Gibellina named Italian Capital of Contemporary Art for 2026

The title was introduced to support projects that value and promote contemporary art in Italy. Carrara, Gallarate, Pescara, and Todi were also shortlisted.

Gibellina has been unanimously proclaimed the “Italian Capital of Contemporary Art” for 2026, winning the first edition of this initiative established by the Ministry of Culture last April, joining the titles of “Italian Capital of Culture” and “Italian Capital of Books.” With the project Portami il futuro, focused on developing regeneration and reactivation initiatives of its artistic heritage, the city symbol of the 1968 Belice earthquake succeeded in impressing the jury, chaired by Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, and secured a state grant of one million euros to implement its cultural plan.

At the center of several public art interventions since the 1980s —from Alberto Burri's Grande Cretto in the old city to Pietro Consagra’s Porta del Belice — Gibellina has transformed over time into a city-artwork of great social and cultural significance. “As the first Italian Capital of Contemporary Art”, explained the jury, “its nomination offers our country a cohesive and solid project” through which “the practices and energies of contemporary art will come together to share ideas and solutions on themes of public space, community, landscape, sustainability, and the broad concept of heritage”.

Opening image: photo by Francesco Labita on Unsplash