WeWorld Festival Milan

Among the leading names from previous editions: astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, writer Roberto Saviano, author Nogaye Ndiaye, linguist and activist Vera Gheno, journalists Leila Belhadj Mohamed, Asmae Dachan and Jennifer Guerra, photographer and reporter Letizia Battaglia, feminist economist Azzurra Rinaldi, activist and writer Pegah Moshir Pour, singers Giulia Mei and Chadia, satirical duo Mammadimerda, activist Rahel Saya, lawyer and writer Simontta Agnello Hornby, comedian Pierluca Mariti (@piuttostoche), activist Sofia Righetti, and actresses Benedetta Porcaroli, Cristiana Capotondi and Maria Grazia Cucinotta.

For us, the WeWorld Festival is much more than an event: it is a moment of giving back and sharing, in which we recount the results of our projects and the stories of the people we meet, giving them the microphone so that they can be the ones to give voice to their experiences. Through a diversity of forms — from storytelling to theatre, from photography to music — we aim to bring often overlooked voices to the forefront, amplifying perspectives from the margins, in line with our commitment: to stand alongside people, bringing their voices from the margins to the centre.

The event is also an opportunity to meet the people who have supported us over the years, connect with new friends, and strengthen ties with those who share our vision of a more just and equitable world. This is in the spirit in which the WeWorld Festival was born: to create a free and accessible space where dialogue across different fields, generations, and contexts can become a driver of concrete change.

During the WeWorld Festival, we explore pressing issues that affect us all, from gender representation in the media to economic violence, from bodily autonomy and freedom of choice to the protection of the right to education in contexts of conflict and migration.

We do this alongside authoritative voices from the cultural, academic, artistic, and social spheres, including journalists and science communicators, filmmakers, activists, and institutional representatives.

Alongside talks and debates, we place great emphasis on cinema, photography, and art. Exhibitions and installations tell the stories of the people and places we encounter through our projects around the world — often those on the geographical, economic, or social margins — from Afghanistan to Kenya, from Syria to Ukraine.

Through these images and testimonies, the WeWorld Festival gives voice directly to those who experience the consequences of conflict, poverty, and discrimination every day, while also showcasing the strength and dignity of those who continue to resist, create, and educate.

During the three days of the Festival, we organise screenings of Italian and international films and documentaries, many of which are previews. Cinema thus becomes a tool for storytelling and reflection, offering the public opportunities for direct interaction with those who create these projects.

Each edition offers spaces focused on people’s wellbeing and autonomy, with individual and group activities designed to foster awareness, freedom of choice, and self-care. Yoga sessions, creative workshops, career guidance desks, and listening circles provide a welcoming environment in which participants can freely express themselves and explore their identity.

These moments reflect the support practices we carry out in our spaces across Italy and in the countries where we operate, bringing the daily experiences of care, training, and support directly to the WeWorld Festival.

In line with this commitment, we also organise initiatives dedicated to families, children and adolescents, with educational activities and spaces where music, art and sport become tools for expression, growth and participation.

At the WeWorld Festival, we work to ensure that everyone can participate fully and safely. That is why we design spaces and activities with a strong focus on accessibility, addressing physical, sensory, and communication barriers and accommodating the needs of people living with disabilities or neurodiversity. Our goal is to create an environment that adapts to people, not the other way around: a welcoming, open, and shared space where everyone can

Another special initiative at the WeWorld Festival is the Chiacchierata Femminista (Feminist Chat), a format that offers intimate and informal gatherings on issues related to women’s autonomy and gender equality. In these dialogue circles, people of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to listen, share, and exchange views in a safe, non-judgmental environment.

The goal is to create a space where complex issues — such as gender-based violence, stereotypes, body representation, and collective responsibility — can be discussed openly, supported by practical tools and up-to-date data to help participants understand and act in their daily lives.

The WeWorld Festival Milano is possible thanks to the collaboration of institutions, universities, cultural centres and local partners. It is sponsored by the Municipality of Milan and the Metropolitan City, with the contribution of the Lombardy Region and the support of media and cultural partners who share the vision of an open, pluralistic and participatory event.