TXT Festival 2026 in Naples: the program for Sunday, October 4th at the Mercadante

TXT Festival 2026 gets into full swing with its third day. On Sunday, October 4th , the Teatro Mercadante in Naples, in Piazza Municipio, hosts three international shows in the theater and the Ridotto, starting in the afternoon and concluding late at night with music.

The festival, curated by Pier Lorenzo Pisano , is dedicated to the pleasure of the text and brings companies and directors from Serbia and Greece to the city . The full program continues until Monday, October 5th at the Teatro di Napoli – Teatro Nazionale.

The program for Sunday, October 4th

17:00 PM, Mercadante Theatre: How I Learned to Drive

The Ridotto opens with “How I Learned to Drive ,” a play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel . Directed by Serbian director Tara Manic , the production features Svetozar Cvetkovic and Marta Bogosavljevic, who perform in the Heartefact production . The play is performed in Serbian with Italian and English surtitles .

The text addresses the issue of domestic violence and attempts to shift the focus from the consequences to the causes. The story is about forgiveness , even when forgiveness seems impossible, in a society that often silences victims.

19:00 PM, Mercadante Theater: The Writer, Crimp reads Crimp

At 19:00 pm, the Mercadante stage will be given over to Martin Crimp , the festival's guest artist, with "The Writer ." It's a reading in English with Italian surtitles that questions the relationship between creation and failure.

Crimp recounts the ambitions and frailties of the writer, caught between the desire for recognition and the fear of insignificance. The target is the myth of the author and his work, challenged from within.

7.30pm, Mercadante Theatre: Oedipus Rex

Half an hour later, “Oedipus Rex ,” adapted and directed by Greek playwright Sophia Antoniou , makes its Italian debut. Haris Charalambous-Kazepis will be on stage for the Masterskaya AMKE production : the show is in Greek with surtitles and has limited seating.

It's the story of a man searching for his own truth , a trauma passed down from generation to generation. The actor creates a wandering narrator , a musician lost in the vortex of the contemporary city.

21:30 PM: Today's meme and TXT Party

The evening ends at 21:30 pm with “Il memato del giorno ,” a performance born from the meme workshop curated by Giulio Armeni and Daniele Zini . This will be followed by the TXT Party , an after-show with an improvised loop station and a DJ set by Amedeo Medo.

Two sections, one thread: the text

The program is divided between #TXTINSCENA , dedicated to performances, and #TXTCRIMP , the space reserved for Martin Crimp . The festival is a showcase for contemporary European theater and aims to foster a dialogue between different languages ​​and traditions.

Not just performances: the program includes workshops , meetings , and evening events, designed to bring the audience closer to the texts and the authors. The formula blends performance and reflection , with events continuing well after midnight.

Opening times and locations in brief

• 17:00 – Ridotto del Mercadante, “How I Learned to Drive”
• 19:00 – Teatro Mercadante, “The Writer – Crimp reads Crimp”
• 19:30 – Mercadante Theatre, “Oedipus Rex”
• 21:30 – Teatro Mercadante, “Memory of the Day” and TXT Party

The Teatro Mercadante is located in Piazza Municipio , a short walk from the Municipio metro stop. For updated schedules and ticket information, please visit the Teatro di Napoli website.

Practical tip: Seats for "Oedipus Rex" are limited and the show is in Greek, so it's best to check at the box office in advance. For shows with surtitles, it's best to arrive a few minutes early to reserve your seat.

Naples is packed with events this weekend: the calendar of events in Naples today includes exhibitions, tours, and concerts, while the guide on what to do in Naples in October covers the entire month. The Campania Libri Festival at the Palazzo Reale also concludes on Sunday.

FAQ

Where does the TXT Festival take place in Naples?

At the Teatro Mercadante and its Ridotto , in Piazza Municipio, home of the Teatro di Napoli – Teatro Nazionale.

Are the October 4th shows in Italian?

No, they are in Serbian , English and Greek , with surtitles in Italian (and in some cases also in English).

How long does the festival last?

The TXT Festival 2026 runs from October 2nd to 5th , with shows, meetings, workshops and evening events.

Are reservations required?

Seats for "Oedipus Rex" are limited; for other performances, please check at the box office or on the theater's website.

What are “Meme of the Day” and TXT Party?

The closing events include a performance on memes by Giulio Armeni and Daniele Zini, followed by an after-show with a DJ set.