The magic of shooting stars meets the charm of small Italian villages with The Village of Wishes 2026, the national event promoted by the Association I Borghi più belli d’Italia, returning on Monday August 10 for its sixth edition. About 120 member villages within the network will welcome residents and travelers for a special evening dedicated to dreams, emotions, and the exploration of the territories.
The chosen date is not accidental: the Night of San Lorenzo has long been linked to the rite of gazing at the sky in search of a shooting star to entrust a wish to. From this tradition, Il Borgo dei Desideri was born, an appointment that transforms Italy’s historic centers into places suspended between reality and imagination, where alleys, squares, gardens and hidden corners become stages for an authentic experience.
Il Borgo dei Desideri 2026
From sunset to dawn, those visiting the participating villages will be able to write their own wish and entrust it to one of the symbolic places chosen by the local communities: a fountain, a well, a bridge, or a secret garden. A simple gesture that will help create a large collective narrative made of hopes, expectations, and thoughts directed toward the future.
The theme of the 2026 edition invites everyone to reflect with an evocative question: “If tonight the stars could listen to you, what would you ask?”. An invitation to slow down, lift the gaze to the sky, and let yourself be carried away by the atmosphere of the villages, between culture, hospitality, and beauty.
The evening will be enriched by numerous initiatives organized by the individual municipalities: astronomical observations, concerts, performances, guided tours, tastings, and activities dedicated to local traditions. Each village will interpret the event according to its own identity, offering visitors a chance to discover the historical, landscape, and gastronomic heritage of the small Italian towns.
Even for 2026 the wishes collected will be evaluated by a jury that will award the most original and meaningful one with a Smartbox by I Borghi più belli d’Italia.
I programmi dell’iniziativa
Among the most evocative initiatives stands out the one in Rassa, in Piedmont, where the evening will be accompanied by itinerant music with accordion and hurdy-gurdy, stories about history and local legends. Visitors will be able to leave their thoughts in the “Heart of the Wishes” and also take part in the Merenda Cenoira with regional specialties.
In Ceriana, in Liguria, the program will combine discovering the village with stargazing: after the guided visit and a starry aperitif, the Ceriana Astronomical Group will accompany the audience in the discovery of shooting stars.
In San Benedetto Po, in Lombardy, the star of the evening will be the evocative well of wishes in the Chiostro di San Simeone, where one’s dream can be entrusted within a unique historic setting. The evening also includes an escape room experience in the ancient monastic spaces.
In Tuscany,
Also Umbria will be featured with several events: in Allerona one can journey through geology, nature and astronomy up to the Monte Rufeno observatory, while in Corciano there will be stargazing walks, visits to historic astronomical instruments, concerts, and a dinner dedicated to Umbrian flavors.
In Abruzzo, Caramanico Terme will offer an immersive experience under the Maiella skies with a trek, tasting of local products, and astronomical observation with a professional telescope.
From the Valle d’Aosta to the Friuli Venezia Giulia, passing through Lazio, Trentino Alto Adige and many other Italian regions, Il Borgo dei Desideri 2026 will be a night to rediscover the magic of small municipalities and entrust dreams to the stars.
For the complete list of participating towns and details of all programs, consult the official site Borghi più Belli d’Italia.
