80th Anniversary of Arborio Rice – Arborio in the Square

Eighty years of a rice born in Arborio

In 2026, the small town of Arborio, in the Province of Vercelli, at the heart of the Piedmont rice plains, celebrates a milestone close to its heart: the eightieth anniversary of the Arborio rice variety, selected right here in these fields in 1946. This is not a recurring festival, but an extraordinary event designed to celebrate the deep bond between a town and the grain that bears its name, which has become, in many countries around the world, the very definition of "risotto rice".

Arborio in the square

The heart of the celebrations is the day "Arborio in the Square. Our rice, our history", hosted in the Piazza del Riso of Arborio. For an entire day, the community and visitors gather around rice: from a scientific symposium exploring the history and genetic evolution of the variety, to a convivial tasting and stalls dedicated to the Piedmontese rice supply chain.

The initiative is promoted by the National Rice Board (Ente Nazionale Risi) together with the Municipality of Arborio, with the invaluable contribution of the Pro Loco Arboriese APS and the participation of the Quality Piedmontese Rice Route. A collective effort uniting institutions, associations, and local producers.

A large, pearly, and creamy grain

The Arborio variety was born in 1946 from careful selection, with the goal of obtaining a large, resistant grain rich in starch, perfect for preparing risotto. These very characteristics—the generous size, pearly appearance, cooking stability, and natural creaminess—have made Arborio the most internationally recognized Italian rice variety. When people talk about risotto in kitchens around the world, they are thinking of this very rice.

Arborio and the Baraggia

Arborio is located in the Baraggia of Vercelli and Biella, the only rice-growing area in Italy to hold the DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) status for rice. The poor, iron-rich soil and the significant temperature fluctuations of this area create particularly compact and flavorful grains. During the celebrations, the tasting focuses on the Baraggia DOP Arborio Rice, prepared by the Pro Loco cooks according to local tradition.

An anniversary that lasts all season

The celebrations for the eightieth anniversary do not end in a single day: throughout 2026, they are accompanied by a large land art project created in an Arborio rice paddy, a giant design destined to transform month after month following the rice's growth cycle. A poetic way to tell, through the crop itself, the story of a rice that went from Arborio to conquer tables all over the world.