When: Dal 24 September 2026 al 2 October 2026, 8.45 - 17 Topic: Research and innovation Target: Students, Graduates, Staff, Institutions, Prospective Students Immagine evento Immagine Three Nobel Prize winners in Physics will be among the leading figures of the 13th edition of the Lake Como Festival of Light. Promoted by the Alessandro Volta Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Insubria and Teatro Sociale As.Li.Co, the Festival will take place from 24 September to 2 October and is one of the first events leading up to the bicentenary of Alessandro Volta’s death, which will be commemorated in 2027.Dedicated to photonics, the field of research that studies and develops applications of light, the Festival will bring together some of the most prominent figures in international research and offer the public an opportunity to explore topics and technologies that are transforming fields such as quantum technologies, telecommunications, medicine and astrophysics.For nine days, the city will become a meeting point for scientific research, culture and the public. In the square, at the theatre, in museums and at the Festival’s other venues, scientists, researchers and science communicators will engage with audiences through talks, workshops, installations, astronomical observations and immersive experiences. Piazza Verdi will be at the heart of the activities, becoming a true science village. It will host the Yurt, a large circular tent dedicated to public events, as well as containers housing workshops, installations and interactive experiences.The 2026 edition is also one of the key events of 200VOLTeVOLTA, the programme promoted by the Alessandro Volta Foundation together with the University of Pavia and the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci in Milan, with the support of Fondazione Cariplo and the Volta200 Local Governance: Municipality of Como, Como-Lecco Chamber of Commerce, Province of Como, University of Insubria and Confindustria Como.PROGRAMMEThursday 24 September8.45-9.45 a.m., Vis Comensis (Como)«Guided tour of the Vis Comensis museum space with Massimiliano Mondelli»Organised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta10 a.m.-12 noon, Scacchi Auditorium, Como-Lecco Chamber of Commerce«The future is us»Keynote lecture by Michela Prest and presentation of the results of the Talent Garden project12 noon-1.30 p.m., Vis Comensis (Como)«Guided tour of the Vis Comensis museum space with Massimiliano Mondelli»Organised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta2.30-5.30 p.m., Yurt, Piazza Verdi (Como)«Science on demand»Looped video screeningsPandora Podcast«The scientific legacy of Alessandro Volta» with Paolo Mazzarello and Lucio Fregonese«Electrochemistry and the discovery of the elements» with Gianfranco Pacchioni«The many forms of energy» with Petra Rudolf«Volta and particle physics» with Michela PrestOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta6-7 p.m., Yurt, Piazza Verdi (Como)«Light and quantum technologies»Guest speaker: Marco Liscidini, Department of Physics, University of PaviaOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta in collaboration with the University of Insubria7-8 p.m., Yurt, Piazza Verdi (Como)«Silk as a platform for light»Guest speaker: Fiorenzo Omenetto, School of Engineering, Tufts University, USOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta in collaboration with the University of InsubriaFriday 25 September9 a.m.-1 p.m., Piazza Verdi (Como)«Science in the Square»Experimental stations for students of all ages to discover science in everyday life and beyondObservation of sunspots through a telescopeOutdoor performance by the Physics Clown, dedicated to metals and Volta, to learn about physics in an entertaining and original wayAs part of the «European Researchers’ Night»Organised by the University of Insubria in collaboration with Teatro Sociale di Como2.30 p.m., Cometa (36 Via Madruzza, Como)«From STEM to the stars with Amalia Ercoli Finzi and Elvina Finzi»Closing event of the Talent to be project, supported by Fondazione Deutsche Bank. The two scientists will lead participants in a discussion on STEM and the importance of nurturing the talent of younger generations.Organised by La Cometa s.c.s.2.30-5.30 p.m., Yurt, Piazza Verdi (Como)«Science on demand»Looped video screeningsPandora Podcast«The scientific legacy of Alessandro Volta» with Paolo Mazzarello and Lucio Fregonese«Electrochemistry and the discovery of the elements» with Gianfranco Pacchioni«The many forms of energy» with Petra Rudolf«Volta and particle physics» with Michela PrestOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta6-7 p.m., Yurt, Piazza Verdi (Como)«When colour is not enough: hyperspectral imaging reveals the invisible in works of art»Guest speaker: Cristian Manzoni, Department of Physics, Politecnico di MilanoOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta in collaboration with the University of Insubria8 p.m., Piazza Verdi (Como)«Eyes to the sky»Observation of the night sky through a series of telescopes, giving every participant the opportunity to experience the same sense of wonder as Galileo: the Moon and Saturn will be the stars of the eveningOrganised by the University of Insubria in collaboration with Teatro Sociale di ComoSaturday 26 September10 a.m.-6 p.m., Piazza Verdi«The Energy Container» – sponsored by Bianchi Group«VOLTA VR. An immersive journey through electricity, from past to present and future»TEDxYouth@LakeComoOrganised by Teatro Sociale di Como10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sala Pasta – Teatro Sociale di Como«VOLTA: from the battery to the future»Installation curated by ComoNExT Innovation HubOrganised by Teatro Sociale di Como10 a.m.-7 p.m., Piazza Verdi (Como)«Art4women Roadshow: Future Forms. Art, science and 3D printing»«Put your energy into circulation!»Organised by Acinque S.p.A. and Teatro Sociale di Como10 a.m., Sala Bianca, Ridotto of Teatro Sociale di Como«Alessandro Volta and the theatre» – A creative walk exploring the relationship between the scientist and the stageOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta in collaboration with Associazione Sentiero dei Sogni, Società Palchettisti, Teatro Sociale and the State Archives of Como10 a.m.-1 p.m., Yurt, Piazza Verdi (Como)«Science on demand»Looped video screeningsPandora Podcast«The scientific legacy of Alessandro Volta» with Paolo Mazzarello and Lucio Fregonese«Electrochemistry and the discovery of the elements» with Gianfranco Pacchioni«The many forms of energy» with Petra Rudolf«Volta and particle physics» with Michela PrestOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta3-5 p.m., Piazza Verdi (Como)«Science in the Square»Team-based scientific Snakes and Ladders-style game for children and young people aged 6 to 13Physics Clown show to learn about physics in an entertaining and original wayAs part of the «European Researchers’ Night»Organised by the University of Insubria in collaboration with Teatro Sociale di Como5-6 p.m., Yurt, Piazza Verdi (Como)«Light for studying and brain health»Guest speaker: Daniele Faccio, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, UKOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta in collaboration with the University of Insubria6-7.30 p.m., Yurt, Piazza Verdi (Como)«Materials for the future»Meeting with Nobel Prize winner Kostya Novoselov, awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery and isolation of grapheneOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta7 p.m., Piazza Verdi (Como)«The Electric Shock»with Lario BrassOrganised by Teatro Sociale di Como in collaboration with the G. Verdi Conservatory of Music in ComoSunday 27 September10 a.m.-6 p.m., Piazza Verdi«The Energy Container» – sponsored by Bianchi Group«VOLTA VR. An immersive journey through electricity, from past to present and future»TEDxYouth@LakeComoOrganised by Teatro Sociale di Como As.Li.Co.10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sala Pasta – Teatro Sociale di Como«VOLTA: from the battery to the future»Installation curated by ComoNExT Innovation HubOrganised by Teatro Sociale di Como As.Li.Co.10 a.m.-1 p.m., Yurt, Piazza Verdi (Como)«Science on demand»Looped video screeningsPandora Podcast«The scientific legacy of Alessandro Volta» with Paolo Mazzarello and Lucio Fregonese«Electrochemistry and the discovery of the elements» with Gianfranco Pacchioni«The many forms of energy» with Petra Rudolf«Volta and particle physics» with Michela PrestOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta11.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m., Yurt, Piazza Verdi (Como)«Invisible energy. Nuclear power and the world we live in»Presentation of the e-book published by Egea EditoreTalk by Angela Bracco, University of Milan, INFN Milan and Enrico Fermi Research Centre, RomeOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta5-6 p.m., Yurt, Piazza Verdi (Como)«Seeing the invisible through the infrared eyes of the James Webb Space Telescope»Guest speaker: Stefano Covino, National Institute for Astrophysics, Brera Astronomical ObservatoryOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta in collaboration with the University of Insubria6-7 p.m., Yurt, Piazza Verdi (Como)«Unstable light: on the boundary between order and chaos»Guest speaker: Auro Perego, Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies, Aston University, UKOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta in collaboration with the University of Insubria7-8.30 p.m., Como (venue TBD)«Natural-artificial. The magic of theatrical lighting between art and science»with Raffaella Vitiello and Paolo Di Trapani. Moderated by Oliviero Ponte di PinoOrganised by Fondazione Alessandro Volta in collaboration with AteatroFriday 2 October10 a.m.-12.30 p.m., Sala Bianca, Teatro Sociale di Como«Alessandro Volta Prize: lecture by the award recipient»Jean Dalibard, Collège de France, CNRS Gold Medal2.30-5 p.m., Sant’Abbondio Cloister, University of Insubria«Scientific symposium»With two Nobel Prize winners in Physics: Alain Aspect, 2022 Nobel Prize winner, for quantum entanglement; William Phillips, 1997 Nobel Prize winner, for laser cooling.Organised by the European Physical Society with the support of Acinque S.p.A.