PRESS ACCREDITATION NOTE
Africa Day 2026
“Italy – Africa: Cultures at Play”
(May 25, 2026, Treccani Italian Encyclopedia Institute)
On Monday, May 25, 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m., on the occasion of the anniversary of the birth of the African Union, the Africa Day event “Italy – Africa: Cultures at Play” will be held at the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia Institute. This event is a strategic opportunity to strengthen relations between the two Parties and explore the theme of sport as a means of encounter, dialogue, identity, and sustainable growth.
The opening session will feature a speech by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, introduced by greetings from Carlo Ossola, President of the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia Institute, and Vincenza Lomonaco, President of the Scientific Committee of the Institute for Italy-Africa Dialogue (IDIAF). This will be followed by remarks by the Ambassador of the State of Eritrea, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps to Italy, Fessahazion Pietros Menghistu; and by Firmin Edouard Motoko, a member of the IDIAF Scientific Committee and former Deputy Director General of the UNESCO Department for Africa and External Relations.
The works, which will feature prominent representatives from the world of Italian and African sports, will continue with three panels.
- “Sport as a Shared Heritage: Identity, Memory, and Intercultural Dialogue”
- “Sport and Education: Training, Mobility, and New Opportunities for Young People”
- “Sport and Economic Development: Supply Chain, Innovation, and Cooperation”
The final session (starting at 12:45 p.m.) will feature presentations by Angelo Piero Cappello, Director General of the Mission Unit for Cultural Cooperation with Africa and the Mediterranean; Massimo Riccardo, Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for the Mattei Plan; and Massimo Bray, Director General of the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia Institute.
Journalists, photographers and cameramen interested in covering the event shall submit their accreditation request by Friday, May 22, at 5:00 p.m. registering through the link https://portaleaccreditamento.esteri.it and attaching the required documents.
Those who have already registered online and have received confirmation of their registration can access their profile and select participation in the event.
For any questions, please contact the Communications Unit at 06/3691.3432, 8210, 8573, 3078, and 3450 (accreditamentostampa@esteri.it).
Badges shall be picked up in person at Palazzo Mattei di Paganica, main entrance, Piazza dell’Enciclopedia Italiana, 4, on the day of the event from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m.
Please note that since the event is taking place in a historic building, it will not be possible to provide audio output jacks. Cameramen wishing to record audio are advised to bring a microphone to place near the speakers.
Submitting the above-mentioned personal data means authorising the use thereof in accordance with Italian Legislative Decree no. 196 of 30 June 2003 and the GDPR (EU Regulation 2016/679) by the Unit for Communication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the data controller, for strictly professional purposes and/or purposes related to the performance of the event in question.
