Agnolotto and Canestrello Festival
Three days of flavor, music, and tradition in the heart of the Saluzzo area
About Agnolotto and Canestrello Festival
The festival that tells the story of Polonghera
Every year, during the May Day long weekend, Polonghera transforms into a grand village of taste. The Agnolotto and Canestrello Festival is the most anticipated event on the calendar for this small town in the province of Cuneo, bordering the Turin area in the fertile plains crossed by the Po river, a land with a deep-rooted agricultural and culinary heritage. The event, reaching its eighteenth edition in 2026, is organized with passion by the Polonghera Pro Loco, which has kept alive a celebration that has become a landmark for the entire Saluzzo and nearby Carmagnola areas.
The two stars: agnolotto and canestrello
The festival's name says it all. The first star is agnolotto, the stuffed pasta that symbolizes Piedmontese cuisine, here strictly handmade and offered in several variations, accompanied by classic lowland dishes such as hand-cut beef tartare and cheese boards. The second is the canestrello, the crumbly biscuit that gives the second half of the festival its name and concludes meals alongside creams and seasonal fruit. Dinners are held at the Circolo Mimmo Griffa, the convivial heart of the event, where the Pro Loco kitchen works at full speed for three days.
A program for everyone
The festival is about more than just gastronomy. The schedule alternates between moments for all ages and tastes:
- live concerts and musical evenings, from tribute bands to dance music;
- the traditional canestrello tournament and fitwalking sessions;
- a cycling race and local sporting activities;
- a street market through the village streets and a vintage car exhibition in Piazza Vittorio Veneto;
- Fire Brigade demonstrations and workshops for children;
- Occitan music and dances, a tribute to the cultural roots of the Cuneo valleys.
A community celebration
What makes the Agnolotto and Canestrello Festival special is its community spirit: volunteers, local associations, and families bring every corner of Polonghera to life together. It is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic village in the Cuneo plains, far from the beaten tourist paths, and to savor the true flavors of Piedmont in a warm and genuine atmosphere.
Agnolotto and Canestrello Festival — edition 2026
Edizione 2026
La 18ª Sagra dell'Agnolotto e del Canestrello ha animato Polonghera dal 1° al 3 maggio 2026. Venerdì 1° maggio, dopo le attività per bambini al Martinetto e l'apertura delle mostre, l'inaugurazione ufficiale alle 18 ha aperto la cena self-service al Circolo Mimmo Griffa (ore 19:30), seguita dalla musica dal vivo con Testa o Croce (tribute Modà) e Senzanome (cover Nomadi). Sabato 2 il torneo del canestrello al campo sportivo Mino Olivero, il fitwalking, la gara ciclistica e un laboratorio di stampa 3D al FabLab, con la cena e lo spettacolo "Generazione X" di Luca Frencia. Domenica 3 il mercatino, l'esposizione di auto d'epoca in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, le esibizioni dei Vigili del Fuoco e la musica occitana con La Meiro.
Programme Agnolotto and Canestrello Festival 2026
- Venerdì 1 maggio: ore 14 attività per bambini al Martinetto; ore 15 apertura mostre; ore 18 inaugurazione ufficiale; ore 19:30 cena self-service al Circolo Mimmo Griffa; ore 21:30 live con Testa o Croce (tribute Modà) e Senzanome (cover Nomadi).
- Sabato 2 maggio: mattina torneo del canestrello al campo Mino Olivero e fitwalking; pomeriggio gara ciclistica e laboratorio stampa 3D al FabLab; sera cena e spettacolo "Generazione X" di Luca Frencia.
- Domenica 3 maggio: mattina mercatino, auto d'epoca in Piazza Vittorio Veneto ed esibizioni dei Vigili del Fuoco; pomeriggio musica e balli occitani con La Meiro; pranzo e cena al Circolo Mimmo Griffa.
Highlights Agnolotto and Canestrello Festival 2026
- Agnolotti fatti a mano e canestrelli, i due protagonisti della tavola
- Concerti dal vivo: Testa o Croce, Senzanome, Luca Frencia
- Torneo del canestrello, fitwalking e gara ciclistica
- Mercatino, auto d'epoca e musica occitana con La Meiro
Prices Agnolotto and Canestrello Festival 2026
Practical information — Agnolotto and Canestrello Festival
How to get there
Polonghera is located in the plains between Cuneo and Turin, near Carmagnola and Racconigi. By car, take the Carmagnola exit from the Turin ring road and follow signs for Casalgrasso/Polonghera. The most convenient train station is Carmagnola, on the Turin-Savona line.
Hours and reservations
The festival takes place over the three days surrounding May 1st. Reservations are recommended for dinners at the Circolo Mimmo Griffa: Fabio +39 339 2178172, Eliana +39 388 4550144.
Admission
Access to the festival and its events is free; you only pay for what you consume at the food stalls.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Agnolotto and Canestrello Festival
Circolo Mimmo Griffa e centro storico