At the 2026 Turin Book Fair Carrère, Grossman, Baggio and Orietta Berti

It will be “The world saved by kids” il himof the 2026 edition ofTurin International Book Fairwhich will be held atIngotfrom 14 to 18 May. The director announced itAnnalena Beniniduring the first press conference of the year of the event. “I am very happy to announce this year’s theme – said Benini – it is a title particularly dear to me and it is very significant for theSaloneand for all of us.”

“It’s afundamental book by Elsa Morante– he continued – it is a book that contains many books. As Morante herself explained, it is amanifestoa poem, an appeal, a party. It is a hybrid novel that above all contains a message of cheerful hope for the future. Goffredo Fofi defined it as ‘a universal appeal’ and it is the appeal to the world of the youngest.” “It is all that the Salone is – he added – it is a magic key that opens all doors. And it’s amessage of hope“.

The renewal and promotion of reading

During the first press conference of the year on the event which will be held from 14 to 18 May at Lingotto,Silvio Vialepresident of the AssociationTurin City of Booksannounced that Annalena Beniniwill remain director ofTurin International Book Fairfor another three years: “Annalena chose to continue and communicated it to us – he saidSilvio Viale– this allowed me to discuss with the president of the Piedmont RegionAlberto Cirioand with the mayor of TurinStefano Lo Russowho shared the positive opinion”. Then he added: “We will soon sign therenewal of Annalenawhich will remain with us until2029“.

Annalena Benini: honored to continue this work

“I am honored to continue the work started three years ago – commented Benini – it is a joy and it is a natural continuation of the service topromotion of reading“. Remaining at the helm of the Show for another three years, Benini added on the sidelines of the presentation, “for me means the possibility of completing, of carry out a job that began three years agoeven a little earlier, and also continue to enrich myself through this work which is a magnificent cultural work experience and working in the service of books, which is what I love.”

Expected at the Salon are Carrère, Arriaga, Luiselli, Ypi and Irvine Welch

The director then explained that there will be “many international names because the beauty of the Fair is also this, of being recognized internationally as a place where we really talk about books and literature”. Any names? Emmanuel Street, Valeria LuiseliLea Ypi, Guillermo Arriaga, Irvine Welch, announced Benini, who then explained that there will be a new section, the ninth section, “just the section ‘World saved by kids‘, curated, conducted and conceived by five girls and boys aged between 19 and 23, who have already had experience with the Salon. They are university students, they are above all readers and gods readers who have desire, desire and the desire to talk about the present”.

Al Ingotthe Greek writer and screenwriter will also be therePetros Markaris, David GrossmanEce Temelkuran, Abraham Verghese, Hervé Tullet, Guillaume Perreault and Magali Bonniol. “The characteristic of the book fair – explained Benini – is that the authors want to be there. This for us isa source of great happiness and pride“.

Guests of honor and thematic meetings

Among themguests of honoralso the “divine pigtail”Roberto Baggio. For each section, the curators have thought aboutthematic meetingswith authoritative voices in their field.

The thematic sections and the curators

Among the first names announced:Melania Mazzucco(editor of the sectionuntil) proposes a cycle on the lives of artists, which opens with Annie Cohen-Solal;Francesco Piccolo(section editorCinema) will be with Paola CortellesiGiulia Calenda and Furio Andreotti in dialogue starting from the writing ofThere’s still tomorrow; Matteo Lancini(section editorGrow) will talk aboutdevelopmental distresswith Daniele Mencarelli;Teresa Crimisi(editor of the sectionPublishing) will dialogue with the young people of Bookstock;Francesco Costa(section editorInformation) will open a reflection on the information onsocial mediawith Francesco Zaffarano, Livia Viganò and Marco Cartasegna;Luciana Littizzetto(editor of the sectionLightness) will have as guests Mara Maionchi and Orietta Berti; Erin Doom(editor of the sectionRomance) will be with Karim B.;Alessandro Piperno(section editorNovel) will talk about the classics, starting with ‘Lolita‘by Nabokov, with Silvia Avallone.

The new section: The world saved by kids

La new to this editionit is the ninth section:The world saved by kids. “For twenty years – said Benini – theBook Fairworks by recognizing in young people not just an audience, but avoice to listen toand for this reason it has decided to inaugurate a new section, curated bygirls and boyswho collaborated with the Salon in 2024 and 2025″. The curators Veronica Frosi, Gloria Napolitano, Lorenzo Riggio, Sebastian Tanzi and Francesca Tassini createdmeetings dedicated to contemporaneity. Their first guest will be Luca Dodaro, creator of Illuminashow.

Approach events and host countries

Ma il Salon lives all year round. The lead-up to the event is back, with an important international name,Gisele Pelicotwho will be in dialogue with Annalena Benini on March 18, in the Aula Magna of the Cavallerizza Reale ofTorino. Country guest of honorof the Salon will be thereGreecewhile theRegionwill be theUmbria.