The City Council of L’Aquila has approved a resolution that officially includes in the program for L’Aquila, Italian Capital of Culture 2026, an exhibition project curated by artist Maurizio Cattelan and curator Marta Papini and organized by MAXXI L’Aquila.

The initiative, promoted and funded by the City of L’Aquila, has a total budget of 874,000 euros, of which 784,000 euros come from the Restart 2 Program.
The project, which holds great symbolic and artistic value, is fully aligned with the objectives of the “L’Aquila Città Multiverso” initiative, which is based on the principles of social cohesion, innovation, and sustainability.

“The MAXXI project, conceived by two leading figures such as Maurizio Cattelan and Marta Papini, reinforces our vision of a city that, through culture, regenerates itself and shapes the future,” said Pierluigi Biondi, mayor of L’Aquila – “This is one of the strategic initiatives that will mark our year as the Italian Capital of Culture, strengthening the collaboration between the City, MAXXI L’Aquila, and the city’s major museums. I had the opportunity to speak with Cattelan right here in L’Aquila last summer: his creative energy and his ironic yet profound perspective best embody the spirit of our journey toward 2026. ‘One region, a thousand capitals.’”

This project joins the initiatives already announced in recent weeks, including the National Arts Award, the Academies Event, the exhibition “Architecture and Urban Planning in Abruzzo 1930–1960,” the ItARTS Festival – Back to L’Aquila, and Marinella Senatore’s performance “The School of Narrative Dance,” all of which help shape the diverse mosaic of L’Aquila 2026.

The full calendar of events will be presented during a national event with institutions and strategic partners, which will outline the overall program and guidelines for the year as the Capital.