In September, Borgomanero prepares for one of the most anticipated events of the year. From September 5 to 13, 2026, the Grape Festival returns, now in its 77th edition: nine days of events that will bring music, shows, gastronomy, sports, traditions, and initiatives for all ages to the city center.
An event that has represented an important moment for Borgomanero for decades and can also be an excellent opportunity to spend a few days in the area.
For guests of Hotel Ramoverde, the Grape Festival is indeed one more reason to discover the city, participate in events, and take advantage of the stay to also visit Lake Orta and the Novara Hills.
Waiting for the Grape Festival
The atmosphere of the Grape Festival will begin to be felt even before the official opening.
Among the side events is the second edition of the Grape Festival Bowls Trophy, organized by GS La Bocciofila at the Borgomanero Bowls Club. The heats will take place from August 31 to September 18, while the finals are scheduled for September 19.
From September 3 to 17, in the atrium of Palazzo Tornielli, it will also be possible to visit the photography exhibition by the “L’Immagine” Photo Club of Borgomanero, organized in collaboration with the Pro Loco.
September 4, however, will be a day of anticipation before the official start, with the “Sport IN” Bowls Tournament and, at 9:00 PM in Piazza Martiri, “A Timeless Dream”, a show dedicated to the magic of Disney classics with Twirling S. Cristina.
Saturday, September 5: The 77th Grape Festival officially opens
The day of Saturday, September 5 marks the official start of the event.
It begins as early as 9:00 AM at the Fedele Margaroli Municipal Stadium with the Walking Football Grape Tournament. From 10:00 AM, Parco Marazza will host the Park of Taste – Earth Market of the Novara Hills and the Treasure Hunt with Metal Detectors.
At 11:00 AM, the photography exhibition of the “L’Immagine” Photo Club will be inaugurated, while from 3:00 PM the city thoroughfares will host Art in the Square, with the display of artistic works.
The symbolic moment will arrive at 4:30 PM in Piazza Martiri with the official opening of the 77th Grape Festival.
As per tradition, the keys to the city will be handed over and two characters closely linked to the event and to Borgomanero's history will arrive: Sciòra Togna and Carulèna.
The celebration will continue throughout the evening. At 8:00 PM, both the Gastronomic evening with typical dishes at the Alpini Group Hut and Per Bacco 2026, an initiative dedicated to taste, tradition, and solidarity organized by the Italian Red Cross – Borgomanero Committee in the courtyard of Palazzo Tornielli, are scheduled.
At 9:00 PM, Piazza Martiri will host the Opening Show of the 77th Grape Festival, followed at 9:45 PM by the LOCOMOTIV DJ set with Alex Manglaviti and ZIMO.
At 10:30 PM, Le Donatella will take the stage.
Sunday, September 6: Districts, Palio, and Orietta Berti
The first Sunday of the Grape Festival will be one of the busiest days of events.
From 9:30 AM, Piazza Martiri and Viale Don Minzoni will host the “Ciao” exhibition by the Novara Hills Club.
Numerous activities will be concentrated at Parco Marazza: the Treasure Hunt with Metal Detectors, Musa Experience with sculpt and yoga lessons, the Park of Taste, Invictus of the Districts and Hybrid Race, and, at 12:00 PM, the Districts' Picnic.
The afternoon will continue with the Grape Games, the Burraco Tournament, and one of the most characteristic events of the manifestation: at 4:30 PM, the Donkey Palio and the Wheelbarrow Palio.
From 5:30 PM, the Wine Stand – Grape Festival x Jacovino will also be present.
The day will conclude with a particularly anticipated musical event: at 9:30 PM, in Piazza Martiri, a concert by Orietta Berti.
Monday, September 7: Borgomanero meets basketball
On Monday evening, sport will become the protagonist.
At 8:00 PM, at the Parco della Resistenza, the inauguration of the basketball court and the work “Wine” created by Refreshink is scheduled.
At 8:30 PM, “Dribbling through the city” will arrive, with the presentation of the first teams together with College Basketball, A.S.D. Baskin Ciuff, and SammaBorgo between the historic center and Piazza Martiri.
At 9:30 PM, it will be time for the show with DADO – Summer Tour 2026 in Piazza Martiri.
Tuesday, September 8: Sport and gastronomic tradition
On Tuesday, September 8 at 6:00 PM, the Straborgo di Notte will start, a FIDAL-certified competitive and non-competitive race, also open to children, which will cross the historic center.
At the same time, the Districts' Padel Tournament is also scheduled at the Padel Center in Cureggio.
The evening will then be dedicated to one of the symbolic dishes of Borgomanero cuisine. At 8:30 PM, the Trattoria del Ciclista will host the Tapulonata of the Antica Cunsurtarija dal Tapulon.
An event that introduces one of the great gastronomic protagonists of the Grape Festival: the tapulone, a specialty deeply linked to the tradition of Borgomanero.
Wednesday, September 9: From tradition to the Sarah Toscano concert
Wednesday's program will begin at 5:00 PM with the Scopa Tournament in the courtyard of Palazzo Tornielli.
At 6:30 PM, the 4-legged walk towards the city center will start, with meeting and arrival at Parco Marazza and a route through the historic center.
At 8:00 PM, Piazza XX Settembre will host a dinner with San Bernardo specialties, featuring vineyard potatoes, cooked salami, and blood sausage.
The evening will culminate at 10:30 PM in Piazza Martiri with Sarah Toscano.
Thursday, September 10: Wine Glasses in the Park and Enrico Ruggeri
Thursday will be one of the most interesting evenings for those who want to combine food and wine with music.
At 6:30 PM, Parco della Resistenza will host Wine Glasses in the Park, a food and wine experience featuring wines, local flavors, and live music.
From 9:30 PM, Piazza XX Settembre will change atmosphere with Grape Disco Night, a real open-air disco with DJ sets, vocalists, street parties, food, and drinks.
Simultaneously, Piazza Martiri will host one of the main musical events of the 77th edition: at 9:30 PM, Enrico Ruggeri will bring his Electric Tour 2026 to Borgomanero.
Friday, September 11: The Great Tapulonata
If there is an evening capable of telling the story of the link between the Grape Festival and the gastronomic tradition of Borgomanero, it is probably Friday's.
At 8:00 PM, The Great Tapulonata is scheduled, one of the most representative events of the manifestation.
The city thoroughfares become the place to gather and taste tapulone, a historical specialty of Borgomanero, in a great convivial moment.
Also at 8:00 PM, in Piazza Martiri, “Borgomanero Unveiled: Historical Roots and Conscious Future” will be screened, a video dedicated to the city's history and identity created by the students of the 3rd year of the Liceo Classico at Collegio Don Bosco.
In the courtyard of Palazzo Tornielli, Per Bacco 2026 will return, while from 9:30 PM Piazza Martiri will host Music in the Blood, a contest dedicated to emerging bands and artists.
Saturday, September 12: The Great Float Parade
Saturday, September 12 will be another day strongly linked to the popular dimension of the Grape Festival.
At 11:00 AM, Parco Marazza will host Pompieropoli, the firefighters' village designed to involve both adults and children.
At 5:00 PM, Piazza Martiri will make room for the performance of the A&R Country Dancers, while at 8:00 PM Per Bacco 2026 will return to the courtyard of Palazzo Tornielli.
But the main event of the day will be at 8:00 PM with the Float Parade, which will cross Piazza Martiri and the city thoroughfares.
It is one of the most characteristic events of the Grape Festival and one of the moments when the city's participation in the event most clearly emerges.
Sunday, September 13: The Grand Finale
The final day of the 77th Grape Festival will start early.
At 8:00 AM, the 3rd Roggi Group Trophy – Trout Fishing Competition will take place at the San Marco pond, along with the Grape Festival Craft Market along the city thoroughfares.
At 8:30 AM, Piazza Martiri will host Borgo on a Vespa, the first rally of the Grape Festival.
At 12:30 PM, local gastronomy will again be the protagonist with the Tapulonata of the San Rocco District.
At 6:30 PM in Piazza Martiri, the awards ceremonies and the official closing of the 77th Grape Festival are scheduled.
But there will still be time for one last musical appointment: at 9:00 PM, the Starfish will bring their tribute to Coldplay to Piazza Martiri, closing the 2026 edition in music.
Grape Festival 2026: Stay at Hotel Ramoverde
If you are thinking of participating in the 77th Borgomanero Grape Festival, scheduled from September 5 to 13, 2026, Hotel Ramoverde can be your point of reference for your stay in the city.
A convenient accommodation to experience the events of the Grape Festival and, at the same time, set off to discover Borgomanero, Lake Orta, and the Novara territory.
