Internet Festival runs in Pisa from 8 to 11 October 2026, bringing talks, hands-on activities and installations to more than ten venues. This year’s theme, #saggezza—wisdom—asks how people should guide technological change as AI increasingly shapes work, public life and personal choices.
Featured image: Internet Festival 2026, press presentation at Regione Toscana on 24 September. Image supplied by Internet Festival / Fondazione Sistema Toscana.
What the festival explores
Seven strands connect digital rights and ethics with research, cybersecurity, media, business, public administration and sustainability. On Saturday 10 October, a discussion at Le Benedettine brings together Emergency’s Rossella Miccio, computer scientist Dino Pedreschi and journalist Andrea Daniele Signorelli to examine algorithms and warfare.
Friday’s SmartLaw event at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna and Cybersecurity Day at the Unione Industriale Pisana address regulation and security. These are particularly relevant to students and visitors interested in how technological decisions affect society.
Robotics and activities for families
Cinema Arsenale hosts Abel, the humanoid robot developed by the University of Pisa’s Centro Piaggio to investigate emotional communication. Live conversations raise a practical question: what happens to a relationship when a machine appears to show empathy?
The T-Tour educational programme offers workshops and interactive installations alongside the talks. Activities cover digital citizenship and emerging technologies, with sessions designed for different ages. Some booking slots are specifically reserved for schools, so check the intended audience before choosing an activity.
Visitor information
- When: 8–11 October 2026.
- Where: venues across Pisa, including Le Benedettine, piazza San Paolo a Ripa d’Arno 16, Cinema Arsenale and Logge dei Banchi.
- Cost: most events and T-Tour activities are free, subject to capacity. Selected performances and concerts require paid tickets.
- Booking: follow the instructions for each event; there is no single admission time for the whole festival.
Use the official schedule to match venues, times and registration requirements. Programme descriptions are mainly in Italian: check the language and interpreting arrangements of the sessions you want to attend. For transport, consult the festival’s arrival information; for venue access or assistance, use its contact page.
