From Auci to Ammaniti, ‘Libri Come’ returns to Rome in the name of ‘Democracy’

“We are pleased to announce that ‘Libri Come – Book and Reading Festival’ and the Musica per Roma Foundation – announced the CEO Ranucci – have received the Medal of the President of the Republic, a presidential recognition given for the high cultural value recognized at the event. We would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the President of the Republic for the attention and sensitivity shown towards this event – he continued – which for years has been committed to promoting books, reading and public discussion between authors, scholars, students and readers. This recognition also takes on a particularly important meaning in relation to the theme of this edition, dedicated to democracy: books and the dialogue of ideas represent in fact one of the most precious tools for fueling critical thinking, participation and democratic life. We welcome this medal with great gratitude, as an encouragement to continue the work of building an open space for meeting and cultural exchange”.

However, not only Italian authors will arrive in Rome. The group of foreign writers is made up, among others, of Dinaw Mengestuby the Argentine writer Samantha Schweblinby the Polish writer Johanna Batorfrom French Marie Darrieussecqfrom Spanish Clara Uson (The beasts), from German Steffan Kopetzky (Queen’s Sacrifice), by the English Edward St. Aubyne Phoebe Greenwoodfrom the American Chris Pavone and by the Turkish writer Aysegul Savas. Alongside them, a selection of Italian authors and critics: Sandro Veronesi, Paolo Giordano, Concita De Gregorio, Rosella Postorino, Giancarlo De Cataldo and Claudia Durastanti, among others.

The underlying theme of the 2026 edition will therefore be the theme ‘Democracy’. A topic around which many events will revolve, starting with the inaugural event: on March 20th, at 6pm in the Sala Risonanze of the Auditorium, the presentation of Giovanni Sartori’s book, ‘Democracy and Definitions’ will be held, which will see Giuliano Amato and Luca Verzichelli intervene and discuss the re-edition almost 70 years after the release of a classic of political science.

And again, the lesson by Massimo Recalcati, ‘Democracy and school’ and that by Roberto Saviano ‘Democracy and crime’ will be dedicated to the theme ‘Democracy’. The speech by David Quammen, interviewed by Marco Motta, will deal with ‘Democracy and science’. That’s not enough: Tahar Ben Jelloun will talk about ‘Democracy between Israel and the Arab world’, interviewed by Paola Caridi. The dialogue between the director of Corriere della Sera, Luciano Fontana, and Marino Sinibaldi, ‘Democracy and newspapers’, will also refer to the theme, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the newspaper in via Solferino, scheduled for Saturday 21 March at 5pm. And the final event on Sunday 22nd at 8pm is also dedicated to ‘Democracy’. To talk about the guiding word of the XVII edition of Libri Come, together with Marino Sinibaldi, there will be Antonio Scurati, the poets Franco Buffoni, Maria Grazia Calandrone, Valerio Magrelli. “The medal from the President of the Republic – observed Marino Sinibaldi – is a very important recognition that comes in a year in which ‘democracy’ is a demanding word”, which represents like those of past years (including Happiness, Peace and Freedom) “the framework in which we plan to insert the meetings. Democracy is a value threatened from the outside, by wars, and eroded from within, by disengagement and distrust. The world of culture and books resists with its own idea of communication, of coexistence, sharing and plurality which is difficult to defend elsewhere. The space of reading is the space of confrontation with what is different”.

To enrich the program there will also be an exhibition: this year, for the first time, a work designed specifically for Libri Come will be presented. Street artist Alice Pasquini has elaborated the meaning of this dedicated edition by translating it into an installation and a mural that will dialogue with the public and with the festival’s meetings: ‘Goldmine’ arises from a reflection that intertwines Pasquini’s work with the word chosen for this year. “The theme – stated the Councilor for Culture Massimiliano Smeriglio, Councilor for Culture of Rome Capital – takes seriously what is happening in the world. We are in a transition in which the uselessness, the overcoming of liberal democracy is proclaimed, is theorized. It does not happen in extremist, elitist circles. It is something that holds together a strong, hegemonic thought, which comes in particular from what is happening in the United States and which reverberates throughout the world, even in Europe”.