Alpine Festival / Fête des Alpes
The great cross-border Alpine celebration at the Colle dell'Agnello
About Alpine Festival
A festival embracing the Alpine border
The Alpine Festival / Fête des Alpes is a cross-border event created to strengthen ties between the communities living on both sides of the Alps, in Italy and France. For its third edition, scheduled for July 25th and 26th, 2026, the festival moves to Pontechianale, a town in the upper Varaita Valley in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont. The symbolic heart of the event is the Colle dell'Agnello (2,748 meters), the third-highest drivable mountain pass in the Alps, which marks the border with the French Queyras region.
The origin of the initiative
The idea for the Alpine Festival was launched by Hervé Gaymard, Renzo Testolin, and Luciano Caveri during the Grand Continent Summit in Saint-Vincent on December 19th, 2023. The first edition was held at the Little St Bernard Pass, the second at the Mont Cenis Pass: each year, a different Alpine pass becomes the stage for this popular festival that highlights cooperation between mountain territories.
Occitan culture and mountain traditions
The event promotes the Occitan culture of the Alps, mountain traditions, and local supply chains from both sides of the border. Between the Colle dell'Agnello and the village of Pontechianale (including the ancient hamlet of Chianale, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy), there will be a series of meetings, discussions on Alpine history and the environment, traditional music, and activities dedicated to sustainable cultural tourism.
Gastronomy from both sides
There is a strong focus on gastronomy: the event aims to showcase the culinary excellence of Piedmont and the French Alps through food trucks, gazebos, and quality stalls, with special attention to local products, short supply chains, and mountain traditions.
A European project
The Alpine Festival is part of the Interreg ALCOTRA 2021-2027 Program and is organized by the Municipality of Pontechianale, the Piedmont Region, the Province of Cuneo, the Department of the Hautes-Alpes, and the Communauté de Communes du Guillestrois et du Queyras, as part of the Terres Monviso project. It is a unique opportunity to discover the upper Varaita Valley and the charm of Monviso in a setting defined by the friendship between Italy and France.
Alpine Festival — edition 2026
For 2026, the Alpine Festival chooses the Colle dell'Agnello and the village of Pontechianale, in the Province of Cuneo, bordering the French Queyras. Following the editions at the Little St Bernard and Mont Cenis passes, the event confirms its vocation as a popular cross-border festival, featuring meetings, traditional music, and a large area dedicated to the gastronomy of the Piedmontese and French Alps.
The event is part of the Interreg ALCOTRA 2021-2027 Program and is organized by the Municipality of Pontechianale, the Piedmont Region, the Province of Cuneo, and French partners from the Hautes-Alpes.
Programme Alpine Festival 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 edition will be announced by the organizers in the weeks leading up to the event. Based on the structure of past editions, the festival will feature two days (July 25th and 26th) with meetings and conferences on Alpine history and the environment, performances by traditional music groups from both sides, association stands, and a large food and wine area.
Street food and gastronomy area
The area dedicated to street food and local products is confirmed: the event showcases Piedmontese and French Alpine culinary excellence through food trucks, gazebos, and quality stalls, with a focus on short supply chains and mountain traditions. Food & beverage operators were invited to apply to the Municipality of Pontechianale by June 30th, 2026.
Highlights Alpine Festival 2026
- Italian-French cross-border festival at the Colle dell'Agnello (2,748 m)
- Occitan culture, traditional music, and meetings on both sides of the Alps
- Large food and wine area featuring Piedmontese and French Alpine excellence
- Village of Pontechianale and hamlet of Chianale, among the most beautiful villages in Italy
Prices Alpine Festival 2026
Practical information — Alpine Festival
Getting there
Pontechianale can be reached by car by traveling up the Varaita Valley from Saluzzo along the SP8. The Colle dell'Agnello, on the border with France, is accessible in summer via the mountain pass road (closed during winter months). The nearest train station is in Saluzzo.
When
Saturday, July 25th and Sunday, July 26th, 2026, between the Colle dell'Agnello and the historic center of Pontechianale.
Tips
As this is a high-altitude event, we recommend wearing layers and suitable mountain footwear, even in summer. For accommodation, the upper Varaita Valley offers mountain huts, B&Bs, and guesthouses in the villages of Pontechianale and Chianale.
Contacts
Municipality of Pontechianale, Frazione Maddalena 1, 12020 Pontechianale (CN) — tel. +39 0175 950174 — [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Alpine Festival
Colle dell'Agnello e centro storico di Pontechianale
Frazione Maddalena 1, 12020 Pontechianale