Alpine Culture Festival

The mountain celebrates in Tirano

In the spring of 2026, Tirano, an important center in Valtellina in the province of Sondrio, becomes the stage for the first edition of the Alpine Culture Festival, known in Italian as Festa della Cultura Alpina. The event is part of the Culture Olympics promoted by the Lombardy Region in view of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, and is promoted by the Mountain Communities of Tirano and Valle Camonica.

Three days, three themes

The event is spread over three days, each dedicated to an aspect of alpine culture. Friday is dedicated to pastures and pastoralism, with the inauguration marked by the "Suna de Mars" ritual, concerts by the local band, a demonstration of pizzoccheri making, and workshops on wool. Saturday revolves around food heritage, with mountain trekking, cooking and bread-making workshops, and a concert by the Valtellina Flute Orchestra. Sunday, finally, showcases community practices with alpine rituals, tastings, and folk performances.

Crafts, flavors, and dialogues

The heart of the festival lies in the demonstrations of ancient crafts — working with wool, wood, carving, bread-making — and the producers' market from the alpine valleys, where you can taste and buy local cheeses, cured meats, and wines. Alongside this, the Alpine Dialogues address the major themes of the contemporary mountain, from agroecology to transhumance, in a dialogue between tradition and future involving Valtellina and Valle Camonica.

Between Piazza Marinoni and San Giacomo

The main venues are Piazza Marinoni and the former Church of San Giacomo, in the historic center of Tirano, a city also known for the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Tirano and as the terminus of the famous Bernina Red Train, a UNESCO World Heritage site. An exceptional setting for a festival that aims to highlight the cultural identity of the Alps in the Olympic year.