fried dough, perfect as street food while walking between Palazzo Reale and the waterfront.

Coffee Culture: Naples has a strong coffee ritual. Expect to enjoy a short, intense espresso at historic bars near Piazza del Plebiscito and Piazza Trieste e Trento, often served with a small glass of water.

Wines from Campania: The region produces renowned wines such as Falanghina, Greco di Tufo, Fiano di Avellino and Taurasi. Many wine bars around the palace offer tastings paired with local cheeses and cured meats.

The festival area itself does not have large food courts, but the historic center offers countless trattorias, enoteche and cafes where visitors can take breaks between presentations.

Location & Festival Areas

The location of Campania Libri Festival 2027 is the monumental complex of Palazzo Reale and Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III at Piazza del Plebiscito 1, Naples.

Palazzo Reale di Napoli: The Royal Palace is a stunning historical landmark built in the seventeenth century that served as residence for viceroys and kings. Its Cortile d’Onore, grand staircase and state apartments provide the main exhibition and event spaces. The palace is located directly on Piazza del Plebiscito, the largest square in Naples, opposite the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola.

Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III: Occupying the eastern wing of the palace with entrances from Piazza Trieste e Trento, the National Library is one of the most important libraries in Italy. Its historic reading rooms, such as Sala Rari and Sala Tammurriata, host intimate meetings, presentations and special collections displays.

Piazza del Plebiscito and Surroundings: The square itself becomes a natural foyer for the festival, with visitors gathering between events, enjoying street musicians and views of the Royal Palace, the Galleria Umberto I and the Gulf of Naples. The area is fully pedestrian and accessible.

Accessibility: The palace and library are accessible with elevators and ramps, although some historic rooms have limited capacity. Staff at the info point provide assistance for visitors with mobility needs.

Getting to the Festival

On Foot: If you are staying in the historic center, the venue is easily reachable on foot. From Via Toledo, Quartieri Spagnoli and the waterfront, Palazzo Reale is within ten to fifteen minutes walk.

By Metro: Naples Metro Line 1 stops at Municipio or Toledo, both about five to ten minutes walk from Piazza del Plebiscito. Line 2 stops at Montesanto or Piazza Cavour with connecting funiculars.

By Bus and Tram: ANM city buses and trams serve Piazza del Plebiscito and Via San Carlo. Lines R2, R3 and N1 connect the central station to the historic center.

By Train: Napoli Centrale is the main railway station, connected to Piazza del Plebiscito by metro, bus or taxi. Travel time from the station to the palace is about twenty minutes by public transport.

By Air: Naples International Airport Capodichino is about seven kilometers from the center. Alibus shuttle connects the airport to Piazza Municipio, from where the palace is a short walk, or a taxi ride takes about twenty minutes depending on traffic.

By Car: Driving in central Naples is not recommended due to limited traffic zones and scarce parking. If arriving by car, use large parking facilities such as Parcheggio Brin, Parcheggio Municipio or Parcheggio Morelli and continue by public transport or on foot.

For Visitors from Campania: Regional trains and buses operated by EAV and other companies connect Naples to Caserta, Salerno, Avellino and Benevento, making day trips to the festival convenient.

Where to Stay Nearby

Naples offers a wide range of accommodation options close to Palazzo Reale, suitable for different budgets and preferences.

Luxury Hotels on the Waterfront: Hotels overlooking the Gulf and Vesuvius along Via Partenope and Via Santa Lucia offer five star services and rooftop terraces. Based on previous editions, prices for a double room in this category have ranged from USD 220 to USD 450 per night.

Historic Center Boutique Hotels: Renovated historic palazzi around Piazza del Plebiscito, Via Chiaia and Via Toledo provide elegant rooms with Neapolitan tiles and antique furnishings. Previous prices averaged USD 130 to USD 260 per night for a double room.

B&Bs and Guesthouses: Naples has a dense network of bed and breakfasts in the historic center, often family-run, offering authentic hospitality and local tips. Previous prices ranged from USD 65 to USD 130 per night.

Budget and Student Options: Hostels and budget hotels near the central station and university area offer dorm beds and private rooms. Previous prices ranged from USD 22 to USD 55 per night for a dorm bed and USD 55 to USD 95 for a private room.

Apartments: Short term rental apartments are abundant in the historic center, ideal for families or groups attending the festival for several days. Prices have previously ranged from USD 80 to USD 180 per night for a two-person apartment.

Early booking is highly recommended, as the historic center fills quickly during major cultural events.

What Visitors Can Participate In

Browse and Purchase Books: Visitors can freely access the exhibition area, browse catalogs, discover new releases from Campanian and national publishers and purchase books directly from publishers with festival discounts.

Attend Author Meetings: All meetings are free, with booking required on the official website until seats are exhausted. You can attend conversations, readings and presentations, ask questions during Q&A and get books signed.

Join Workshops and Labs: The program includes workshops for children, schools and adults, including writing labs, illustration workshops and reading promotion activities. School groups can book dedicated meetings through the official procedures.

Professional Networking: For publishing professionals, librarians, translators and booksellers, the festival offers networking spaces, professional panels and meetings organized in collaboration with the Italian Library Association and other partners.

Volunteer and Support: The festival welcomes volunteers and supporters. Interested individuals can contact Fondazione Campania dei Festival via the official email to learn about volunteer opportunities.

Solidarity Shopping: At the info point, visitors can purchase official festival bags and t-shirts. Proceeds are donated to charity partners such as AIRC, supporting cancer research.

Explore the Palace and Library: Between events, visitors can explore the public areas of Palazzo Reale and, when guided tours are available, discover the treasures of the National Library.

Things to Do Before or After the Festival

Explore Historic Naples: Before or after your festival day, visit nearby landmarks such as Galleria Umberto I, Teatro di San Carlo, Castel dell’Ovo, the Underground Naples and the Archaeological Museum, which houses one of the most important collections of Roman artifacts.

Discover Neapolitan Nativity Tradition: Visit Via San Gregorio Armeno, famous for artisan nativity scene workshops, where craftsmen create figurines that include both traditional characters and contemporary figures.

Beach and Islands: Naples is the gateway to the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida and to the Amalfi Coast. A day trip before or after the festival can include a ferry ride to these destinations.

Culinary Tours: Join a pizza-making workshop, a street food tour through the historic center or a wine tasting of Campanian wines. Many local operators offer guided experiences that combine food and literature.

Literary Walks: Follow in the footsteps of authors who lived and wrote in Naples, such as Elsa Morante, Curzio Malaparte and Elena Ferrante’s characters, through the Quartieri Spagnoli and the waterfront.

Evening Events: The area around Piazza del Plebiscito offers numerous aperitivo bars, enoteche and live music venues where festival participants often gather after the closing of daily events.

Local Food & Restaurants

The area around Piazza del Plebiscito and the historic center offers countless dining options suitable for festival breaks.

Historic Pizzerias: Renowned pizzerias within walking distance include historic establishments along Via Toledo and Via dei Tribunali, serving wood-fired pizzas with prices previously ranging from USD 6 to USD 14 for a full pizza.

Trattorias and Seafood Restaurants: Traditional trattorias serve dishes such as spaghetti alle vongole, parmigiana di melanzane and frittura di paranza. A full meal has previously cost between USD 18 and USD 38 per person.

Cafes and Pastry Shops: Historic cafes such as Gran Caffe Gambrinus, located directly on Piazza del Plebiscito, offer espresso, sfogliatella and pastiera in an elegant setting. Prices for coffee and pastry have ranged from USD 3 to USD 8.

Street Food: Street food vendors sell cuoppo di frittura, pizza a portafoglio and arancini, ideal for a quick lunch between meetings, with prices around USD 3 to USD 7.

Wine Bars: Enoteche around Via Chiaia and Via Santa Lucia offer tastings of Falanghina, Greco di Tufo and Taurasi paired with local cheeses, with aperitivo prices previously ranging from USD 9 to USD 18.

Most restaurants accommodate vegetarian and gluten-free requests and many display English menus.

Ticket Information & Access

Free Entry: Access to the Campania Libri Festival exhibition space is free for all visitors. No ticket is required to enter Palazzo Reale during festival hours.

Free Meetings with Booking: Access to meetings in the festival program is free of charge subject to booking as specified on the official website and while places are available. Booking is done online through the official site and is required for each individual meeting due to limited seating in historic halls.

Reservation for Schools: Access to school meetings requires separate booking procedures. Teachers and school administrators should consult the Informations page on the official website for detailed instructions.

Merchandise and Support: Bags and festival t-shirts are available for purchase at the info point, with prices previously around USD 12 to USD 22 for bags and USD 18 to USD 28 for t-shirts, with proceeds donated to charity partners. These are optional and support solidarity projects.

Accessibility: The venue is accessible, but some historic rooms have limited capacity. It is advisable to arrive early for popular events even with a booking. For assistance, contact the organizers at info@fondazionecampaniadeifestival.it or by phone at 08118199179.

All prices are converted to USD based on previous editions. Final details for 2027 will be published on the official website.

Official Event Information

Event Title: Campania Libri Festival 2027 – Naples, Italy

Organizer: Fondazione Campania dei Festival

Chair and Direction: Chaired by Alessandro Barbano and directed by Ruggero Cappuccio, with editorial direction by Massimo Adinolfi

Contact Email: info@fondazionecampaniadeifestival.it

Phone: 08118199179

Official Website: https://campanialibrifestival.it/

Venue: Palazzo Reale and Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, Piazza del Plebiscito 1, Naples

Funding: Funded by Campania Region

Program Details: Full program, booking procedures and updates are available on the official website https://campanialibrifestival.it/ and on the foundation website

Important Note: All information in this listing is based on official communications from previous editions and institutional sources. For final program, booking links and exact schedules, please consult the official website.

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