Discover the Programme for Courage,
EMERGENCY’s 2026 Festival
Festival events will take place across the city of Reggio Emilia, Italy, from 4-6 September. Check out the programme below. Note that many of the listed events will be available via simultaneous translation.
Do you speak Italian? Find more events at: emergency.it/festival
Palazzo Da Mosto, 3.30 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
TOGETHER: SO FAR, SO CLOSE
A special guided exhibition preview with Professor Painé Cuadrelli and IED representatives
Palazzo Dossetti Courtyard (Viale Allegri, 9), 5.30 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
THE FEAR THAT LINGERS: LIVES AND HEALTH IN TODAY’S AFGHANISTAN
With Orzala Nemat, independent researcher; Dejan Panic, EMERGENCY’s Country Director in Afghanistan; and Dr Marwa D/O Mohammad Yasin, gynaecologist at EMERGENCY’s Maternity Centre in Anabah (via video link)
With a video contribution from Diego Ibarra Sanchez, documentary photographer and filmmaker
Moderated by Giampaolo Musumeci, journalist at Radio 24
Geographies of courage #Afghanistan #EMERGENCY
Piazza Casotti, 6.00 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
COURAGE, RESISTANCE AND SURVIVAL IN WAR
With Yousra Elbagir, journalist at Sky News
The world, intensely #Sudan #forgottencrisis
Piazza Prampolini, 6.30 pm | ENGLISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE
THE COURAGE TO BE THERE: EMERGENCY TELLS ITS STORY
Featuring Rossella Miccio, President of EMERGENCY; Giorgio Monti, EMERGENCY’s Medical Coordinator in Gaza; Michela Paschetto, EMERGENCY’s Director of Nurses and Allied Health Professionals; and Svetlana Tertychna, EMERGENCY’s Field Officer in Ukraine
Moderated by Tonia Cartolano, Editor-in-Chief of Sky Tg24
Dialogues against war #courage #EMERGENCY
Piazza San Prospero, 11.00 pm to 1.00 am
DANCE LIKE NO TOMORROW
Music by DJ MazZz in collaboration with The Riff #danceitout #pop
Piazza San Prospero, 8.00 am
PRACTISE TO RECONNECT*
Hatha Yoga class with Paola Crisafi, Hatha yoga teacher
*This class will be led in Italian but is open to all. Please bring your own yoga mat.
When you wake up #selfcare
Palazzo Dei Musei, 10.00 am
REVELATION with Lorenzo Meloni | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
A special guided tour led by the artist Lorenzo Meloni of his major photographic exhibition, Revelation, developed in collaboration with EMERGENCY
Teatro San Prospero (Via Guidelli, 5), 11.15 am
NO GOOD MEN
by Shahrbanoo Sadat (Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, 2026)
Original version (Farsi) with English subtitles (1h 43min)
Courageous glimpses
Viale Allegri, 8, 12.15 pm | ENGLISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE
MAKING A DREAM COME TRUE: SPECIALIST SURGERY IN AFRICA
With Rossella Miccio, President of EMERGENCY; Elena Giovanella, Medical Coordinator at EMERGENCY’s Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery in Khartoum; Roberto Crestan, EMERGENCY’s Director of the African Network of Medical Excellence (ANME); and Samir Ibrahim Alabed, EMERGENCY’s Logistician in Sudan
Moderated by Laura Silvia Battaglia al-Jalal, journalist and documentary filmmaker
In class with EMERGENCY #ANME #EMERGENCY
Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio, 2.15 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
PAGINA BIANCA with Ivan
A participatory public artwork inviting visitors to contribute to a collective visual statement against war. Guided by street poet Ivan and EMERGENCY volunteers, participants are encouraged to draw, write and leave their own message on a large, shared canvas, creating a space for reflection, creativity and public engagement.
Viale Allegri, 8, 3.30 pm | ENGLISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE
CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION TO WAR IS A RIGHT
With Simonetta Gola, Director of Communications at EMERGENCY, and legal experts Domenico Gallo, Alessandra Algostino and Veronica Dini
Featuring a contribution from Oren Ziv, journalist at +972 Magazine (via video link)
Moderated by Claudio Jampaglia, journalist at Radio Popolare and co-coordinator of the R1PUD1A campaign
Palazzo Dossetti Courtyard (Viale Allegri, 9), 5.30 pm | ENGLISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE
INSIDE THE SYSTEMS OF CONTEMPORARY CONFLICTS: NATURAL RESOURCES AND WARS OVER WATER
With Lorenzo Tondo, journalist and correspondent at The Guardian, and Lorenzo Meloni, Magnum photographer
Featuring a video contribution from Yousra El Halees, EMERGENCY’s Logistician in Gaza
Moderated by Giampaolo Musumeci, journalist at Radio 24
Geographies of courage #environment #climatechange
Piazza Prampolini, 8.00 pm | ENGLISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE
“I AM AGAINST WAR”
With Mario Calabresi, director at Chora Media, Marco Damilano, journalist and television presenter, and an EMERGENCY contributor
Moderated by Pif, author and television presenter
Dialogues against war #GinoStrada #EMERGENCY
Piazza Fontanesi, 11.00 pm to midnight
DJ SET
in collaboration with Radio Bruno and the Piazza Fontanesi Traders’ Committee
Dance like no tomorrow #danceitout #pop
Piazza San Prospero, 8.00 am
COME ON, BREATHE!*
A unique awakening for the mind, led by Erica Monti, a Kundalini and Yin teacher, and Federico Taddia, a writer and cultural cross-pollinator.
*This class will be led in Italian but is open to all.
When you wake up #selfcare
Piazza Casotti, 11.15 am | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
VISIONING PROCESSES, PEACE PROCESSES
With Ben Acheson, independent researcher and former NATO official
The world, intensely #peacestudies
Viale Allegri, 8, 12.15 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
UKRAINE: TACKLING ISOLATION
With Daria Rieznik, EMERGENCY’s Field Officer in Ukraine; Svetlana Tertychna, EMERGENCY’s Field Officer in Ukraine; Luca Rifiorati, EMERGENCY’s Project Coordinator in Ukraine; and Alessandro Lamberti-Castronuovo, EMERGENCY’s Primary Healthcare Focal Point
Moderated by Laura Silvia Battaglia al-Jalal, journalist and documentary filmmaker
A lecture with EMERGENCY #Ukraine #EMERGENCY
Palazzo Da Mosto, 2.00 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
A COFFEE WITH…
An informal conversation with Dejan Panic, EMERGENCY’s Country Director in Afghanistan
Un caffè con… #afghanistan #EMERGENCY
Piazza Casotti, 3.15 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
BUILDING HEALTH, SHAPING THE FUTURE: 5 YEARS OF EMERGENCY IN UGANDA
With Robert Mugabe, EMERGENCY’s social worker in Uganda
The world, intensely #Uganda #EMERGENCY
Palazzo Dossetti Courtyard (Viale Allegri, 9), 5.30 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
STAYING AND CARING: THE COURAGE OF SUDAN
With Yousra Elbagir, journalist at Sky News, and Suha Abdelwahab Abdalla Hassan, Head of EMERGENCY’s OAT Clinics in Khartoum
Featuring a video contribution from photographer Faiz Abubakr Mohamed-Hamed
Presented by Giampaolo Musumeci, journalist at Radio 24
Geographies of courage #Sudan #EMERGENCY
Palazzo Da Mosto, 3.30 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
TOGETHER: SO FAR, SO CLOSE
A special guided exhibition preview with Professor Painé Cuadrelli and IED representatives
Palazzo Dossetti Courtyard (Viale Allegri, 9), 5.30 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
THE FEAR THAT LINGERS: LIVES AND HEALTH IN TODAY’S AFGHANISTAN
With Orzala Nemat, independent researcher; Dejan Panic, EMERGENCY’s Country Director in Afghanistan; and Dr Marwa D/O Mohammad Yasin, gynaecologist at EMERGENCY’s Maternity Centre in Anabah (via video link)
With a video contribution from Diego Ibarra Sanchez, documentary photographer and filmmaker
Moderated by Giampaolo Musumeci, journalist at Radio 24
Geographies of courage #Afghanistan #EMERGENCY
Piazza Casotti, 6.00 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
COURAGE, RESISTANCE AND SURVIVAL IN WAR
With Yousra Elbagir, journalist at Sky News
The world, intensely #Sudan #forgottencrisis
Piazza Prampolini, 6.30 pm | ENGLISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE
THE COURAGE TO BE THERE: EMERGENCY TELLS ITS STORY
Featuring Rossella Miccio, President of EMERGENCY; Giorgio Monti, EMERGENCY’s Medical Coordinator in Gaza; Michela Paschetto, EMERGENCY’s Director of Nurses and Allied Health Professionals; and Svetlana Tertychna, EMERGENCY’s Field Officer in Ukraine
Moderated by Tonia Cartolano, Editor-in-Chief of Sky Tg24
Dialogues against war #courage #EMERGENCY
Piazza San Prospero, 11.00 pm to 1.00 am
DANCE LIKE NO TOMORROW
Music by DJ MazZz in collaboration with The Riff #danceitout #pop
Piazza San Prospero, 8.00 am
PRACTISE TO RECONNECT*
Hatha Yoga class with Paola Crisafi, Hatha yoga teacher
*This class will be led in Italian but is open to all. Please bring your own yoga mat.
When you wake up #selfcare
Palazzo Dei Musei, 10.00 am
REVELATION with Lorenzo Meloni | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
A special guided tour led by the artist Lorenzo Meloni of his major photographic exhibition, Revelation, developed in collaboration with EMERGENCY
Teatro San Prospero (Via Guidelli, 5), 11.15 am
NO GOOD MEN
by Shahrbanoo Sadat (Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, 2026)
Original version (Farsi) with English subtitles (1h 43min)
Courageous glimpses
Viale Allegri, 8, 12.15 pm | ENGLISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE
MAKING A DREAM COME TRUE: SPECIALIST SURGERY IN AFRICA
With Rossella Miccio, President of EMERGENCY; Elena Giovanella, Medical Coordinator at EMERGENCY’s Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery in Khartoum; Roberto Crestan, EMERGENCY’s Director of the African Network of Medical Excellence (ANME); and Samir Ibrahim Alabed, EMERGENCY’s Logistician in Sudan
Moderated by Laura Silvia Battaglia al-Jalal, journalist and documentary filmmaker
In class with EMERGENCY #ANME #EMERGENCY
Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio, 2.15 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
PAGINA BIANCA with Ivan
A participatory public artwork inviting visitors to contribute to a collective visual statement against war. Guided by street poet Ivan and EMERGENCY volunteers, participants are encouraged to draw, write and leave their own message on a large, shared canvas, creating a space for reflection, creativity and public engagement.
Viale Allegri, 8, 3.30 pm | ENGLISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE
CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION TO WAR IS A RIGHT
With Simonetta Gola, Director of Communications at EMERGENCY, and legal experts Domenico Gallo, Alessandra Algostino and Veronica Dini
Featuring a contribution from Oren Ziv, journalist at +972 Magazine (via video link)
Moderated by Claudio Jampaglia, journalist at Radio Popolare and co-coordinator of the R1PUD1A campaign
Palazzo Dossetti Courtyard (Viale Allegri, 9), 5.30 pm | ENGLISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE
INSIDE THE SYSTEMS OF CONTEMPORARY CONFLICTS: NATURAL RESOURCES AND WARS OVER WATER
With Lorenzo Tondo, journalist and correspondent at The Guardian, and Lorenzo Meloni, Magnum photographer
Featuring a video contribution from Yousra El Halees, EMERGENCY’s Logistician in Gaza
Moderated by Giampaolo Musumeci, journalist at Radio 24
Geographies of courage #environment #climatechange
Piazza Prampolini, 8.00 pm | ENGLISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE
“I AM AGAINST WAR”
With Mario Calabresi, director at Chora Media, Marco Damilano, journalist and television presenter, and an EMERGENCY contributor
Moderated by Pif, author and television presenter
Dialogues against war #GinoStrada #EMERGENCY
Piazza Fontanesi, 11.00 pm to midnight
DJ SET
in collaboration with Radio Bruno and the Piazza Fontanesi Traders’ Committee
Dance like no tomorrow #danceitout #pop
Piazza San Prospero, 8.00 am
COME ON, BREATHE!*
A unique awakening for the mind, led by Erica Monti, a Kundalini and Yin teacher, and Federico Taddia, a writer and cultural cross-pollinator.
*This class will be led in Italian but is open to all.
When you wake up #selfcare
Piazza Casotti, 11.15 am | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
VISIONING PROCESSES, PEACE PROCESSES
With Ben Acheson, independent researcher and former NATO official
The world, intensely #peacestudies
Viale Allegri, 8, 12.15 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
UKRAINE: TACKLING ISOLATION
With Daria Rieznik, EMERGENCY’s Field Officer in Ukraine; Svetlana Tertychna, EMERGENCY’s Field Officer in Ukraine; Luca Rifiorati, EMERGENCY’s Project Coordinator in Ukraine; and Alessandro Lamberti-Castronuovo, EMERGENCY’s Primary Healthcare Focal Point
Moderated by Laura Silvia Battaglia al-Jalal, journalist and documentary filmmaker
A lecture with EMERGENCY #Ukraine #EMERGENCY
Palazzo Da Mosto, 2.00 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
A COFFEE WITH…
An informal conversation with Dejan Panic, EMERGENCY’s Country Director in Afghanistan
Un caffè con… #afghanistan #EMERGENCY
Piazza Casotti, 3.15 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
BUILDING HEALTH, SHAPING THE FUTURE: 5 YEARS OF EMERGENCY IN UGANDA
With Robert Mugabe, EMERGENCY’s social worker in Uganda
The world, intensely #Uganda #EMERGENCY
Palazzo Dossetti Courtyard (Viale Allegri, 9), 5.30 pm | ENGLISH LANGUAGE
STAYING AND CARING: THE COURAGE OF SUDAN
With Yousra Elbagir, journalist at Sky News, and Suha Abdelwahab Abdalla Hassan, Head of EMERGENCY’s OAT Clinics in Khartoum
Featuring a video contribution from photographer Faiz Abubakr Mohamed-Hamed
Presented by Giampaolo Musumeci, journalist at Radio 24
Geographies of courage #Sudan #EMERGENCY
*We are continuing to update this page; the full programme schedule will be available in the coming weeks.
COURAGE
The 2026 EMERGENCY Festival
4–5–6 September
Every year, the EMERGENCY Festival brings together journalists, philosophers, writers, representatives of EMERGENCY and leading contemporary voices.
Join us in Reggio Emilia for three days of exploring peace, rights and culture, with more than 50 events and thousands of supporters.
This year, we’ll discuss courage. What it means to invest in people, rather than weapons. To provide care, to cross a border, to object to war, to take a stand.
Together, we’ll foster an environment for collective reflection on peace and the practice of human rights, and to offer keys for interpreting – and acting – to build a better world.
Do you speak Italian? More details and full programme schedule are available at: https://www.emergency.it/festival/
Would you like to volunteer at the EMERGENCY Festival?
Fill in the form at this link: Reggio Emilia 2026 Volunteer Recruitment
For information or any questions regarding volunteering, please email volontari.festival@emergency.it
Partner with the EMERGENCY Festival!
Becoming a friend and partner is an opportunity to support EMERGENCY and associate your company and brand with a major event, where distinguished guests lead the conversation on some of the most important the issues of our time: access to care, conflict, migration.
These are the very same themes and values found across all of EMERGENCY’s humanitarian work, and with which the supporting company also chooses to align itself.
To find out more, please contact: aziende@emergency.it