The grape and wine festivals not to be missed in Italy this year

We've selected ten festivals and events to mark on your calendar, including major wine tourism events and historic festivals. These are a chance to learn about appellations and grape varieties, sample excellent regional specialties, and experience the grape harvest atmosphere during the most evocative time of year.

Open Cellars during Harvest

Until October 25, 2026, the wineries of the Wine Tourism Movement will open their doors during the busiest weeks of the year. The Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia (Open Cellars in Harvest) initiative allows visitors to follow the grape's journey from the vineyard to the cellar, including harvesting, pressing, fermentation, and the first tastings.

The program varies from region to region and includes educational harvests, tastings, picnics among the vines, walks, music, lunches, and dinners in the vineyard. There are also family-friendly options, with children's activities and opportunities to experience the countryside. An original way to discover Italian wine directly in the places where it originates.

65th Monferrato Wine Festival (AL)

Casale Monferrato will host the 65th Monferrato Wine Festival on September 18, 19, and 20, and on September 25, 26, and 27, 2026. Thirty Monferrato wine producers and 31 Pro Loco organizations will be present in Piazza Castello and the Pavia Market, with thousands of seats and a rich gastronomic journey.

Alongside the glasses, some of the most iconic dishes of Monferrato cuisine will be served, from agnolotti to panissa, friciulin (fried pasta), mixed fried fish, and bagna cauda. The festival thus offers an opportunity to discover the region through its most authentic pairing: wine and local cuisine.

Event participants will also have the opportunity to decree the “Wine of the Festival 2026”.

140th Grape Festival of Merano (BZ)

From October 16 to 18, 2026, Merano will celebrate 140 years of its Grape Festival. The event, founded in 1886, is one of the South Tyrolean city's most deeply rooted traditions and will return in 2026 with a program that blends tradition and modernity.

The festival will feature music and folklore, autumnal specialties, and initiatives showcasing local culture, in an atmosphere that combines tradition with an openness to the future. The highlight will be Sunday's parade, featuring allegorical floats, bands, and groups in traditional costume, transforming Merano into a grand stage dedicated to the grape harvest.

Franciacorta Festival in the Cellar (BS)

From September 18th to 20th, 2026, Franciacorta will celebrate its most famous wine with an entire weekend dedicated to wineries, tastings, and the region. Participating wineries will offer tours and tastings, as well as culinary, cultural, and outdoor experiences.

The Festival is designed to transcend the glass and showcase the landscape, encompassing vineyards, castles, monasteries, and historic homes. The 2026 program will also include "Focus Franciacorta" events, with masterclasses, vertical tastings, vineyard tours, and meetings with producers and winemakers.

98th Soave Grape Festival (VR)

From September 18 to 20, 2026, the Scaliger village of Soave will host the 98th Grape Festival. The event celebrates the town's connection to its winemaking tradition, bringing events and initiatives dedicated to grapes and wine to the historic center.

The festival is also an opportunity to visit one of the most charming medieval villages in the Veneto region and combine it with a stroll among the walls, the castle, and the vineyard-covered hills surrounding Soave. An ideal event for those seeking an autumn getaway filled with landscapes, history, and flavors.

59th Grasparossa Grape and Lambrusco Festival in Castelvetro (MO)

On September 19th and 20th and 25th, 26th, and 27th, 2026, Castelvetro di Modena will celebrate the 59th edition of the Grape and Lambrusco Grasparossa Festival. The hilltop village near Modena will come alive with tastings, music, street food, and events dedicated to the local winemaking tradition.

During the event, there will be a Lambrusco Grasparossa Tasting Tour, featuring 14 local wineries offering unmissable tastings. It's a great opportunity to experience Lambrusco Grasparossa firsthand in the production area and stroll through the historic center, the shops, and the festival grounds.

74th Provincial Grape Festival of Riolo Terme (RA)

From September 25 to 27, 2026, Riolo Terme, in Emilia-Romagna, will celebrate the 74th Provincial Grape Festival. Three days dedicated to flavors, music, and traditions, with a program that focuses on grapes and wine, as well as the conviviality of Romagna.

Among the food events, the great polenta feast on Friday at Pertini Park stands out, while the program also includes a grape-pressing competition, games, shows, and musical evenings. The festival is an opportunity to experience a popular grape harvest celebration and discover a corner of the Romagna hinterland.

70th Grape Festival of Arcevia (AN)

From September 24 to 27, 2026, the historic center of Arcevia, in the Marche region, will host the 70th Grape Festival, one of the most heartfelt autumn events in the Marche region. For four days, the town will celebrate the grape harvest with wine, local cuisine, music, and activities for all ages. Among the event's highlights is "Vergara in Gara," a competition for pasta makers to choose the best tagliatella.

The streets and squares will transform into a culinary journey thanks to the Locande del Buon Ristoro, where you can sample traditional recipes paired with wines from the Val Mivola hills. It's the perfect opportunity to combine a folk festival with a tour of the Marche hinterland.

43rd Grape and Wine Festival of Chiusi (SI)

From September 25 to 27, 2026, Chiusi, Tuscany, will celebrate the 43rd Grape and Wine Festival. In the historic center, wineries, wine shops, and taverns will open, creating a journey through tastings, traditional cuisine, music, and entertainment. The program will also include street bands, folklore, dinners in taverns, and tastings in Piazza Duomo.

In the days leading up to the festival, from September 18th to 24th, a calendar of events called "Waiting for the Festival..." is also planned, with music, the opening of the wine shop, street food, and tastings.

102nd Marino Grape Festival (RM)

Among the most famous events in Lazio is the historic Marino Grape Festival, scheduled for September 26 and 27 and then October 3, 4, and 5, 2026. The festival is deeply rooted in the winemaking tradition of the Castelli Romani and attracts visitors every year to celebrate the harvest and local wine.

The heart of the event is the relationship between the city and its agricultural tradition, with events, tastings, and spectacular moments. It's one of the most characteristic festivals of the Roman autumn and a chance to discover Marino and its surroundings during a particularly lively time.