The fairs are entering their peak, and there are really countless events awaiting us in the weekend spanning 11 to 13 September 2026 (some continue even until the end of the month). Traditional festivals, historical reenactments, seasonal regional specialties (the first mushrooms and truffles arrive), events borrowed from other countries (such as Genoa’s Oktoberfest) and many opportunities to try new dishes, discover new places and enjoy company—the foundation of any proper festivity.
We have selected the ten most interesting events of the weekend across Italy; here are our recommendations.
Oktoberfest in Genoa
In Genoa, the Oktoberfest has returned, the only event officially recognized by Bavarian authorities in Italy. Inaugurated on Thursday, September 10 with the OktoberParade and the traditional rite of opening the first beer keg, the “O’zapft is!”, it runs until the 27th of the month. At the heart of the 2026 beer festival, now in its 16th edition, is the Green Village, a new area entirely devoted to environmental and social sustainability. Piazza della Vittoria is all about mugs. There will be over 140 events dedicated to music, culture, sport, activities for children, families and the territory in addition to the musical program of the Out! Festival. In the large tent it is possible to sample specialties from Bavarian cuisine: handmade canederli, pretzels, wurst, schnitzel, ribs and the ever-present pork knuckle with potatoes. The offering is enriched by spätzle with speck and the area dedicated to the sandwich shop.
Riso in Vercelli
From 11 to 13 September, Vercelli celebrates its cereal, of which Piedmont is the leading producer in Europe, with the second edition of Risò – International Rice Festival, which transforms Vercelli and its province into a stage for territorial promotion. The event begins on Friday from 7:00 PM with a wine and regional agricultural products tasting. On Saturday at 12:00 the show cooking Riso’n’Roll – Fassushi Edition and at 6:00 PM Maccagno in risaia, while on Sunday at 11:00 AM the appointment is with Riso, passione e novaresità: le eccellenze in scena. For the whole weekend, producer stands, talks with experts and tours and interactive areas for children.
Pizzocchero and Sciatt Festival in Cassano Magnano (VA)
From 11 to 13 September 2026, Cassano Magnano hosts three days of mountain cuisine. For a full weekend, the municipal celebration area transforms into a small corner of Valtellina, with a gastronomic itinerary built around traditional recipes: pizzoccheri, sciatt, taragna polenta and other specialties designed to accompany the arrival of autumn. The festival takes place inside a covered tent that will allow the event to run even in bad weather. Entrance is free throughout the festival.
Sagra del Tartufo di Sant’Agostino (FE)
The Truffle Festival continues for its second weekend in the Ferrara province, invading every corner of the festival and ending up on every dish: tagliolini, tortellini, risotto, passatelli, lasagne, eggs and even pairings that will delight the most gluttonous. The menu of the festival is a true love letter to the famed “diamond of the earth,” accompanied by enticing antipasti, traditional Emilian second courses and desserts to close in style. The heart of the event is the large restaurant set up at the Renato Caselli municipal sports field, open every evening from 7:30 PM and Sunday also for lunch. This hamlet of Terre del Reno has always been linked to the Centopieve area and guards one of its most precious treasures: the Bosco della Panfilia, one of the last plains forests in Emilia-Romagna. Here, among poplars, willows, oaks, hazels and birches, the festival’s star is born, in an environment that seems tailor-made to safeguard the secrets and scents of the land. It is no accident that Sant’Agostino is part of the National Association of Truffle Towns.
Festival of Longarini and Ciammellocco in Cretone (RM)
Two weekends, 11–13 September and 18–20 September, in Cretone, also famed for its historic thermal baths, the protagonists are longarini, the festival’s authentic flagship dish, and ciammellocco, the traditional peasant doughnut, both great flavors of Sabina Romana tradition. Ciammellocco is one of the most representative specialties of Cretone’s gastronomic heritage. Prepared with simple ingredients such as flour, eggs, anise, lemon and olive oil from Sabina, it is a genuine product that for generations has accompanied rural life by its enduring fragrance, becoming the ideal companion for farmers’ days. During the festival it will also be possible to explore the village’s history thanks to costumed reenactments, thespians and medieval atmospheres that will relive pages of the past, turning a day of celebration into a sensory experience to be lived with all five senses.
Food & Wine Festival in San Pancrazio (AR)
Saturday, September 12, from 12:00 to 17:00, the San Pancrazio Food & Wine Festival opens, a day that transforms the streets of the village into a diffuse pathway among haute cuisine, local wineries and cultural events in the Bucine district. The centerpiece of the event will be the main square, set up with tasting counters dedicated to some of Tuscany’s most interesting enogastronomic realities. Access to the town is free, while tastings are accessible via tickets: 5 euros for each culinary proposal and 3 euros for wine glasses.
Palio of the Santo in San Marzano sul Sarno (SA)
In San Marzano sul Sarno, the Palio of the Saint runs until 18 September 2026. The historic festival, born to honor the Patron Saint Blaise V.M., this year renews itself with a perfect mix of folklore, competition and entertainment. The atmosphere of the past will come alive through majestic processions in period costumes and fire-dance performances. The centerpiece of the event will be the neighbourhoods’ contest: in addition to the classics such as Tug-of-War and the traditional Tri Ludi, the edition’s real attraction will be the new and spectacular “Horizontal Soap Pole,” a balance challenge that promises plenty of twists. The Palio will be a family-friendly celebration, with a dedicated area for children equipped with games and inflatable structures. Furthermore, each evening the festival route will be enriched by a Taste Village, where food stalls celebrate the region’s excellences. The official opening of the celebrations is scheduled for Friday, September 11 at 8:30 PM in Piazza Umberto I, which will host the solemn inaugural parade, setting the festivities and races in motion.
Festival of the Gardens in Piossasco (TO)
On Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, Casa Lajolo in Piossasco returns to be the beating heart of eno-gastronomy and green culture with the new edition of the Festa degli Orti, this year dedicated to “The tastes of the earth.” A rich program transforms the dwelling and its gardens into an open-air workshop, capable of uniting haute cuisine from chefs such as Matteo Baronetto, scientific outreach from Giorgio Vacchiano, guided tastings, hands-on workshops and a rich market of local producers. The centerpiece of the initiative is a guided experiential journey conducted by the five senses, designed to stimulate sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing through sensory paths in the dark, sessions on fermentation, oil, honey and even music paired with food. A notable novelty this edition is the activation of a shuttle service linking the Borgo di San Vito to the city center, and for trekking enthusiasts the reopening of the panoramic “Strà d’j Babj,” a hike to ascend on foot through the hillside.
