Edufest

Edufest returns to Milan from 5 to 7 June: the education festival focuses on the challenge of “Boundaries”. Spotlight on new frontiers of inclusion with Rizzoli Education

For its fifth edition, the national event brings leading voices from culture and education to Villa Ghirlanda (Cinisello Balsamo).

Among the partners is Rizzoli Education with PariPasso, the publishing house’s flagship project for an equitable and inclusive school system

From Friday 5 to Sunday 7 June, children, families, teachers and education professionals will be able to take part free of charge in a wide range of events, talks, workshops, concerts and stand-up comedy at Edufest, the Education Festival.

The event, one of the leading education festivals in Italy, takes place in the park and inside Villa Ghirlanda in Cinisello Balsamo, in the province of Milan. The event, conceived and organised by Progetto A and Orsa, and curated by Roberto Prencipe and Alessandro Quattrino, is fully backed by the Municipality of Cinisello Balsamo, which is proud to confirm its position for the third consecutive year as a national reference point for educational culture and a vibrant space for community engagement.

Eros Giampiero Ferri, President of Progetto A and Orsa, explains: “Schools, families and society are now called upon to redefine the boundaries between rules and freedom, between what is normative and what is divergent. In this encounter between generations and different perspectives, boundaries are no longer fixed lines, but living spaces for dialogue. Edufest 2026 will feature some of the most influential voices in contemporary culture, opening new pathways of thought on how we grow, teach and live together.”

The guiding theme of the 2026 edition is ‘Boundaries’, understood not as fixed lines but as living spaces for exchange, redefining the limits between rules and freedom, between norms and divergence.

Within this framework of transformation comes the partnership with Rizzoli Education, as a supporting sponsor of the event. The education publishing house of the Mondadori Group has chosen Edufest as a national platform to expand the reach of PariPasso, its research project on teaching and learning practices focused on inclusive education. PariPasso was created to respond in a concrete and systemic way to the challenges of inclusion in increasingly diverse classrooms. Validated by a scientific committee of experts, including psychologist Giorgia Ortu La Barbera, Prof. Roberto Trinchero of the University of Turin, Fondazione Bullone, Centro Leonardo and Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS – PariPasso guides the publishing house’s educational works for primary and lower secondary schools. The project is based on a true Manifesto which states that there is no such thing as a separate “inclusive” teaching approach distinct from “traditional” teaching, and promotes the use of technology and personalised approaches to ensure educational success for every student.

Alongside innovations introduced in textbooks, this year the publisher’s free educational offering has actively supported teachers and families through an ecosystem of live streaming events and in-depth articles. The programme has addressed some of today’s most pressing educational challenges, from tackling bullying and gender stereotypes to managing ADHD and autism, as well as assessment, career guidance and the responsible integration of AI and new technologies.

Within the Edufest framework, PariPasso further expands its reach, offering schools new inspiration and practical tools to address the challenge of inclusion.

Edufest 2026 programme

The festival will feature some of the most influential voices in contemporary culture.

  • Friday 5 June: at 6.00 pm institutional opening hosted by journalist Valeria Ciardiello with internationally renowned writer and essayist Alessandro D’Avenia. This will be followed by a sharp comedy monologue by Stefano Rapone.
  • Saturday 6 June: at 10.00 am, discussion on the boundaries of the school system with Gigi De Palo, Suor Anna Monia Alfieri, Marco Erba, Franco Nembrini, Fabio Marchisio, Raffaele Mantegazza and Erika Poli.
    From 3.00 pm, focus shifts to “The boundaries of adolescence” with a reading by Matteo Lancini and Sara Lazzaro, followed by contributions from Stefania Andreoli and Michele Viana, concluding with a keynote lecture by philosopher and psychoanalyst Massimo Recalcati. In the evening, music by Leonardo De Andreis (Sanremo Young 2026) and comedy by Antonio Ornano.
  • Sunday 7 June: at 10.00 am, a World Café dedicated to educational relationships with Emily Mignanelli, Luca Mazzucchelli, Alberto Pellai and Elena Soppelsa.
    At 3.00 pm, a journey exploring “Overstepping boundaries” and freedom with Tonino Cantelmi, Stefano Rossi and physicist and professor Vincenzo Schettini. The festival closes at 6.00 pm with a performance by comedian and teacher Filippo Caccamo.

Workshops and teacher training

Alongside the main panels, afternoon “Breakout Sessions” will offer workshops in the park, seminars and participatory meetings. The entire Edufest programme is accredited on the S.O.F.I.A. platform of the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit for teacher training hours, aligning with the educational commitment that Rizzoli Education also promotes through its channels and the HUB Scuola platform.

Against the backdrop of talks, Villa Ghirlanda will become a large open-air laboratory: more than 100 free activities and performances (painting, science experiments, virtual reality, sports and role-playing games) curated by 70 partners and third-sector organisations will animate the weekend for children and families.

Patronage and Media Partners

The event is endorsed by: Regione Lombardia, Metropolitan City of Milan, the municipalities of Cinisello Balsamo, Bresso, Cusano Milanino, Cormano, Monza, Brugherio, Cologno Monzese, Sesto San Giovanni and Paderno Dugnano, Fondazione Cariplo, UNICEF, IPIS Insieme per il Sociale and ANCI Lombardia. Media partners include: Rai for sustainability, Repubblica Mondo solidale, Il Giorno, Metropolis, NordMilano24, Dire Fare Insegnare and ZeroSeiUp.

 

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