Futuro Remoto turns 40: City of Science is free from November 10th to 15th.

Forty years of science, research, and imagination, with a special gift for the city: from November 10 to 15, 2026, admission to the City of Science in Naples will be completely free, including exhibitions and all Futuro Remoto activities. The festival, one of the longest-running European events dedicated to scientific dissemination, celebrates a historic milestone with an edition titled "The Imagination of Futures."

The event was presented today in the presence of the President of the Campania Region, Roberto Fico, who emphasized the initiative's importance for educating new generations and for the development of the region.

"We are celebrating forty years of history and future. This edition embodies an important legacy, to be preserved and developed. The entire region will celebrate this historic milestone through an open and widespread event," said Fico.

The president also highlighted the role of scientific outreach in expanding young people's knowledge and awareness. "Events like Futuro Remoto can have a substantial impact on young people's growth, education, and learning. They broaden their observation of reality, fostering knowledge and civic awareness," he added.

Born in 1987 from an idea by physicist Vittorio Silvestrini, Futuro Remoto has forged a path of dialogue between science, art, and society over the course of four decades. The fortieth anniversary edition is promoted by Città della Scienza with the support of the Campania Region and the co-organization of the seven regional universities, along with leading national research institutions, including CNR, INFN, INAF, and INGV, and a vast network of scientific and cultural partners.

The opening is scheduled for November 10, coinciding with World Science Day for Peace and Development. The special guest will be German biophysicist Georg Nagel, who the organizers have announced will receive the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work on optogenetics. The inaugural program also includes presentations by popularizer Barbara Gallavotti, journalist Silvia Bencivelli, and INAF President Roberto Ragazzoni, as well as a performance by the Teatro di San Carlo Children's Choir.

Throughout the week, meetings, installations, workshops, and performances will take place. Among the announced events is "Urban Oasis," an installation dedicated to eco-sustainable architecture, along with the inauguration of the new Center of Excellence in Biorobotics, Materials, and Bionic Systems at Federico II University, coordinated by Professor Bruno Siciliano.

There will also be a focus on the new Vittorio Silvestrini scholarship and the "The Big Hack" innovation marathon. In the evening, the Newton Hall will host performances by Massimo Polidoro, Roberto Mercadini, and actress Rosalia Porcaro.

Città della Scienza's autumn calendar will also be enriched by the interactive exhibition "PHYSICS... No Touching Allowed!", running from October 17th to January 17th, and the Planetarium's new immersive shows, "Oasis in Space" and "Dark Universe."

The festival will not be confined to Naples, but will also involve Benevento, Salerno, Caserta, and Avellino, confirming the initiative's regional vocation.

"Celebrating Futuro Remoto's fortieth anniversary doesn't mean looking back with nostalgia, but firmly renewing a civic promise: to make science a common good, alive and shared," said Giovanni Covone, president of Città della Scienza.

Covone explained that the free opening represents a way to give back to the community what has been built over four decades of activity. "We dedicate this fortieth anniversary to young people and schools, so that science continues to raise awareness to build more equitable, sustainable, and humane futures," he concluded.