by Nina Vaclavikova
Interview: Roberto Bolelli, general manager Mare Nordest
From May 28 to 31, Trieste’s waterfront will once again become a stage for science, sport and maritime culture as the 15th edition of Mare Nordest returns to Piazza Unità with a renewed international focus and an expanded four-day program.
Presented Tuesday at Palazzo Gopcevich, the festival will center this year on “@mareinvolo,” a theme dedicated to seaplanes and the long relationship between aviation and the sea.
Co-organized by the Comune di Trieste and the Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia, Mare Nordest has evolved into one of the Adriatic city’s signature cultural events, blending marine research, environmental awareness, underwater exploration and public education.
For four days, Piazza Unità d’Italia, the Molo Audace and the Scala Reale will host scientific conferences, exhibitions, workshops, sports events and educational activities aimed at bringing citizens — especially younger generations — closer to the sea and its ecosystems.
“This is a beautiful event and a source of pride for the city,” said Elisa Lodi, Trieste’s councillor for sport policies, noting the festival’s ability to combine culture, science and maritime traditions while engaging students and universities.
Among the most anticipated moments is the return of the Tridenti d’Oro awards, often described as the “Nobel Prize of diving,” presented in collaboration with the Accademia Internazionale di Scienze e Tecniche Subacquee. Past recipients have included legendary explorers such as Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Folco Quilici and Enzo Maiorca. This year’s ceremony will take place on May 29 in the regional government headquarters overlooking the square.
A major addition to the 2026 program is Trieste’s first International Seaplane Gathering. Ten seaplanes are expected to dock along the Molo Audace on May 29 and 30, commemorating the centenary of the first commercial Trieste-Turin seaplane flight and highlighting the city’s historic role in Italian hydroaviation.
The event will also maintain its strong environmental focus. Thursday, May 28, will be dedicated entirely to high school and university students, with talks and interactive laboratories on marine monitoring, sustainability, aviation technology and scientific research.
The festival’s international spirit will culminate on May 31 with the third Traversata delle Tre Nazioni, a 27-kilometer open-water swimming race connecting Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. Sixteen athletes will depart from Punta Salvore in Croatia before crossing the waters near Piran and finishing in the heart of Trieste.
Throughout the festival, the “Mare Nordest Village” will animate the city’s seafront with exhibitions, local food stands, temporary shops and evening entertainment, reinforcing Trieste’s enduring identity as a city shaped by the sea.
