World Shakespeare Congress

The 2026 World Shakespeare Congress will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the International Shakespeare Association.
This major event will take place in Verona—arguably the most quintessential Shakespearean city in the world—from July 20 to 26.

The Congress will unfold in this extraordinary crossroads of ancient and modern Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the setting of The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Romeo and Juliet.

Through the study of Shakespeare’s works, the WSC will engage with key issues of contemporary culture, with a focus on themes related to the future of our planet and humanity.
The Congress will promote discussion on the many ways in which Shakespeare can be understood as "planetary", opening up dialogues on topics such as globality, the posthuman, and the virtual.

A rich programme of events will be held across various venues in the historic centre of Verona, including the University campuses of Santa Marta, Zanotto, and Foreign Languages and Literatures; the Società Letteraria di Verona; Juliet’s Tomb and the G. B. Cavalcaselle Fresco Museum; and the Natural History Museum at Palazzo Pompei.