Testo 2026: Publishing Meets BookTok in Florence

Florence’s main contemporary publishing fair, Testo [How a Book Is Made], returns to the Stazione Leopolda from 27 February to 1 March 2026 for its fifth edition. Organised by Pitti Immagine in collaboration with Stazione Leopolda and conceived by the Florentine bookshop Todo Modo, the event will host 165 publishers, more than 180 authors and almost 200 events over three days .

Launched in 2022, Testo is structured around the “life cycle” of a book — from manuscript to reader — and this year revolves around the theme of estro (creative flair), focusing on the impulse and experimentation behind writing, translating and publishing .

For international readers, students and publishing professionals in Florence, the 2026 programme stands out for its strong global dimension and its attention to new reading communities.

International voices and global debates

Among the most anticipated guests is French playwright and novelist Yasmina Reza, who will present her new book Da nessuna parte (Adelphi) in what organisers describe as her only Italian appearance for this title .

The fair will also host Iranian-Dutch writer Kader Abdolah, Spanish novelist Arturo Pérez-Reverte, British author Andrew Miller, and Romanian writer Mircea Cărtărescu.

On contemporary politics, Israeli historian Ilan Pappé will discuss the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in conversation with Italian art historian Tomaso Montanari . Another major international guest is philosopher and curator Paul B. Preciado, who will lead a three-hour seminar on gender identity and non-binary bodies.

For readers interested in translation and cross-border publishing, Jacques Testard of the London-based Fitzcarraldo Editions will discuss the role of translated literature in the English-language market. The publisher, known for its Nobel Prize-winning authors, will also have its full catalogue available on site .

From BookTok to fake readers

Testo also turns its attention to new forms of reading culture.

Journalist Sara Scarafia will explore the rise of “BookTokers” — social media influencers who recommend books on platforms such as TikTok — and the spread of digital book clubs . The topic reflects how younger audiences discover and discuss literature online, often in English as well as Italian.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the fair will once again host its ironic “meeting for non-readers”: a workshop on how to pretend to have read a classic novel in social situations. This year’s chosen book is The Catcher in the Rye, marking 75 years since its US publication .

Other events bridge literature and popular culture, including a board-game session inspired by the lyrics of the Sanremo Music Festival, which traditionally takes place during the same period.

Workshops: AI, design and podcast writing

Several sessions are designed for aspiring writers, translators and publishing professionals.

A translation lab will examine the use of artificial intelligence in literary translation, analysing AI-generated versions of classic and contemporary texts and discussing their limits and ethical implications .

Graphic designer Paolo Tassinari will deliver a lecture on editorial design and typography, while illustrator Olimpia Zagnoli will discuss the relationship between illustration and publishing .

For those interested in audio storytelling, writers Matteo B. Bianchi and Malcom Pagani will lead a training session on how to create a podcast — a format increasingly used by independent bookshops and publishers to reach new audiences .

The programme also includes a poetry slam valid for the 2025–26 championship of the Italian Poetry Slam League, bringing spoken word performance to Florence’s former railway station-turned-event space .

A fair that connects publishers, bookshops and readers

Testo involves around 40 partner bookshops across Italy and nearly 30 book clubs, which will meet authors directly at the fair . Schools and the Florence Literary Society are also part of the programme, reinforcing the fair’s aim to connect professionals with reading communities.

For visitors unfamiliar with Florence, the venue — Stazione Leopolda — is a 19th-century railway station near Porta al Prato, now used for major cultural and fashion events throughout the year.

Practical information

Testo 2026 will be at the Stazione Leopolda, Florence, from 27 February to 1 March 2026. The full programme and ticket information are available on the event’s official website .

For Florence’s large international community — from students to academics and publishing professionals — Testo offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with European and global voices in contemporary literature, while also observing how Italy’s publishing industry is adapting to digital culture and new forms of readership.

(Photos: AKAstudio-collective)

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