Coconino Fest 2026: Ravenna's graphic novel festival expands with music, theatre, and performance

The fifth edition of Coconino Fest takes place in Ravenna from May 30 to June 2, 2026, with a preview on May 29. The festival, now a major Italian event for contemporary graphic novels, is headquartered at MAR – Museo d'Arte della città di Ravenna, hosting exhibitions of David Prudhomme, Olivier Schrauwen, Miguel Vila, and Japanese mangaka Yamamoto Miki. At Biblioteca Classense, Lebanese artist and performer Mazen Kerbaj presents works bridging drawing, improvised music, and political memory. The program includes talks, signings, and interdisciplinary events: a dialogue between Vinicio Capossela and David Prudhomme on Greek rebetiko music (June 1 at MAR), and a tribute to Miles Davis by trumpeter Paolo Fresu and cartoonist Paolo Parisi (May 31 at MAR). A collaboration with Ravenna Festival brings the national premiere of Storia del nuovo cognome, a theatre piece by Fanny & Alexander based on the graphic novel by Chiara Lagani and Mara Cerri inspired by Elena Ferrante's L'amica geniale, at Artificerie Almagià on May 29. The festival's theme is 'Rebels,' reflected in works addressing political and social issues, such as Kerbaj's reflections on Gaza and Miki's exploration of patriarchy and power dynamics.