Trieste's sailing week has a quieter counterpart away from the pontoons. Barcolana Un Mare di Racconti returns for an eighth edition from 5 to 10 October 2026, bringing around twenty writers and literary guests to Casa della Musica in the city's historic centre.

Six afternoons and evenings in the city

The festival's organiser has scheduled eighteen events across the six-day programme at Via dei Capitelli 3. Writers from Italy and abroad will discuss novels, travel, memory and the relationship between people and the sea.

For yacht guests, it offers an alternative to an entire day following the racing. The auditorium is a city venue, so travel from a berth or yacht landing requires separate planning.

Sailing appears in the programme

Francesca Clapcich, who won The Ocean Race in 2023, joins journalist Fabio Pozzo to discuss their book Un'onda alla volta on 6 October. The organiser says she will join remotely from the United States rather than appear in person at the auditorium.

Explorer Alex Bellini also appears in the programme to discuss his unsupported Atlantic rowing crossing. Those talks connect navigation, endurance and experience without suggesting that attending them qualifies anyone for a marine certificate.

An expansive literary guest list

Other advertised guests include Andrea Vitali, Claudia Durastanti, Clara Sánchez, Ben Pastor, Viola Ardone and Emanuele Trevi. Their work broadens a sporting gathering into a city-wide cultural occasion where not every subject needs to involve yachting.

The event is conceived and directed by Alessandro Mezzena Lona with local institutional support. Individual entry and capacity arrangements should be checked before a larger group plans an evening.

Part of a broader Barcolana stay

The literary dates sit within the 2–11 October Barcolana programme, whose on-water activities lead to the Autumn Cup. An owner or guest can balance race viewing, restaurants and museum visits with a book conversation during the same trip.

Dates, venue and participants come from Barcolana's official 22 September announcement. The distinct organiser photograph illustrates this cultural programme, not an unrelated race start.

Primary source: Barcolana literary programme. Original Luxury Yacht Guide coverage.