FESTIVAL DE GENERE 2026
Description
Festival de Genere 2026: Fifth Edition in San Mauro Pascoli
Three days of discussions, music, art, and literature at Villa Torlonia to explore the theme of sexual and emotional education
The Festival de Genere, conceived and organized by the Voce Amaranto APS Association, returns for its fifth edition, to be held October 2–4, 2026, at Villa Torlonia Parco Poesia Pascoli in San Mauro Pascoli. Three days dedicated to art, research, music, literature, and educational programs to explore contemporary issues related to gender, inclusion, and the prevention of violence. The Voce Amaranto Association is at the helm of the event, as part of the project “Together Against Violence – Gender and Generations,” promoted by the Unione Rubicone e Mare with the support of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Municipality of San Mauro Pascoli, and in partnership with the Alba Anti-Violence Center.
The Festival de Genere offers a rich program of events—all with free admission—featuring a mix of public gatherings, photography, music, scientific and artistic discussions, as well as workshops for children and teenagers. The goal is to stimulate an informed and inclusive debate on complex issues related to relationships, the body, differences, and awareness through dialogue, culture, and artistic expression, offering diverse cultural tools and languages to promote awareness and prevention.
The program for the 2026 Festival de Genere:
Friday, October 2
The curtain will officially rise on the fifth edition of the Festival on Friday afternoon at 3:45 p.m. in the Sala degli Archi with opening remarks from the institutions. This will be followed by “Another Word on the Wall—Photographs of Graffiti on School Walls,” curated by Valerio Montemurro and featuring graphic illustrations by Massimo Modula. Through this exhibition, the teacher and director invites us to break down the wall of indifference that covers the walls of our schools, which often foster silent, discriminatory beliefs. At 5:00 p.m. at the Villa Torlonia Theater, “What Women Say: Stories of Women Through Songs, Literature, and Reality,” a lecture-concert by Fabio Caon and his band, organized by the Between Association as part of the “Io sto con te 4” project. An original performance blending music, poetry, and life stories, exploring the female experience by moving beyond the historical and cultural stereotypes that often accompany it. The first day concludes at 9:00 p.m. in the Sala degli Archi with a discussion titled “Differences That Forge Bonds,” in which psychologist and psychotherapist Sabrina Pellacini, educationalist Susanna Stagnini, and Prof. Nella Moscia will discuss and exchange views on how the educational community can approach emotional and sexual education with greater awareness and less isolation.
Saturday, October 3
The second day of the Festival begins at 4:00 p.m. in the Sala degli Archi with an event titled “Without Consent,” in which Prof. Rossella Ghigi and Prof. Sara Golinucci will discuss how to overcome gender stereotypes and prevent violence through consent education. Also in the Sala degli Archi, at 5:30 p.m., the event “Luminosa consapevolezza” will take place: Prof. Chiara Antoniucci and illustrator Alec Trenta will analyze the importance of sex and emotional education in preventing and combating gender-based violence among adolescents. In the evening, at 9:00 p.m. in the theater hall of Villa Torlonia, “Per piacere... Let’s Talk About the Body,” curated by Dr. Chiara Gregori and featuring readings by actress Lelia Serra and actor Denis Campitelli. Multiple voices will discuss pleasure and well-being in a way that promotes listening and self-awareness as the foundation for understanding others and their feelings.
Sunday, October 4
The final day of the Festival is dedicated to music and the younger generation. At 4:00 p.m. in the Sala degli Archi, “Il cielo è di tutti” (The Sky Belongs to Everyone): a presentation of the results from the choral singing workshops led by Alberto Fattori, featuring children from the elementary schools in San Mauro Pascoli and Villamarina di Cesenatico. Following that, Paola Sabbatani will present “Il canto delle semplici cose – Piccolo viaggio vocale collettivo” (The Song of Simple Things – A Short Collective Vocal Journey), a brief workshop exploring the power of singing through rhythmic games and vocal techniques, in collaboration with high schools in Cesenatico and Savignano sul Rubicone. The final event will take place in the theater hall of Villa Torlonia, featuring singer-songwriter Giulia Mei, who will perform some of her songs on the piano and engage in a conversation with music critic and journalist Giulia Cavaliere, bringing to life the event “The Feminine in Italian Pop,” with the support of BCC Romagnolo and Vivai Garattoni. The day will conclude with a performance by the youth wind band of the San Mauro Pascoli, which will perform the most famous movie soundtracks in the courtyard of Villa Torlonia. The fifth edition of the Festival will close with remarks from local officials and a themed snack prepared by the students of the IAL Hotel and Restaurant School in Cesenatico.
All Festival events are open to the public free of charge and take place at Villa Torlonia – Parco Poesia Pascoli (Via Due Martiri 2, San Mauro Pascoli). The Festival is conceived and organized by Voce Amaranto APS.