While the spotlight of the Sanremo Music Festival shines on music, another creative universe thrives just a few steps away. Inside the vibrant setting of Casa Sanremo Writers, words take center stage, transforming the festival week into a celebration not only of melodies but also of literature, storytelling, and cultural dialogue.

Hosted at the Casa Sanremo hub, the Writers’ Lounge has become a landmark for the Italian literary scene. Every year it welcomes authors, publishers, journalists, and readers into a space designed for exchange and discovery. Here, writing is not judged but welcomed; reading becomes conversation; and listening itself becomes a creative act.

Over the years, Casa Sanremo Writers has evolved into the literary heart of the Sanremo week. What began as a platform to give visibility to writers and publishers has grown into a dynamic cultural laboratory where established voices meet emerging talents.

At the center of the program is La Vetrina, a showcase that gives authors and publishing houses the opportunity to present their work to the public. Alongside it runs the Casa Sanremo Writers Literary Competition, dedicated to discovering new narrative voices through two sections: Published Works, chaired by Laura Delli Colli, and Short Stories, chaired by actor and author Lino Guanciale.

Another important initiative is Casa Sanremo’s Italian Excellence Project, celebrating individuals who contribute to the country’s cultural growth. Events within the program are moderated by journalist Giuseppe Greco.

A key partnership continues with Rai Libri through the project “Ambassadors of Reading”, aimed at promoting the culture of books and reading to a wider audience.

In the unique atmosphere of Sanremo, suspended between music and storytelling, each literary meeting becomes an emotional experience. Audiences are not just spectators but active participants in a dialogue. Authors share personal journeys behind their books, publishers reveal the unseen craft of the editorial world, and journalists open reflections on contemporary issues. In an era defined by speed and fragmented attention, Casa Sanremo Writers offers a different rhythm; one shaped by listening, reflection, and imagination. Reading becomes a way to slow down and understand the world more deeply; writing becomes an act of empathy and awareness. The project’s guiding message “Read and become the best part of yourself”, reflects the philosophy behind every initiative organized within the Writers’ Lounge.

Beyond presentations and debates, the space also promotes educational and social initiatives. Workshops and programs dedicated to young readers encourage the development of writing and reading skills as tools of freedom and expression. Casa Sanremo Writers also engages with more fragile realities, including collaborations with Italian prisons where writing workshops become an opportunity for personal redemption. In these contexts, the blank page becomes a window, allowing voices to travel beyond walls. Over time, the project has also built strong collaborations with festivals, literary prizes, and universities, establishing Casa Sanremo Writers as an institutional crossroads for Italian publishing.

One of the most significant synergies remains the partnership with Rai Libri, which broadcasts author interviews and conversations live on RaiPlay, allowing audiences across Italy to virtually experience the Writers’ Lounge. The meetings are hosted by journalist Grazia Serra, with the participation of Rai Libri director Adriano Monti Buzzetti.

The series of encounters opened on February 21 with journalist and cultural manager Lorenza Fruci presenting Donne in onda, a book exploring the representation of women in public television seventy years after Rai’s first official broadcast. On February 22, beloved cook and blogger Natalia Cattelani, known from the TV program hosted by Antonella Clerici, introduced I biscotti di casa, a collection of sweet and savory recipes rooted in family memories and shared traditions. Satirical writer Federico Palmaroli followed on February 23 with Awanagana, an ironic portrait of a surreal 2025 filled with global crises, political satire, and Roman humor. On February 24, journalist Bruno Luverà presented Amo le triglie di scoglio – Andrea Camilleri si racconta, written with Vincenzo Mollica. The book celebrates the centenary of writer Andrea Camilleri through some of the most significant interviews he gave to Rai. Television host Beppe Convertini took the stage on February 25 with Il Paese delle tradizioni, a journey through Italian festivals, rituals, and culinary heritage. On February 26, author Giorgio Calcara presented Battiato svelato, a poetic exploration of the spiritual and philosophical universe of musician Franco Battiato. The following day, television presenter and writer Massimiliano Ossini shared his book Oltre i limiti, recounting physical and personal challenges from Mount Elbrus to the Strait of Messina. The series concludes on February 28 with journalist Maria Latella presenting in preview Le parole del presente, a dialogue with six international thinkers about the ideas shaping our time.

The 2026 edition marks a significant expansion of the Casa Sanremo cultural ecosystem. New communication platforms, including Casa Sanremo TV and Radio Casa Sanremo (channel 254 on digital terrestrial via Smart TV) are amplifying the reach of the initiative. The launch of a dedicated editorial team, a publishing house, and the Casa Sanremo Library, alongside an official app and expanded social media presence, further strengthen the project’s ability to connect with audiences across multiple platforms. Within the Writers’ Lounge, designed like a hybrid between a television studio and a literary café, literature becomes a sensory experience. Every presentation, conversation, and reading is crafted to keep attention focused on books as both celebration and reflection.

Running until tomorrow, February 28, Casa Sanremo Writers confirms its role as one of the most meaningful cultural spaces surrounding the Sanremo Festival. In a world dominated by fast content and fleeting attention, it reaffirms the revolutionary value of slow reading: sitting down, listening, turning pages, and thinking. Each book becomes an invitation to rediscover oneself in someone else’s words.

Between the glitter of stage lights and the quiet power of printed pages, Casa Sanremo Writers continues its mission: transforming Sanremo into a beacon of the written word, where Italy’s musical tradition meets the depth and imagination of literature.