From 7 to 10 May 2026, Scienza e Virgola, the science book festival created and promoted by SISSA’s Interdisciplinary Laboratory, returns to Trieste, marking its tenth anniversary this year. With artistic direction by writer Paolo Giordano, the festival presents a rich programme featuring over 40 public events and 20 invitation-only events across the city and other locations in the region.
This year’s theme, Human, invites reflection on what defines us today as a species, set against the transformations of the Anthropocene and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Through books, theatre and conversations, the festival creates a shared space to explore the relationship between science, society and culture.
Among the guests are Concita De Gregorio, Francesco Costa, Nathacha Appanah, Andrea Bajani and Samah Karaki, alongside many other voices from the contemporary cultural and scientific landscape. All events are free to attend, although booking is required for some.
The festival will bring science into everyday settings, from cafés to schools, and into places of care and reflection such as the Ernesto Mari prison in Trieste, the Gregoretti residential care home and the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo hospital, with the aim of making knowledge increasingly accessible and shared.
The tenth edition of Scienza e Virgola is supported by Agorai Innovation Hub as main partner, with Antico Caffè e Libreria San Marco and Teatro Miela Bonawentura as project partners. The festival is made possible thanks to the contribution of the Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia, Fondazione CRTrieste, Fondazione Pietro Pittini, SISSA Medialab and Educating Future Citizens, with additional support from ICTP – Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Festival vicino/lontano, Festival dell’Acqua di Staranzano, Scenasonica, Immaginario Scientifico and the Municipality of Trieste. Media partners include Rai FVG, Rai Radio 3 and Nord Est Multimedia. Technical partners are Distillerie Artigianali Nonino and The Modernist Hotel.
More information and the full programme are available at www.scienzaevirgola.it