/Are Fest – Terre del Negroamaro
The Negroamaro wine festival in the historic center of Guagnano
About /Are Fest
The Negroamaro festival in Guagnano
In the heart of northern Salento, the municipality of Guagnano (province of Lecce, Apulia) dedicates an entire weekend every summer to the wine that made its name famous: Negroamaro. The /Are Fest – Terre del Negroamaro began as a widespread festival throughout the historic center, where squares, courtyards, alleys, and ancient palaces turn into tasting stations, exhibition spaces, and stages for live music. The festival's name plays on the «-are» suffix of Italian verbs, evoking the idea of doing, making, and cultivating the land.
Wine, food, and territory
The heart of the event is the Piazza dei Vignaioli (Winemakers' Square), where the best Apulian wineries, many from the Negroamaro and Salice Salentino DOP areas, offer their wines for tasting. Alongside the glasses, the festival features cooking shows, food and wine workshops, and Food Experiences hosted in historic palaces, with local chefs telling the story of Salento cuisine with a contemporary twist. There are also thematic wine tastings, led by sommeliers and experts from the Italian Sommelier Association, who delve into the international role of Negroamaro.
Art, crafts, and music
Beyond wine, the /Are Fest showcases art exhibitions, craft displays, street performances, and concerts. Each edition features a prominent musical guest from the Italian scene on the main stage, while local bands and ensembles animate the village streets with live music and DJ sets. The festival also awards the Terre del Negroamaro Prize, a recognition dedicated to those who promote the grape variety, culture, and identity of this territory.
A village telling its story
The /Are Fest is organized by the Municipality of Guagnano together with local associations and Salento partners, with the support of the Apulia Region and institutional partners in the agri-food sector. More than just a simple wine festival, the event is a cultural project that aims to tell the story of restanza—the art of staying and inhabiting small villages, passing down their knowledge and flavors. For two evenings, Guagnano becomes an open-air lounge where Negroamaro is the common thread uniting food, wine, music, and community.
How to experience the festival
- Guided tastings of Negroamaro and Apulian wines
- Food experiences with local chefs in historic palaces
- Cooking shows and food and wine workshops
- Art, craft, and artisan exhibitions
- Concerts, street performances, and DJ sets in the historic center
- Terre del Negroamaro Prize
/Are Fest — edition 2026
/Are Fest 2026: the program
The /Are Fest – Terre del Negroamaro returns to Guagnano (Lecce, Apulia) on Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18, 2026, confirming the formula of a widespread festival in the historic center dedicated to the signature grape of northern Salento.
The headline musical act is Joan Thiele, a singer-songwriter and producer among the most appreciated voices of the Italian scene, expected on the stage on Saturday, July 18 as part of her summer tour. Surrounding the main concert, the village will host guided Negroamaro tastings in the Piazza dei Vignaioli, featuring the best Apulian wineries, food experiences and cooking shows with local chefs, thematic wine tastings, exhibitions, crafts, and street performances.
The festival, organized by the Municipality of Guagnano together with the Pro Loco and local partners with the support of the Apulia Region, also confirms the Terre del Negroamaro Prize. The detailed program, including times, locations, and participating wineries, will be published by the organizers on official channels in the weeks leading up to the event.
Programme /Are Fest 2026
Friday, July 17, 2026
- Opening of the Piazza dei Vignaioli and tasting stations in the historic center
- Food experiences, cooking shows, and wine tastings in palaces and courtyards
- Exhibitions, crafts, street performances, and live music
Saturday, July 18, 2026
- Tastings of Negroamaro and Apulian wines
- Terre del Negroamaro Prize
- Concert by Joan Thiele on the main stage
Detailed program with times and locations to be published on the official festival channels.
Highlights /Are Fest 2026
Prices /Are Fest 2026
Practical information — /Are Fest
Getting there
Guagnano is located in northern Salento, in the province of Lecce. By car, it can be reached via the SS7ter and SP104 roads; the nearest cities are Lecce (about 25 km) and Brindisi (about 35 km). By train, the reference stations are Novoli and Lecce, which are then connected by bus services. The most convenient airports are Brindisi-Papola Casale and Bari-Palese.
Admission and tickets
Most of the festival activities take place freely in the historic center; some tastings, food experiences, and the concert on the main stage may require a ticket or a dedicated pass. It is recommended to check the details and prices on the official website and the festival's social media channels.
Tips
The event takes place in summer during the evening hours: wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for the cobblestones of the historic center. In high season, it is advisable to book accommodation in the vicinity of Guagnano and Salento well in advance.
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Where does it take place — /Are Fest
Centro storico di Guagnano
Piazza Maria SS. del Rosario, 73010 Guagnano