# Pordenonelegge festival concludes with record attendance > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/pordenonelegge-literary-festival-themes > Updated: 2026-09-19T13:29:01.000Z. Sources: 19. Developments: 2. The 27th edition of the Pordenonelegge literary festival in Italy concluded with record-breaking attendance, exceeding 160,000 visitors. The event featured 447 meetings and nearly 700 protagonists, including international authors and intellectuals such as Michel Houellebecq and Vera Politkovskaja. Throughout the festival, discussions at the Teatro Verdi focused on themes of democracy, freedom, and cultural dialogue. Speakers addressed the fragility of Western democratic institutions, specifically how social fragmentation and a lack of community feeling pose threats. Participants also examined the book ‘Il lievito della democrazia’, noting that modern politics often prioritizes consensus-seeking over civic responsibility. In his closing address, Italian President Sergio Mattarella linked these themes to the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic. He emphasized that freedom and democracy are not permanent achievements but must be defended through dissent and the dialogue of ideas. Mattarella warned against the global emergence of “illiberal democracy” and characterized the right to express diverse opinions as a vital bulwark against oppression. The festival, which included a concert by the musical trio Il Volo, serves as a precursor to Pordenone’s designation as the Italian Capital of Culture in 2027. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-19: Pordenonelegge concludes with record attendance and Mattarella speech The Pordenonelegge book festival concluded with over 160,000 attendees. President Sergio Mattarella closed the event, emphasizing the importance of dissent and democratic freedoms. 18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pordenonelegge-festival-concludes-with-president-mattarellas-visit ### 2026-09-17: Pordenonelegge event discusses the fragility of Western democracy At the Pordenonelegge festival, speakers discussed the fragility of Western democracy and social fragmentation during a presentation of the book ‘Il lievito della democrazia’. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pordenonelegge-event-discusses-the-fragility-of-western-democracy --- Cite as: Pordenonelegge festival concludes with record attendance. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/pordenonelegge-literary-festival-themes