The last weekend of August will likewise bristle with gastronomic and convivial events, inviting visitors to discover some of Italy’s most enchanting villages and towns. From Molise to Piedmont, Lazio to Romagna, every region expresses itself most fully through its cuisine, offering traditional dishes and regional specialties.
We have highlighted the must-attend weekend events starting Friday the 28th and running through Sunday, August 30, 2026 (some last only a day); here are our recommendations.
Cheese Fair in Agnone (IS)
On August 28, the expansive spaces of Agnone’s Palasport host the opening of the fourth edition of the National Italian Cheese Fair, Casearia, which until August 30 will showcase the most original productions from more than 70 cheesemakers across over 200 varieties of cheese, ranging from pecorino to robiola to caciocavallo, from truffled cheeses to the most niche artisanal forms, all accompanied by a rich program of special events including family workshops, talks, masterclasses, and show cooking. A full weekend during which the Molisan town of Agnone becomes the stage for Italian taste. On Friday and Saturday, Notte Bianca will feature special openings from 9:00 PM to midnight. The final day will host the Casearia Award ceremony, and the fair will close at 8:00 PM.
Oktoberfest in Pinarella di Cervia (RA)
From August 28 to September 6, the Tritone avenue in Pinarella di Cervia will transform into a grand festival village with the first edition of Oktoberfest, a celebration destined to become a new fixed event on the late-summer calendar. Beside the historic Full Moon structure, there will be a street market with exhibitors and artisans, while the large adjacent parking area will host a true amusement hub with a Luna Park, a gastronomic zone, stands of the renowned Hofbräuhaus HB beer from Munich and classic German dishes such as pork shanks, sausages, sauerkraut, and spätzle, naturally paired with the restaurant’s traditional à la carte menu. The festival will be enriched by a top-tier musical lineup, with free admission on a voluntary-donation basis each evening.
DiVino Etrusco in Tarquinia (VT)
The 20th edition of DiVino Etrusco confirms the success of one of the Tuscia region’s flagship wine-and-food events. Once again, the festival’s early days registered a very positive turnout, with tens of thousands of visitors in the first four days. The event opened on August 20 at Palazzo Vitelleschi, home to the National Archaeological Museum of Tarquinia, and will resume from August 27 to 29. More than 50 wineries take part, with tastings guided by the expertise of the Fisar Tuscia Viterbese sommeliers. In addition to wines from the Dodecapoli Etrusca, attendees can also discover producers from Sardinia, Calabria, and Sicily, reflecting a Mediterranean opening that mirrors the commercial and cultural exchanges of the Etruscan world.
Flavors of the Lake in Baveno (VB)
From August 27 to 31, 2026, Baveno on Lake Maggiore welcomes the second weekend of the 21st edition of “Sapori di Lago,” the wine-and-dish festival devoted to the authentic flavors of lake and river fish. In the kitchens, the Association’s chefs present a rich menu built around local specialties, including the festival’s crowd-pleasers: lake fritto misto, black rice with river shrimp, lavarello in carpione, lake ravioli, and marinated trout. The evenings will be animated by live music.
Wine Festival in Montecarlo di Toscana (LU)
All is ready for the 58th edition of the Wine Festival, scheduled from Friday, August 28 to September 8 in Montecarlo di Toscana, the event dedicated to wine and local gastronomic excellence. Between tastings, food stalls, performances, and fortress tours, the celebration brings the town center to life over several days. The events focus in the village’s main venues: Piazza d’Armi, the festival’s hub, Piazza Garibaldi, Via Nuova, Piazza Carrara, and the Fortress. The “Tasting Under the Stars” offers tastings of around 80 wines, complemented by cured meats and other specialties. Guided fortress visits are also organized, including candlelit tours. In the gardens beneath the Fortress, a historical group performs medieval games, while a procession is planned for August 29. The festival will close on Tuesday, September 8 at 9:00 PM with the concluding Procession: Madonna del Soccorso.
Ciüsa Duvarta in Chiusa di Pesio (CN)
From August 28 to 30, the 26th edition of Ciüsa Duvarta returns, the festival dedicated to the Patron Saint Anthony that takes place in the village of Chiusa di Pesio, Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club. The four days of the 26th edition will bring taste, tradition, culture, spectacle, sport, music, and fun to the town center, with a program designed to engage residents, families, and visitors. The event kicks off Friday the 28th at 7:30 PM with the “Grand Raviolata in the Square”; Saturday will feature many events, from Pilots for a Day to the Playground Square to the Grand Polentata; Sunday will be Ciüsa Duvarta Fair Day, transforming Chiusa di Pesio’s historic center into a vast open-air stage: from early morning, streets and squares will buzz with stalls of local crafts, agricultural and farm-to-table products, antiques, hobbies, and collectibles.
White Gold Festival of the Valle d’Aosta at Pied de Ville (AO)
From August 27 to 30, the 53rd White Gold Festival of the Valle d’Aosta returns, a four-day celebration of a storied and uniquely characterized gastronomic product: Lard d’Arnad DOP, the only lard in Europe with a Protected Designation of Origin. Also known as “Féhta dou lar,” the festival began in the 1970s when local youths sought to share the pride of their centuries-old culinary tradition with the world. For the 2026 edition, set in the evocative clearing at Località Pied de Ville (historically known as “La Keya”), visitors can sample the lardo in all its variations inside charming wooden huts decorated with flowers and embroidered hemp cloths. The festival features: food-and-wever markets by local producers, open artisan workshops, themed lunches and dinners, folkloric performances by the Arnad Philharmonic, and free-entry evenings of entertainment.
Mangialonga in La Morra (CN)
Among UNESCO-listed vineyards, on Sunday, August 30, the Mangialonga takes place, the famous non-competitive gastronomic walk returning in 2026 among UNESCO World Heritage vineyards, a true Piedmontese institution. A beloved event that will go ahead even in bad weather, because in the Langhe wine improves even gray days. The concept is simple and brilliant: slowly stroll through spectacular hills, sample Langhe specialties, and taste wines from local cellars. The route is about 4 km long and ends in La Morra, one of Langhe’s prettiest villages, also known as the “balcony of the Langhe” because its viewpoints offer an incredible panorama of the Barolo vineyards and the Alps.
Festival of Recovery in the Forlì-Cesena villages
From August 28 to 30, the Festival del Recupero returns to the Forlì-Cesena Apennines, an itinerant event conceived by the Tempi di Recupero Association, now in its sixth edition. In the villages of Pianetto di Galeata, San Piero in Bagno, and Santa Sofia, a richly packed program awaits: chef’s dinners, foraging, workshops, conferences, a producers’ market, and activities for children. More than 30 of Italy’s and abroad’s most esteemed chefs, pizzaioli, gelatai, and bartenders are involved. Among this year’s novelties are the Forest Aperitif on Friday, August 28; a dinner dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Bernardo Bertolucci’s film Novecento on Saturday, August 29; and a talk and songs by Maurizio Carucci, frontman of Ex-Otago, also on Saturday, August 29.
Bubbles of Malt in Biella
From August 30 to September 7, 2026, Biella returns to transform itself into Italy’s beer capital with the 11th edition of Bolle di Malto – Italian Beer Show, an event that in recent years has established itself among the country’s most important happenings dedicated to brewing culture, food-and-drink, music, tourism, and regional enhancement. Nine festival days, with more than one hundred events, 50 craft breweries across squares, the Show, and related activities including outdoor pursuits, cultural visits, and widespread events, and 20 street-food kitchens from all over Italy. Additionally, every evening from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM, the squares will host free concerts, DJ sets, live performances, and musical projects.
