Gea Art Fest Lugano

Free entry

The GEA Lugano Art Fest returns to the Patio of the Palazzo Civico in Lugano from 7 to 15 September 2026, with an exhibition dedicated to the carnet de voyage and on-site drawing.

The exhibition features 15 artists from Ticino and 189 original works, portraying places, people and stories from the region through different techniques, styles and artistic sensibilities. From the history of the Sassello district to that of aviator Pierino Primavesi, from the memory of the historic Gambrinus brewery to everyday views of the city, the works create a journey through Lugano as observed and depicted directly on site.

The participating artists are members of Urban Sketchers Ticino (USTi): Loredana Baccianti Nottaris, Silvia Zemp Campana, Emilia Ciardi, Christian Fortunato, Salvatore Grande, Dorothea Inglin, Roberto Lironi, Giovanna Marchesi, Adriana Parola Sassi, Bruno Pinoli, Gianni Riva, Fredi Schafroth, Francesca Sanfilippo, Fausto Sassi and Gabriella Wermelinger-Schütz.

The exhibition will be open to the public every day from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm, with free admission.

The programme will be presented on Thursday, 3 September, with a breakfast at the Lugano Cantonal Library, starting at 9:30 am.

We invite you to the opening of the exhibition on Monday, 7 September at 5:00 pm at the Patio of the Palazzo Civico in Lugano.

From 5:00 to 6:00 pm, the opening ceremony will take place, followed by a guided tour led by Artistic Director Cristina Rogna Manassero. At 6:00 pm, the first GEA Talk, “What is a Carnet de Voyage?”, will take place with Bruno Pinoli and Loredana Baccianti from Urban Sketchers Ticino.