The August calendar continues to be rich with eno-gastronomic events across Italy. From Liguria to Sicily, there are countless fairs and traditional celebrations taking place from north to south of the country.
From rice to polenta, from honey to hazelnuts, from the hay festival to patron saint celebrations, we have selected ten must-see events that will delight the whole family.
Rice Festival 2026 in Castel d’Ario (MN)
From August 22 to 25, 2026, the town of Castel d’Ario hosts the 14th edition of the Rice Festival, as part of the traditional August Fair: four evenings dedicated to the flavors of the Mantua area, conviviality, and local culinary culture. Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza Castello once again fill with long tables, aromas, and visitors ready to be won over by one of the symbols of Mantuan cuisine. The absolute star is the Rice Risotto Contest “Spiga d’Oro,” the culinary challenge that each evening pits different interpretations of one of the most iconic dishes of tradition against each other. An opportunity to taste original recipes, compare flavors and, why not, elect your own favorite risotto. You will be able to sample risotto with saffron, Prosecco, and shrimp; risotto with porcini mushrooms; the traditional risotto with Pèssin; the famous risotto with frogs, an authentic specialty of the plains cuisine; the rice with Saltarei; the classic Isolana risotto; the risotto with cacio, pepe, and crispy pancetta; the Risotto Oro di Sicilia, enriched with Mediterranean flavors; and the risotto with radicchio, speck, and Monte Veronese.
Strazzatella Festival in Guardia Perticara (PZ)
In Guardia Perticara on August 20 and 21 the Strazzatella is celebrated, the focaccia that smells of oven and tradition, crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, freshly baked and still steaming, born from the same dough as bread and, for centuries, accompanying the life of families in one of the most fascinating villages of Basilicata, known as the town of stone houses. On August 21 Strazzatella leaves the ovens and becomes the queen of the table. Guardia Perticara dedicates a special day to it, inviting visitors and enthusiasts to discover a product that embodies the straightforwardness and genuineness of Lucanian cuisine.
Sagra delle Sagne Scandrigliesi in Scandriglia (RI)
Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22, 2026, the 41st Sagra delle Sagne Scandrigliesi, a traditional historic festival whose first edition dates back to 1986. A much-anticipated and heartfelt popular celebration, with tastings of local specialties, typical products and dancing musical evenings; the festival is dedicated to “Sagne” (handmade egg noodles), a pasta specialty rolled by hand by local women, dressed with sauce cooked according to an old recipe. Alongside the “Sagne,” bruschette with extra virgin olive oil from Scandriglia and wine will also be served. To enliven the event, there will also be artisanal markets, entertainment, and folklore.
The Paths of Honey in Melendugno (LE)
On the weekend of August 21-22, the historic center of Melendugno, among the most beautiful in the Salento, becomes the heart of honey thanks to The Paths of Honey, an event now at its fifth edition featuring tastings of local honey accompanied by the flavors of traditional local gastronomy. The program foresees two evenings aimed at enhancing and promoting this characteristic local product, with activities for children, street food, live music, and the distinctive lantern displays of Apulian tradition. The fenugreek hay honey produced in Melendugno won the Mayor’s Honey Award in 2019. The link between the Melendugno territory and honey is very old: the city’s symbol indeed depicts a pine tree with a beehive on the trunk, surrounded by three bees in flight. The various appointments will begin at 4:30 PM and continue until late evening.
Saint Vito Festival in Omegna (VB)
The Saint Vito Festival is one of the oldest and most frequented patronal celebrations in Piedmont, and this year it reaches its 123rd edition. It takes place in Omegna, on Lake Orta, and this year is scheduled from August 21 to 31 on one of Italy’s most beloved lakeside venues for tourists from all over the world. In addition to the religious events, including the evocative procession with the urn of Saint Vito (the community has safeguarded for centuries the memory of the Saint, a martyr who arrived on the shores of Lake Orta from the Roman Catacombs on the “Calends” day, August 27, 1611), there are numerous opportunities for music and entertainment with fireworks.
Polenta Festival in Orvinio (RI)
Steaming polenta, a castle (Malvezzi-Campeggi) that overlooks the village, and a town that was once called Canemorto. This is why on August 22 and 23 it is worth planning a day trip to Orvinio, one of the Borghi più belli d’Italia, in the heart of the Monti Lucretili. The weekend’s absolute star will be the 43rd Polenta Festival, the event that for over forty years has drawn enthusiasts of traditional cooking and visitors seeking the most authentic flavors of the Sabina. Here polenta is not just a dish; it is a collective rite, a chance to gather in the square, eat together, and experience the genuine atmosphere of a village where time seems to flow at a different pace. The food stand will open on both days at 7:00 PM, ready to serve steaming portions of polenta. In the afternoon, children can participate in the “La Polenta” workshop and enjoy the inflatable play area. At 6:00 PM, regional wines will take the stage.
Hay Festival in Livigno
On August 23, 2026, in Valtellina, it’s time for the Hay Festival, an event that celebrates the deep bond between the community and the land through the revival of ancient hay-working techniques. A day dedicated to the gestures of traditional farming, the care of the land, and the value of those know-how that continue to tell the tale of the connection between man and the mountains. The festival is spent in the company of a folkloric group and the distinctive Livigno costumes to relive local traditions. At 10:00 AM there is a parade departing from the Church of Santa Maria Nascente. During the day, performances, lunch, games, a representation of haymaking, a glimpse into life in former times, and a waltz with an orchestra. Then, dinner and a dancing evening.
Cortemilia National Hazelnut Fair (CN)
The 72nd Cortemilia National Hazelnut Fair kicks off on August 22, 2026, the reference event for promoting the Piemonte IGP Hazelnut and the entire Alta Langa area, and at the same time, an important opportunity to tell the story of a territory made of landscapes, culture, traditions, tourism, and quality of life. Cortemilia belongs to the Piemonte Sustainable Villages circuit and is considered the capital of Piemonte IGP Hazelnut. The Tonda Gentile delle Langhe Hazelnut finds in this area the ideal environmental conditions to develop unique qualities of flavor, aroma, and versatility, becoming over the years a product appreciated in Italy and around the world. The fair offers a rich calendar of initiatives dedicated to eno-gastronomy, culture, shows, family activities, and exploration of Alta Langha. The novelty of the 2026 edition will be the twinning with Trentino-Alto Adige, which will bring Cortemilia the story of a new excellence: the Slow Food Presidio of Terragnolo Buckwheat, an expression of an ancient agricultural tradition and a cultural heritage that continues to be safeguarded and valued. On Saturday and Sunday, institutional stands from the Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta and the Slow Food Presidio of Terragnolo Buckwheat will be present.
Is Fassonis Regatta in Santa Giusta (OR)
On August 22 and 23 in the Santa Giusta lagoon, the 45th edition of the Regata de Is Fassonis takes place, two days dedicated to one of the community’s most cherished traditions, an event capable of uniting history, culture, environment, the regattanti’s skills, music, and gastronomy. Is Fassonis are the ancient boats born from the lagoon’s reeds. On Saturday, August 22, the paddle-row regatta opens the event, followed by tastings of local gastronomic products and music. On Sunday, August 23, from 5:00 PM, the rowers will parade accompanied by Sardinian folk groups in traditional dress, while the main regatta begins at 5:30 PM. The festival will continue at 8:30 PM with the Roasted Fish Feast and then with the concert of Tazenda.
DiVino Etrusco in Tarquinia (VT)
From August 20 to 23 and from August 27 to 29, 2026, Tarquinia’s historic center hosts the 20th edition of DiVino Etrusco, featuring 53 wineries from the Etruscan Decapolis, as well as Calabria, Sicily, and Sardinia. It is one of the most eagerly awaited eno-gastronomic events of the summer in the Tuscia, capable of highlighting the wine-growing realities and opening up to comparisons with other regions, in a tasting path curated by sommeliers.
