From 14 to 18 May the Turin Book Fair returns to the Lingotto with over 2,700 events, international guests and a strong pop and social presence.
The Turin International Book Fair returned to Lingotto Fiere from 14 to 18 May for its XXXVIII edition, once again confirming itself as one of the largest and most transversal cultural events in Italy. The theme chosen for 2026 is “The world saved by kids”inspired by Elsa Morante’s 1968 work, around which a program is developed that intertwines literature, cinema, television, information, podcasts and pop culture.
Over 2,700 events and more than 500 stands
The numbers tell the story of the size the Salone has reached: beyond 2,700 eventsdistributed in approx 70 roomswith more than 500 stands and beyond 1,250 editorial brands present in the Lingotto spaces.
The inauguration was entrusted to the British writer Zadie Smith, protagonist of the inaugural lectio “Everything was extreme. And it still is”, dedicated to adolescence and the new generations.
Guests who broaden the audience beyond strong readers
One of the most evident aspects of this edition is the Salon’s ability to intercept very different audiences. Alongside the great names of international literature, the program hosts figures from cinema, television, comedy, popularization and music.
Among the announced guests include Paola Cortellesi, Marco Bellocchio, Fiorello, Luciana Littizzetto, Alessandro Baricco, Roberto Baggio, Erin Doom and Francesco Costa.
The presence of creators, television personalities and authors capable of mobilizing very active online communities thus continues to transform the Show into an event that also lives outside the pavilions, through content shared in real time on social media.
The nine sections that tell the story of the present
The 2026 edition is organized around nine sections curated by different personalities from the cultural world. Among these are “Romance”, entrusted to Erin Doom, “Leggerezza” with Luciana Littizzetto, “Informazione” curated by Francesco Costa, “Cinema” with Francesco Piccolo and “Romanzo” with Alessandro Piperno.
A structure that perfectly reflects the increasingly hybrid nature of the Salone: not just an editorial event, but a place where contemporary culture is told through different languages and different audiences.
Turin remains the center of Italian cultural conversation
In 2025 the Show had exceeded 231 thousand visitorsconfirming itself as one of the most attended cultural events in the country.
2026 seems to be moving in the same direction, with a now very clear model: transforming the book into the starting point of a broader conversation involving entertainment, current affairs, entertainment and social media. And this is probably precisely the reason why the Show continues to broaden its audience year after year, managing to speak even to those who normally remain far from the publishing world.
