Ancient Santa Croce Fair
The historic September fair of Codigoro, featuring free concerts, Tomato Festival, and fireworks over the Po di Volano
About Santa Croce Fair
A fair born in the 17th century
The Ancient Santa Croce Fair is the most anticipated event of the year in Codigoro, a town in the Po Delta in the province of Ferrara, in Emilia-Romagna. Its origins date back to the distant 17th century, when it began as a market and an occasion for exchange and trade around the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, celebrated on September 14th. Since then, the fair has transformed, edition after edition, into a major popular event that involves the entire Codigoro community. In 2026, the 355th edition will be celebrated.
When it takes place
The fair follows a traditional calendar: it is held around the second Sunday of September, including the preceding Friday and the following Tuesday. In 2026, the official dates, indicated in the regional register of fairs in Emilia-Romagna, run from Friday, September 11th to Tuesday, September 15th. For five days, the historic center fills with stalls, shows, and people: the event area covers Via Cavallotti, Piazza Libertà, Via IV Novembre, Piazza Matteotti, Via XX Settembre, and Viale Giovanni XXIII.
Codishow and free concerts
The pulsating heart of the fair is the Codishow, the musical event that has enlivened the evenings with free live concerts for some years. In recent editions, major Italian music artists and popular tribute bands have alternated on stage, alongside themed evenings. All shows are held in the city center and are free to access, a choice that makes the fair a truly popular and accessible event for everyone.
The Tomato Festival
In conjunction with the fair, the Tomato Festival is held, dedicated to the quintessential local product: the tomato with its characteristic red pulp, known as the red gold of the Delta. The food stands, managed by local volunteers in the Riviera Cavallotti parking lot, offer tomato-based dishes every evening, alongside a culinary journey that highlights the gastronomic excellences of the lower Ferrara region.
Shows, bingo, and traditions
In addition to music, the Ancient Santa Croce Fair offers a rich program: pyromusical shows on the water that illuminate the Po di Volano, the grand bingo games with large prize pools, a lottery with significant prizes, art and photography exhibitions in the spaces of the Pro Loco and the Bishop's Palace, the Trade Exhibition, the funfair, fishing competitions, and numerous charity initiatives. An event that intertwines faith, tradition, culture, and entertainment, capable of attracting thousands of visitors to Codigoro from all over the province of Ferrara and the Po Delta.
Santa Croce Fair — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Ancient Santa Croce Fair, the 355th, will be held in Codigoro (Ferrara) from September 11th to 15th, 2026. The dates are confirmed by the Emilia-Romagna regional fair register and respect the tradition of holding the event around the second Sunday of September, with the preceding Friday and the following Tuesday. As usual, the fair will animate the entire historic center with markets, stands, a funfair, and performance areas. The usual program of free Codishow concerts, the Tomato Festival, bingo games, the lottery, and pyromusical shows on the Po di Volano are expected.
Programme Santa Croce Fair 2026
The detailed program for the 355th edition, including the full lineup of Codishow 2026 concerts and event schedules, has not yet been released by the organizers. It will be announced in the weeks leading up to the event, typically between late summer and early September.
Based on the established structure of recent editions, the program usually includes:
- Codishow — evenings of free concerts in the city center with Italian artists and tribute bands
- Tomato Festival — evening food stands in the Riviera Cavallotti parking lot
- Pyromusical shows on the water, on the Po di Volano
- Three bingo games with large prize pools and a lottery
- Art and photography exhibitions, Trade Exhibition, funfair, fishing competitions, and charity initiatives
The official dates are confirmed; the names of the artists and precise times will be communicated by the Municipality of Codigoro and the Pro Loco through their official channels.
Highlights Santa Croce Fair 2026
- 355th edition of a fair dating back to the 17th century
- Free Codishow concerts in the historic center
- Tomato Festival, dedicated to the Delta's red gold
- Pyromusical shows on the Po di Volano
Prices Santa Croce Fair 2026
Practical information — Santa Croce Fair
How to get there
Codigoro is located in the Ferrara Delta, in the province of Ferrara. By car, it can be reached from the SS309 Romea (Venice-Ravenna connection) or from the Ferrara-Mare road. By train, the reference station is Codigoro, the terminus of the regional line from Ferrara.
Dates and times
September 11-15, 2026. The fair stands and markets are generally open from afternoon until late evening; Codishow concerts are mostly held in the evening.
Admission and costs
Admission to the fair and Codishow concerts is free. The Tomato Festival offers dishes for a fee at the food stands. Bingo games and the lottery involve purchasing tickets.
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Where does it take place — Santa Croce Fair
Centro storico di Codigoro