The Week of the Italian Language in the World takes place every year during the third week of October. Organised by Italy’s diplomatic and consular network and Italian Cultural Institutes, in collaboration with our key partners in the promotion of the Italian language (the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and Merit, the Ministry of University and Research, CePeLL, the Government of the Swiss Confederation, the Accademia della Crusca, CGIE, the Italophone Radio and Television Community, the Treccani Italian Encyclopaedia Institute, RAI Italia and the Società Dante Alighieri), it has become the world’s leading international event dedicated to the Italian language.
Since its inception in 2001, the event has received the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic every year.
Each edition focuses on a different theme, providing a common thread for a rich programme of conferences, exhibitions and events.
The theme of the 26th edition (19–25 October 2026) is ‘A Brilliant Language: Conceiving, Designing and Creating in Italian’ (Lingua geniale: ideare, progettare, creare con l’italiano).
The aim is to highlight the strategic relationship between culture and Italy’s economic growth, with the Italian language and the wider Italian-speaking community serving as key assets. Italian, a ‘brilliant language’ rooted in a long and rich history and tradition, brings the best of Italian expertise and creativity to the world, encompassing technology, science, engineering, design, fashion, gastronomy, literature, art and history. In doing so, it helps shape a dynamic, forward-looking image of Italy.
The Italian Cultural Institute in London is marking this important occasion with the following programme of events.
19 October, 7pm
at the Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BX
L’UOMO PIÙ CRUDELE DEL MONDO
A play by Davide Sacco, directed by the playwright and starring Lino Guanciale and Francesco Montanari.
Further information: click here.
20 October, 6pm
at the Italian Cultural Institute, London
THE ITALIAN LIBRARY #35: LA NOTTE DEGLI INCIPIT
Further information: click here.
21 October, 6.30pm
at the Italian Cultural Institute, London
MATCH POINT 2026 – AWARDS CEREMONY
Further information: click here.
15 October, 6pm, and 22 October, 5pm
at the E. Montale Library, Italian Cultural Institute, London
THE BOOK CLUB 2026 – DESTINAZIONE ERRATA BY DOMENICO STARNONE
Further information: library.icilondon@esteri.it
23 October, 6.30pm
at the Italian Cultural Institute, London
ONCE UPON A TIME IN ITALY #3: THE 90s – L’ARTE DELLA GIOIA BY GOLIARDA SAPIENZA
Further information: click here.
24 October, 3pm
at the Victoria Library, 160 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 3TR</text>
BOOK O’CLOCK WITH GLORIA DANILI – LA MIA STRANA VICINA BY GLORIA DANILI, ILLUSTRATED BY ERICAVALE MORELLO
Further information: click here.
25 October, 3pm
at the Regent Street Cinema, 307 Regent Street, London W1B 2HW</text>
FUTURE CLASSICS: SCREENING THE NEW ITALIAN CINEMA #6 – CINQUE SECONDI, DIRECTED BY PAOLO VIRZÌ
Starring Valerio Mastandrea, Galatea Bellugi and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi.
In Italian with English subtitles.
Further information: click here.
The programme organised by Italian schools in the United Kingdom, ‘Italy on the Move Around the World’ (L’Italia che viaggia nel mondo), is available HERE.
