Ylberi 2026 turns Santa Sofia d’Epiro into an open‑air museum of public art

Ylberi 2026, the sixth edition of the public‑art project, runs from 27 July to 2 August in the Arbëreshë town of Santa Sofia d’Epiro, Italy. Organized by the cultural association Gulìa Urbana together with the municipal administration, the festival aims to deepen the town’s reputation as a permanent laboratory for contemporary culture and territorial regeneration.

The edition, under the theme “Abitare è essere ovunque a casa propria”, brings together international artists—including Brazilian painter Hanna Lucatelli, Kosovar creator Lebibe Topalli and Italian contributors Tony Gallo, Edoardo Ettorre, Testa di Latta and Castellaura—to produce new murals that will become part of the town’s distributed museum. Visitors can watch the creation process through the “Artists on the Wall” format and join free guided tours of the works.

A broader cultural programme complements the visual art, featuring discussions on identity, community and mental‑health inclusion, as well as cinema screenings such as the documentary “Ensemble” by Manuel Cundari and Eugenio Piluso, and musical events.