November in books and ideas: Agorà in Cesena and the Rapallo Prize

Two cities, two cultural encounters

The first weekend of November brings two distinct opportunities to explore stories and ideas. In Cesena, Agorà Festival encourages public conversation. In Rapallo, a literary award places women writers and their books at the centre. Their dates overlap, but their approaches complement each other: discussion of the present alongside recognition of literary voices.

Cesena: authority and trust

The second Agorà Festival takes place on 6–8 November 2026. Conceived and organised by Editori Laterza and promoted by the Municipality of Cesena, it involves the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cesena and the Chamber of Commerce of Romagna, with support from Emilia-Romagna. Its theme, Authority and Trust, opens questions about relationships, institutions and the information that shapes our understanding.

A programme across disciplines

Friday 6 November begins at 3.30 pm with the inauguration at Teatro Bonci. The opening-day programme brings together psychology, history, economics and the environment, with Vittorio Lingiardi, Carlo Greppi, Chiara Mio and Stefano Mancuso. It also includes a conversation with Nando Pagnoncelli and Enzo Lattuca, and an evening appearance by Arianna Porcelli Safonov. Friday’s events are listed as free, subject to available seating; consult individual listings for the other days.

Rapallo: an evening dedicated to women writers

The Premio Rapallo BPER Banca ceremony takes place on Saturday 7 November 2026. The city calendar lists Teatro delle Clarisse, from 8 to 10 pm. Now in its fifth edition, the award focuses on women’s writing through Fiction and Social Issues and Non-fiction categories, bringing novels into conversation with books that investigate society.

A wider European perspective

Previous winners include Teresa Ciabatti, Daria Bignardi, Maura Gancitano and Bianca Pitzorno. The accompanying European Rapallo BPER Banca Prize extends this attention to European literature. No 2026 winners are announced in this article: discovering the books selected by the jury remains part of the occasion.

Planning a visit

Agorà’s official website presents the three-day programme. Hello Rapallo provides information about the prize and the ceremony. Check venues, times and admission arrangements with the organisers before travelling, as listings may be updated.