Sagra dell’Anguilla Festival 2026, Comacchio, Italy

• 26 septembre 2026
  Date de l'événement :
• 11 octobre 2026
  Fin de l'événement :

À quoi s’attendre en 2026

Sagra dell’Anguilla Festival 2026 returns to Comacchio for three weekends, from September 26–27, October 3–4, and October 10–11, transforming the historic centre into a large celebration of eel, lagoon cuisine, local wine, culture and the traditions of the Po Delta. The festival is a distributed event rather than a single-site fair, with activities stretching from the monumental Trepponti area through the historic centre to the Manifattura dei Marinati.

The eel is the central gastronomic symbol of the event. Visitors can sample traditional eel dishes alongside other fish from the sea and lagoon, while the programme adds wine tastings, showcooking, masterclasses, markets, exhibitions, concerts, guided tours and excursions through the Comacchio lagoons.

Key attractions include:

• Traditional eel cuisine: Local preparations of marinated, grilled, stewed and fried eel.
• Manifattura dei Marinati: The historic eel-processing complex and one of the most important festival locations.
• Distributed food stands: Gastronomic points throughout the festival area serving eel and other local specialities.
• Showcooking: Demonstrations featuring eel, lagoon fish and regional ingredients.
• Wine masterclasses: Tastings dedicated to the wines of the sands and Bosco Eliceo DOC.
• Traditional boats: Demonstrations and free navigation experiences using traditional Comacchio boats.
• Po Delta excursions: Boat trips, cycling experiences and guided nature activities.
• Markets: Food, crafts, collectibles, artistic products and local merchandise.
• Family entertainment: Games, rides and activities for children.
• Music and theatre: Concerts, tribute bands, cultural performances and theatrical experiences.
• Museums and exhibitions: Manifattura dei Marinati, Museo Delta Antico and other cultural venues participate in the festival.

The 2026 programme also introduces cultural projects such as “Sigmund Freud e il Mistero dell’Anguilla” and the “San Francesco, i Cappuccini e noi” programme marking 450 years of the Capuchin presence in Comacchio.

Dates des événements

Dates : September 26–27, October 3–4, and October 10–11, 2026

Festival period: Three consecutive weekends

Location: Historic centre of Comacchio, Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

The main public festival programme runs across Saturdays and Sundays, with food, markets, entertainment, cultural activities and excursions throughout the day. Official tourism information lists the festival as running generally from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

A special Michelin-starred dinner with chef Igles Corelli takes place on Friday, September 25, immediately before the first festival weekend, at Manifattura Marinati.

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Lieu et site du festival

Main festival area: Historic centre of Comacchio

Principal landmark: Piazzetta Trepponti and the Ponte dei Trepponti

Main gastronomic and cultural venue: Manifattura dei Marinati

Manifattura address: Corso G. Mazzini 200, Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy

The festival spreads through the historic centre rather than operating from one enclosed venue. The main route connects the Trepponti area, Piazzetta Folegatti, the Duomo area, Corso Mazzini and Manifattura dei Marinati.

Manifattura dei Marinati is particularly significant because it preserves the traditional processing of wild eels from the Comacchio lagoons. Its Sala Fuochi is used for demonstrations and gastronomic activities during the festival.

Full food & drink programme

The 2026 festival combines traditional eel cuisine with seafood, lagoon fish, local products and regional wines.

The Manifattura Marinati gastronomic stand provides one of the clearest examples of the food programme. Its published menu includes:

Antipasti

• Manifattura Marinati mixed starter featuring marinated eel
• Marinated anchovies
• Marinated sardines with onion
• Marinated anchovies and other preserved fish
• Smoked mullet from the Comacchio lagoons

First courses

• Maccheroncini with eel ragù — $15.21
• Lasagna with Etruscan mussels, Delta radicchio and walnuts — $15.21
• Pasta with tomato sauce — $7.02

Main courses

• Grilled eel with polenta — $22.82
• Comacchio-style eel brodetto with polenta — $21.06
• Stewed cuttlefish and peas with polenta — $17.55
• Fried small eel pieces with polenta — $17.55
• Chicken cutlet with potatoes — $11.70

The wider festival offers a broader selection of eel and fish dishes through its distributed food stands. The official programme describes the gastronomic offering as including eel and fish from the sea and lagoon, alongside traditional local recipes.

The festival also includes wine tastings, aperitivo experiences, specialist masterclasses and food-and-wine events.

Featured foods & specialties

Eel is the undisputed signature ingredient of the festival and one of the defining foods of Comacchio and its lagoon landscape.

Important preparations to look for include:

• Marinated eel
• Grilled eel with polenta
• Eel ragù
• Comacchio-style eel brodetto
• Fried eel
• Traditional lagoon fish
• Smoked mullet
• Marinated sardines
• Marinated anchovies
• Cuttlefish with peas and polenta
• Risotto alla Comacchiese
• Seafood and lagoon fish dishes

The Manifattura Marinati starter is particularly representative because it combines several traditional preserved fish products made by the historic facility.

The 2026 programme also includes a competition for the best Risotto alla Comacchiese, giving visitors the opportunity to taste different interpretations and participate as judges.

Restaurants, vendors & producers

The Sagra dell’Anguilla uses a distributed restaurant and food-stand model, allowing visitors to discover gastronomic points across the historic centre rather than relying on one central restaurant.

Manifattura dei Marinati operates a dedicated gastronomic stand where visitors can eat products prepared around Comacchio’s traditional eel-processing heritage.

The festival’s wider exhibitors and market include:

• Local food producers
• Fish and preserved-food specialists
• Wine producers
• Artisan businesses
• Craft exhibitors
• Artistic makers
• Hobby exhibitors
• Collectors and traditional-product vendors

The exhibitor contact for the festival is mercatinicomacchio@gmail.com, while general festival information is available through info@sagradellanguilla.it.

The market extends through the historic centre from Trepponti toward the Manifattura dei Marinati, creating a continuous festival atmosphere around the food and cultural programme.

Wine, beer & beverage selection

Wine plays an important role in the 2026 programme, particularly the distinctive wines associated with the sandy soils of the Bosco Eliceo area.

Visitors can expect:

• Bosco Eliceo DOC wines
• Wines of the Sands
• Fortana-based wines
• Sparkling wines made with Fortana
• Emilia-Romagna regional wines
• Aperitivo drinks
• Soft drinks and water
• Coffee and other refreshments

A dedicated “Vini delle Sabbie” masterclass takes place on October 11, presenting a vertical tasting of Bosco Eliceo DOC wines with Tenuta Garusola and Azienda Vinicola Mattarelli.

The October 4 programme also includes “Vini Riemersi,” a project connecting wine, archaeology and the historical heritage of the Comacchio area.

Tastings, cooking demos & workshops

The 2026 programme contains a substantial food and drink education programme.

Chef Jin Ogata showcooking: On October 3, Japanese chef Jin Ogata presents a demonstration of eel prepared as “Kabayaki,” grilled with a sweet-and-sour sauce and using a Japanese skewer-cooking technique.

Best Salt Gelato competition: On September 27, visitors can participate as judges in a competition among local gelaterie to select the best Comacchio salt gelato. Participation is limited and costs $5.85.

Best Risotto alla Comacchiese: On October 11, teams compete to prepare the best traditional Comacchio risotto, with visitors invited to taste the entries and participate in judging. The participation contribution is $5.85.

Wine masterclasses: Specialist sessions focus on Bosco Eliceo DOC and Wines of the Sands, providing an introduction to the area’s distinctive wine tradition.

Archaeological workshops: The Museo Delta Antico offers family-friendly activities including decorating ceramic fragments, writing names in Etruscan and drawing mythological imagery.

Ticket types & entry options

The main Sagra dell’Anguilla festival is generally free to enter. Visitors can walk through the historic centre, browse the market and attend many concerts, cultural events and traditional activities without a general admission ticket.

Some individual experiences require separate reservations or payments.

Published 2026 examples include:

• Main festival: Free entry
• Best Salt Gelato judging experience: $5.85
• Best Risotto alla Comacchiese judging experience: $5.85
• Al Tramonto lagoon excursion: $40.95 adults, $25.74 children aged 6–12
• Navigando dal Mare alle Valli: $23.40 adults, $17.55 children aged 4–12, free for children up to age 3
• Al Chiaro di Luna excursion with apericena: $76.05, minimum age 13

Prices for individual experiences can vary by date and availability, so visitors should confirm booking details before travelling.

VIP & premium experiences

The festival does not advertise a conventional VIP pass or VIP lounge.

Its main premium experience is the Manifattura Stellata dinner with Michelin-starred chef Igles Corelli and sommelier Annalisa Barison. The dinner takes place at Manifattura Marinati in the historic Sala degli Aceti and includes wines paired with the menu. The published price is $105.30 per person, including wine.

The dinner menu includes:

• Crème caramel of Comacchio eel with eel-liver pâté in brodetto
• Crispy lasagnetta with teal ragù and Parmesan zabaglione
• Soft polenta with grilled wild-duck sausage and spicy sauce
• Millefoglie with cream, fruit and salted caramel
• Selected wines paired with each course

Advance reservation is required and places are limited. The event also includes free parking at Manifattura Marinati.

Règles de l’épreuve

Visitors should follow the instructions of festival organisers, individual activity providers and venue staff.

Important requirements include:

• Advance booking is required for several excursions and limited-capacity tastings.
• Some activities have age restrictions.
• Children should be accompanied by responsible adults.
• Outdoor lagoon and cycling activities require visitors to follow safety instructions.
• The historic centre contains pedestrian areas and restricted traffic zones, so vehicles should not be driven into prohibited areas.
• Festival food vendors should be informed about allergies or dietary requirements before ordering.
• Some specialist experiences have separate tickets and reservation procedures.

The festival’s paid excursions and limited-capacity tasting experiences should be booked in advance where the official programme specifies mandatory reservation.

Comment y arriver

En voiture : From the A13 motorway, take the Ferrara Sud exit and follow the Ferrara–Porto Garibaldi connection. After approximately 47 kilometres, take the Comacchio exit and continue toward the town centre.

Par train : The nearest railway stations include Ferrara, approximately 52 km away, Ostellato, approximately 21 km away, Codigoro, approximately 19 km away, and Ravenna, approximately 36 km away. Bus connections link these areas with Comacchio.

By bus: Regular extraurban services connect the area with Ferrara and Ravenna. The official tourism information lists the Ferrara–Lidi route and Ravenna–Lidi route among the main services serving the territory.

Par avion : The nearest major airports include Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, approximately 95 km away, and Rimini Federico Fellini Airport, approximately 104 km away.

Transports en commun et stationnement

Parking is provided in several areas around Comacchio during the festival weekends.

The official 2026 parking arrangements include:

• Motorcycles: $2.34 per day
• Cars: $4.68 per day
• Buses: $35.10 per day
• Camper: $17.55 per day

Parking areas include:

• Darsena Cappuccini – Via Valle San Carlo
• Porta del Carmine – Via Sant’Agostino Nord
• Argine Fattibello – Via dello Squero
• Parcheggio Carabinieri – Piazzale Caduti per la Pace
• Ponte San Pietro – Strada Fiume-Istria

Bus parking is available in the former sugar-factory area on Via Zuccherificio. Camper areas include Darsena Cappuccini, the former Cappuccini school area and Argine Fattibello.

Parking meters accept electronic cards and coins.

Zones d’hébergement

Staying in Comacchio itself is the most convenient choice for visitors who want to walk between the festival’s food stands, Trepponti, museums and Manifattura dei Marinati.

Accommodation options in the wider area include:

• Historic Comacchio: Best for walking access to the festival.
• Porto Garibaldi: Useful for visitors combining the festival with lagoon and coastal experiences.
• Lido degli Estensi: Offers hotels, apartments and holiday accommodation.
• Lido delle Nazioni: Suitable for longer stays combining the festival with the coast.
• Lido di Spina: A good base for visitors interested in nature and beaches.
• Ravenna: A larger city option with extensive accommodation and transport connections.
• Ferrara: Useful for visitors combining Comacchio with a city stay and arriving by train.

The official tourism service lists hotels, B&Bs, residences, camping villages, apartments and nature-based accommodation throughout Comacchio and its seven Lidi.

Food & drink highlights

The biggest culinary highlight is the opportunity to experience eel in several traditional forms in the place where the ingredient is deeply connected with the local lagoon culture.

Key dishes and experiences include:

• Grilled eel with polenta
• Marinated eel
• Eel ragù
• Eel brodetto
• Fried eel
• Risotto alla Comacchiese
• Lagoon fish
• Marinated sardines
• Smoked mullet
• Cuttlefish with peas and polenta
• Wines of the Sands
• Bosco Eliceo DOC wines
• Fortana-based sparkling wines

The Manifattura Marinati stand is especially important for visitors wanting to understand the traditional processing of eel, while the festival’s showcooking and masterclasses demonstrate how local ingredients can be interpreted in both traditional and contemporary ways.

Accessibilité

The festival is spread through the historic centre, so accessibility varies according to the individual streets, buildings, museums, bridges and outdoor locations involved.

Visitors with mobility requirements should consider the walking distances between the Trepponti area, food stands, Manifattura dei Marinati and other programme locations. The festival’s outdoor excursions, lagoon trips and cycling activities may have additional physical requirements.

Comacchio’s tourism infrastructure includes accessible accommodation and services, while the official tourism office can provide current information about facilities and local accessibility.

Vehicles transporting people with disabilities should also pay attention to the town’s restricted traffic arrangements and contact the relevant local authorities where special access is required.

Meilleurs jours à assister

September 26–27: Best for the official opening weekend, traditional boat activities, the beginning of the gastronomic programme, the first major market and the opening cultural events. The first weekend also includes archaeological visits and traditional navigation through the canals.

October 3–4: Best for visitors interested in food demonstrations and international culinary influences. Chef Jin Ogata presents a Japanese-style Kabayaki eel showcooking on October 3, while October 4 features the Vini Riemersi wine and archaeology project.

October 10–11: Best for wine enthusiasts and visitors wanting the final weekend atmosphere. The programme includes the Vini delle Sabbie masterclass and the Best Risotto alla Comacchiese competition.

For a first visit, the second or third weekend offers particularly strong food-and-wine programming, while the first weekend provides an excellent introduction to the festival’s traditions.

Faits marquants de l’année précédente

The 2025 edition continued the festival’s long-running celebration of Comacchio’s eel culture, combining food stands and traditional recipes with music, markets, cultural activities, guided visits and excursions through the lagoon landscape.

The festival’s established format centres on the relationship between Comacchio, its fishing traditions and the Po Delta environment. The Manifattura dei Marinati remains one of the most important places for understanding how eel has historically been processed and preserved in the town.

The 2026 edition builds on this established identity with a particularly broad programme of showcooking, wine experiences, cultural activities, traditional boat navigation and lagoon excursions. It also introduces new cultural programming, including the theatrical “Sigmund Freud e il Mistero dell’Anguilla.”

The previous festival format also established the combination of a large central market, food stands, family entertainment, concerts, exhibitions and nature experiences that continues in 2026.

Billets officiels

The main Sagra dell’Anguilla Festival is free to enter, while selected excursions, tastings, competitions and premium dining experiences require separate reservations or tickets.

The official festival website provides the current programme, food locations, excursions, masterclasses, entertainment and booking information.

https://www.sagradellanguilla.it/

For enquiries, visitors can contact info@sagradellanguilla.it. Exhibitor and market enquiries can be directed to mercatinicomacchio@gmail.com.

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