Festa del Riso returns to Grumolo delle Abbadesse in the Province of Vicenza for its 39th edition, celebrating one of the area’s most important agricultural and culinary traditions: locally grown rice. The festival combines traditional Veneto food with live music, dancing, family entertainment, cultural activities, markets and community events. The official festival website places the celebration at the heart of Grumolo’s long-standing rice-growing tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The signature attraction is the famous Risotto dea Badessa, a traditional local recipe prepared using rice from Grumolo delle Abbadesse. The recipe has been passed down through generations and is closely associated with the identity of the festival. The local rice-growing tradition dates back more than 500 years, while the area’s principal varieties are Vialone Nano and Carnaroli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2026 edition is expected to combine food and entertainment throughout the five-day programme. Recent programme information shows a covered dance floor, an Area Giovani with contemporary music and DJ entertainment, family activities, exhibitions, charitable initiatives and the main gastronomic stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Les visiteurs peuvent s\u2019attendre \u00e0 :<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The festival is particularly interesting for food travelers because the rice is not simply an ingredient on the menu. It is connected to the history, agriculture, landscape and identity of Grumolo delle Abbadesse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
September 18 to September 22, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Festa del Riso 2026 takes place across five days in Grumolo delle Abbadesse. The official festival website confirms the 2026 edition and its programme, while event information identifies Piazza Giovanni XXIII as the principal location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The gastronomic programme is centered around evening service, with the food stand opening during the evening on the scheduled festival days. The programme also varies from day to day, with different entertainment, music and special activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because individual performances and food specials are scheduled on particular days, visitors who want to experience a specific activity should check the official programme before attending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The principal festival location is Piazza Giovanni XXIII, Grumolo delle Abbadesse, Province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. The event also uses nearby community spaces, including the Centro NOI and areas around the central square.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The festival site is designed as a community celebration rather than a large enclosed food exhibition. Visitors can move between the gastronomic area, entertainment spaces and other activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main areas include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The covered dance floor is particularly useful for evening entertainment because the programme can continue regardless of normal summer or early-autumn weather conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Food is the central feature of Festa del Riso, with the gastronomic stand built around Grumolo delle Abbadesse rice and traditional Veneto cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The official festival tradition centers on Risotto dea Badessa, while previous programmes have supplemented the signature risotto with rotating special risotti and a broad selection of second courses, side dishes and desserts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recent menus have included special risotto variations such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wider food menu has also included grilled quail with polenta, beef dishes, horse meat, grilled chicken, ribs, sausages, salami, pancetta, tripe, cheeses and mixed grills. Side dishes have included polenta, chips, beans, sauerkraut, mushrooms and salad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The festival also offers desserts connected with the local rice tradition, including rice cake and rice strudel in recent editions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The exact 2026 menu should be confirmed at the festival or through the official website because special dishes can vary between editions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most important specialty is Risotto dea Badessa, the signature dish that has become synonymous with Festa del Riso.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The festival’s official history explains that the dish is prepared according to a traditional recipe that has been preserved by local cooks. It represents the culinary connection between the village, its rice fields and its historic food culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grumolo’s rice production includes Vialone Nano and Carnaroli. Both varieties have received the local De.Co. designation, while Vialone Nano from Grumolo delle Abbadesse has also become a Slow Food Presidio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other specialties associated with recent festival menus include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The festival therefore offers much more than one signature dish, although Risotto dea Badessa remains the principal reason many visitors come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Festa del Riso is primarily organized around the festival’s own gastronomic operation rather than a large restaurant marketplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The local rice-producing community is an important part of the event’s identity. Producers associated with the wider Grumolo rice-growing territory cultivate Vialone Nano and Carnaroli and participate in preserving the area’s agricultural heritage. The official festival website notes that local producers formed an association to safeguard production, provenance and quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wider producer network includes rice farms in Grumolo delle Abbadesse and neighboring areas such as Torri di Quartesolo and Grantortino di Gazzo Padovano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors can also purchase locally produced rice directly at festival stalls and discover products connected with the territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2026 festival also includes market stalls, community organizations and other exhibitors, giving the event a broader local-market character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The beverage programme supports the main food operation with drinks suitable for traditional Italian festival dining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors can expect the usual range of refreshments accompanying the gastronomic stand, while the wider festival environment includes evening social activities and the Area Giovani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The festival has previously promoted responsible drinking through dedicated alcohol-free cocktails. A past edition participated in the \u201cVera festa con la testa\u201d initiative, offering non-alcoholic drinks prepared by young people from Grumolo and promoting more conscious alcohol consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specific 2026 wine, beer and cocktail brands have not been fully published in the available official material. Visitors should therefore check the food and beverage boards at the event for the current selection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Festa del Riso is primarily a traditional food festival rather than a specialist culinary conference, but its programme has historically included food-related educational and cultural activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event’s strongest educational element is the story of local rice production. Visitors can learn about the area’s centuries-old rice-growing tradition, the cultivation of Vialone Nano and Carnaroli, and the preparation of the famous Risotto dea Badessa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The festival programme can also include family activities, exhibitions and community workshops. The 2026 programme includes a guided walking activity, children’s games and an art workshop, showing that the event extends beyond the food stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors interested specifically in cooking demonstrations should check the official programme for any special showcooking sessions announced for the edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
General admission to Festa del Riso 2026 is free<\/strong>. Current event information lists the festival as free entry, with visitors paying separately for food, drinks and any applicable activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no standard festival admission pass covering meals or drinks. The normal arrangement is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The available 2026 information does not publish a complete food price list. Previous menus confirm that food is purchased individually at the gastronomic stand, but no reliable full previous-edition price list was available to convert into USD without inventing prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Festa del Riso does not operate with a conventional VIP ticket system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The festival is a community-oriented sagra where the main experience is built around food, music, dancing and local traditions rather than VIP lounges or premium hospitality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors seeking a more specialized experience can instead focus on the festival’s cultural and food-related activities, including the local rice story, product stalls, exhibitions and guided activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No official VIP pass or premium dining package has been announced for the 2026 edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors should follow the instructions of festival organizers, volunteers, municipal authorities and individual food vendors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parmi les consid\u00e9rations importantes figurent :<\/p>\n\n\n\n The festival is held in central public areas, so visitors should be prepared for temporary changes to normal traffic and pedestrian arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grumolo delle Abbadesse is located in the Province of Vicenza in Veneto, northeastern Italy. The town is situated within the wider Vicenza area and is accessible by road from Vicenza, Padua and other Veneto destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By car, the town can be reached through the regional road network connecting Grumolo with Vicenza and neighboring municipalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For visitors arriving from abroad, Venice Marco Polo Airport<\/strong> et Treviso Airport<\/strong> are among the main international airport options for the Veneto region. From the airport, travelers can continue by train, bus, taxi or rental car toward the Vicenza area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vicenza is the most useful major city for visitors combining the festival with a wider Veneto itinerary. Padua can also serve as a convenient base for travelers exploring several destinations in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors using public transport can travel toward Vicenza and then continue to Grumolo delle Abbadesse using local regional services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because the festival takes place in the center of the town, visitors arriving by car should follow temporary festival parking instructions rather than attempting to park immediately beside the busiest event areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The official Festa del Riso website specifically provides information about parking, indicating that dedicated parking arrangements are part of the event planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The regional festival calendar has previously identified Piazza Giovanni XXIII as the festival location and recorded evening operating hours, confirming that visitors should expect increased activity and traffic around the central area during the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most convenient accommodation base is Grumolo delle Abbadesse itself, particularly for visitors who want to remain close to the festival each evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n D\u2019autres domaines utiles incluent :<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vicenza offers the broadest selection of hotels, restaurants and transport connections nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors who prefer rural accommodation can stay in the countryside around Grumolo and combine the festival with visits to local agricultural areas and historic towns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a longer Veneto trip, Padua or Vicenza can work particularly well as central bases while visiting the festival for one or more evenings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The defining food experience is Risotto dea Badessa, prepared with local rice and based on a traditional recipe associated with Grumolo delle Abbadesse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key culinary highlights include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The local Vialone Nano has particular importance because it is recognized as a Slow Food Presidio, while both Vialone Nano and Carnaroli have local De.Co. recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The festival therefore provides an opportunity to experience a complete local food tradition built around a crop that has shaped the area’s landscape for centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main festival takes place in central Grumolo delle Abbadesse, including Piazza Giovanni XXIII and nearby community spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors with mobility requirements should be aware that outdoor festival areas can become busy during evening food service and entertainment periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The event uses public spaces, a covered dance floor and nearby community facilities. Visitors requiring step-free access, accessible parking or other specific arrangements should contact the organizers before attending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The official website provides general festival information but does not currently publish a detailed accessibility map for the 2026 edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because individual activities may use different areas, visitors with accessibility requirements should confirm the most suitable entrance and route before arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best day depends on the type of experience you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For food enthusiasts, any evening with the gastronomic stand operating provides the opportunity to try Risotto dea Badessa and other traditional dishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors interested in special risotti should check the daily menu because previous editions have featured different specialties on specific evenings, including Amarone, pumpkin and porcini, and seasonal asparagus variations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Families may prefer the day featuring children’s games and entertainment. The 2026 programme includes family activities and a children’s afternoon programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors interested in walking and local heritage can choose the day featuring the guided Festa in Cammino activity, which combines a walk through the local area with an aperitif and communal meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For dancing and nightlife, evenings with orchestras, live music and Area Giovani programming provide the strongest entertainment atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The previous edition continued the festival’s long-running focus on Risotto dea Badessa and local rice culture while expanding the food programme with special risotti and traditional second courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2025 programme included Risotto dea Badessa every evening alongside rotating specials such as Amarone risotto, pumpkin and porcini risotto and risotto with September asparagus from Arcole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The food menu also included grilled quail with polenta, ribs, sausages, salami, pancetta, tripe alla parmigiana, cheeses and mixed grills. Side dishes included polenta, chips, beans, sauerkraut, mushrooms and salad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Entertainment has traditionally been an important part of the event. Previous programmes have included live orchestras, ballroom dancing, Area Giovani performances, DJ sets, children’s shows and cultural activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The festival also maintains a strong connection with local rice producers. Vialone Nano and Carnaroli grown in the Grumolo area are central to the festival’s identity, while local producers sell rice directly to visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2026 edition continues this combination of food, agriculture, entertainment and community life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The official source for Festa del Riso is the festival website:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Exp\u00e9riences VIP et premium<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
R\u00e8gles de l\u2019\u00e9preuve<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Comment y arriver<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Transports en commun et stationnement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Zones d\u2019h\u00e9bergement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Temps forts de la nourriture et des boissons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Accessibilit\u00e9<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Meilleurs jours \u00e0 assister<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Faits marquants de l\u2019ann\u00e9e pr\u00e9c\u00e9dente<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Billets officiels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Festa del Riso<\/a><\/blockquote>