We are living in an era of transition marked by systemic instability, both open and latent conflicts, a crisis in international cooperation, and the progressive weakening of multilateralism as we have known it. The rules, institutions, and mechanisms that have governed the global order since the post-war period appear increasingly inadequate to address contemporary challenges.
The disengagement—explicit or implicit—of the United States from numerous global issues, ranging from the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals to climate governance, from collective security to technological regulation, is accelerating a redefinition of international balances. In this vacuum, new power dynamics are emerging: a world that is increasingly multipolar, fragmented into blocs, spheres of influence, and flexible alliances, where competition and cooperation coexist in an unstable way.
In this context, Italy and the European Union are called upon to play a leading role in promoting dialogue, respect for international law, and multilateral cooperation, leveraging their experience in integration and their commitment to peace, sustainable development, and the protection of human rights. In particular, Italy, through its diplomatic tradition and its engagement within European and multilateral frameworks, can actively contribute to the management of international crises, to supporting populations affected by humanitarian emergencies, and to strengthening stable and secure economic and trade relations.
For seventeen years, the Diplomacy Festival has represented an authoritative platform for dialogue among institutions, embassies, think tanks, companies, international organizations, universities, and civil society, fostering high-level debate on major global geopolitical and economic issues. The 2026 edition will explore what lies ahead in a world shaped by the aforementioned geopolitical tensions, energy and technological transitions, and the ongoing redefinition of value chains. “Running on the Edge” is not merely a subtitle; it describes a permanent geopolitical condition. It means governing uncertainty rather than being governed by it; investing while global balances are shifting; and exercising leadership as paradigms evolve. It raises questions about how to reconcile strategic vision, risk management, and innovation capacity at a historical moment defined by a delicate balance: between cooperation and competition, between security and vulnerability, and between transition and systemic crises.
There are many arenas today in which sovereignty, security, development, and democratic stability are being tested. Power grids have become geopolitical infrastructure, renewable energy sources are tools of strategic autonomy, sustainable finance is a lever of international policy, and industrial choices influence balances between continents, among many other factors.
Italy stands precisely at the threshold evoked by the Festival’s title: between the Global North and South, between mature markets and emerging economies, between technological innovation and social responsibility, and between climate transition and economic sustainability.
In this scenario, Italian and European economic diplomacy will necessarily need to influence international decision-making, making a concrete contribution to discussions on security, the defense of international law, various transitions, and the fight against climate change, while consistently aiming for strategic autonomy and an EU industrial policy that strengthens competitiveness. In other words, it must send a strong signal of the leading role it seeks to play in global transformation processes.
To this end, the Festival aims to create opportunities for dialogue to share ideas and organize sessions addressing, among others, the following strategic areas:
Our goal is for the 17th edition of the Festival to once again serve as an authoritative platform through which to discuss not only the future of our country and of Europe, but also broader international dynamics.