Parma Ham Festival 2026 in Langhirano: Dates and Full Programme
Date: 4–6 September 2026, with further events from 10–13 September 2026
Location: Langhirano, Province of Parma, Italy
Edition: 29th edition
Langhirano once again celebrates one of Italy's most famous food products with the Parma Ham Festival 2026, one of the leading food events in the Province of Parma.
The 29th edition takes place from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September 2026, turning Langhirano into the heart of the world-famous Prosciutto di Parma PDO production area. The celebrations then continue from 10 to 13 September with more events, markets, food experiences and entertainment.
The festival is a great opportunity to taste authentic Parma Ham in the place where it is made, discover the traditions behind its production and enjoy several days of food, music, culture and local heritage.
Friday 4 September: Opening Ceremony and White Night
The Parma Ham Festival officially begins on Friday 4 September.
The Parma Ham Museum will be open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm with a special admission price of €3, while a free guided tour is scheduled for 4:00 pm.
The official opening ceremony of the 29th edition will take place at 6:30 pm in Piazza G. Ferrari.
Chef Andrea Mainardi and Olympic champion Fausto Desalu will take part in a special cooking show combining food and entertainment.
From 7:45 pm, several Prosciutterie and food areas will open around the centre of Langhirano, offering another opportunity to discover local flavours.
At 9:00 pm, the Parma Ham White Night begins, bringing live music, performances and entertainment to the streets and squares of the town.
Evening highlights include a performance by the Complesso Bandistico Castrignano with Le Orchidee Majorettes at 9:30 pm, the Bolly DJ Set at 10:30 pm and Vascology, a Vasco Rossi tribute band, at 11:00 pm.
A special gala dinner, “Sapori d'Appennino a Torrechiara”, will also take place in Torrechiara at 8:30 pm.
Saturday 5 September: Parma Ham Experience and Entertainment
Saturday is one of the busiest days of the festival.
From 10:00 am, visitors can explore the Magic Market, the Mercato Alta Qualità and the areas dedicated to the Prosciutto di Parma Experience.
At 10:30 am, an ONAS conference will explore the different factors involved in producing a high-quality ham.
The afternoon programme includes several events devoted to Parma's food culture.
At 3:00 pm, visitors can discover the traditional art of slicing Parma Ham by hand.
At 4:00 pm, chef Nico Tamani from Ristorante Vecchia Fucina in Traversetolo will present a cooking demonstration inspired by Prosciutto di Parma PDO.
At 6:45 pm in Piazza G. Ferrari, visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about how Parma Ham is made through a live demonstration of some of its most important production stages, from salting and “sugnatura” to quality testing and the application of the famous Ducal Crown mark.
At 7:30 pm, another demonstration will focus on traditional Piadina Romagnola, from preparing the dough to cooking and tasting the finished product.
Live music begins at 8:00 pm with BlueBerkel.
At 9:30 pm in Piazza G. Ferrari, the evening continues with Maledetta Nostalgia, followed by DJ Andrea Carpi at 10:30 pm and Roxeria at 11:00 pm.
Sunday 6 September: Food, Local Traditions and Music
The final day of the main festival weekend begins early on Sunday morning.
At 8:30 am, the 16th Raduno del Prosciutto gets underway, while at 9:00 am visitors can join a guided excursion between Felino Castle and Torrechiara Castle.
Food experiences and events dedicated to local products continue throughout the day.
At 5:45 pm, the Prosciutto di Parma Experience area will turn its attention to another icon of the Food Valley: Parmigiano Reggiano. A traditional wheel will be tested and opened before visitors have the opportunity to taste the cheese.
At 6:30 pm, Luca Pappagallo will host the cooking show “Al Festival con Luca Pappagallo”, presenting his own interpretation of Parma Ham.
Shortly afterwards, at 6:45 pm in Piazza G. Ferrari, another live demonstration will illustrate the different stages involved in producing Prosciutto di Parma.
The day ends at 9:15 pm in Piazza G. Ferrari with “Vai col Liscio” featuring Orchestra Spettacolo Luca Canali, an evening of traditional Italian dance music.
Prosciutto di Parma in Festa: 10–13 September
The celebrations do not end with the first weekend.
The programme continues from 10 to 13 September 2026 with “Prosciutto di Parma in Festa”, bringing another series of events, food experiences, markets and entertainment to the centre of Langhirano.
The second part of the festival offers further opportunities to enjoy the town while discovering its food traditions and local culture.
Saturday 12 September
From 10:00 am, the centre of Langhirano hosts Lo Sbarazzo di Langhirano, with vintage items and antiques, together with the Mercato Alta Qualità and Magic Market.
From 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, visitors can also explore Langhirano in Moto d'Epoca, an exhibition dedicated to historic motorcycles.
The programme continues throughout the day with events linked to local food culture and the traditions of the historic trattorias of the Apennines.
In the evening, Langhirano comes alive again with music and entertainment in several areas of the town centre.
Sunday 13 September
The final Sunday offers a full programme beginning in the morning.
From 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, Via Vittorio Veneto and Via Fratti host the Mercato delle Boutiques della Versilia – Forte dei Marmi.
The Magic Market opens at 10:00 am.
The Parma Ham Museum offers guided tours at 11:00 am and 4:00 pm, while at 4:30 pm in Piazza Garibaldi a special Taste Workshop will introduce visitors to some of Langhirano's DE.CO. local specialities.
These include Bomba di Riso, Torta delle Paste Rosse and Croccante di Castrignano, accompanied by Prosciutto di Parma PDO and wines from the Colli di Parma.
At 5:00 pm, the Parma Ham Museum hosts “Piccoli salumieri all'opera!”, a food workshop designed especially for children.
At 6:30 pm, live music returns with Alex & Eli, a small orchestra featuring guitar and accordion.
Finestre Aperte: Visit the Parma Ham Producers
One of the most interesting experiences connected with the Parma Ham Festival is Finestre Aperte, an initiative that gives visitors the opportunity to enter participating Parma Ham production facilities and discover how this celebrated product is made.
Producers welcome visitors into their facilities and explain the main stages involved in processing and ageing Prosciutto di Parma.
Up to six guided tours are scheduled each day, with groups limited to a maximum of 15 participants.
Indicative tour times are:
Morning: 10:00 am – 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Afternoon: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
For 2026, Finestre Aperte is scheduled for 5, 6, 12, 13 and 20 September, depending on the participating producers.
Advance booking is required.
The participation fee is €2 for adults, while admission is free for visitors under the age of 18. Participants must travel independently to the individual production facilities.
A September Celebration of Parma Ham
The Parma Ham Festival is much more than a food festival.
For Langhirano, it is the time of year when the product that has made this area famous throughout the world becomes the centrepiece of an entire celebration.
Tastings, production demonstrations, visits to Parma Ham producers, markets, excursions, live shows and music provide plenty of opportunities to discover Langhirano and the surrounding Parma hills.
For anyone visiting Parma and its province in September, the Parma Ham Festival 2026 in Langhirano is one of the major events to add to the itinerary.
