The Biennale dello Stretto

The Biennale dello Stretto, now in its third edition in 2026, is an international cultural project promoted by the Fondazione Le Città del Futuro and produced by 500×100. Conceived by Alfonso Femia, it explores the relationship between architecture, cities, landscape, art, photography, and design. The event aims to transform the Strait of Messina area into a laboratory for research and dialogue on contemporary issues, bringing Mediterranean Europe into conversation with the cultures of the African and Middle Eastern shores. More than a single exhibition event, the Biennale dello Stretto is conceived as an ongoing cultural process, capable of fostering relationships, knowledge and reflection on the future of territories, while promoting a design culture attentive to transformation and oriented towards generating new possibilities for cities and communities.
The theme of the 2026 edition, “Mutations”, explores the profound and often unpredictable transformations affecting society, urban spaces, landscapes and ways of living. The natural and the artificial, the instantaneous and the progressive are among the polarities through which the Biennale observes ongoing change, addressing issues such as the environment, mobility, public space, new models of living, urban regeneration, the relationship between physical and digital space, and the continuous transformation of landscapes. The scientific direction is led by Alfonso Femia, Annalisa Metta and Salima Naji.
The heart of the event is Forte Batteria Siacci in Campo Calabro (Reggio Calabria, Italy), one of the Umbertine fortifications of the Strait, which hosts an extensive indoor and outdoor exhibition.
The exhibition brings together projects and research by Italian and international architects, photographers, designers and artists, alongside regional sections, university projects, installations and performances. Particular attention is devoted to younger generations and to design and research practices capable of interpreting contemporary change, as well as to the specific characteristics of the Strait of Messina, understood as a place of research and cultural production.
Among the artists and authors featured in the exhibition are: Gianni Brandolino, Marina Caneve, Giulia Natalia Comito, Fabrizio Cotognini, Judith Cowan, Ninni Donato, Marianna Faleri, Marco Introini, Giovanni Ozzola, Alfredo Pirri, Gianfranco Scafidi, Dino Serrao, Alberto Timossi, and Antonio Tropiano.