Ascoliva Festival
The World Festival of the Stuffed Ascolana Olive of Piceno DOP
About Ascoliva Festival
Ascoliva Festival, the world celebration of the Ascolana olive
Every summer, in August, Ascoli Piceno dedicates a major event to its most famous gastronomic product: the Stuffed Ascolana Olive of Piceno DOP. The Ascoliva Festival is, in fact, the only event in the world entirely built around this specialty, a symbol of Marchigian cuisine and an ambassador of the Piceno territory worldwide. The setting is the magnificent Piazza Arringo, the monumental heart of the provincial capital, enclosed by the Cathedral of Sant'Emidio, the Baptistery, and historic palaces.
The Olive Village in the heart of Ascoli
During the festival days, the square transforms into the Olive Village: a culinary journey where artisan producers offer tastings of the authentic stuffed Ascolana olive, fried on the spot, alongside a selection of traditional Piceno dishes. Alongside the food stands, there is the Expoliva exhibition area, workshops, conferences dedicated to the culture of olive growing and the protection of the DOP brand, and numerous collateral initiatives. The festival's philosophy is clear: to promote the authentic product, defend it from imitations, and tell its centuries-old story.
Tradition, games, and community
Ascoliva is not just about food and wine. The program intertwines moments of entertainment and popular celebration: the Olive Olympics, a series of themed games for tourists and visitors; the Housewives' Competition, which awards the best homemade stuffed Ascolana olive according to the traditional recipe; and the Ascoliva Award, a recognition given to those who have distinguished themselves in promoting the Piceno territory. The evenings are enlivened by concerts and DJ sets, while the calendar aligns with other major events of the Ascoli summer, from the Feast of Sant'Emidio to the Giostra della Quintana.
An event for the entire Piceno region
Born in 2013, the Ascoliva Festival has grown to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors over its editions, becoming one of the flagship events of the summer in the Marche region and a stop on the Grand Tour delle Marche. The event, supported by the Municipality of Ascoli Piceno and the Marche Region, also offers services designed for the many tourists from the Adriatic coast, such as the Ascoliva Bus, and advantageous packages like Ascoliva Plus, which offers discounts for museums and city attractions. Experiencing Ascoliva means discovering Ascoli Piceno, the "city of a hundred towers," through its most distinctive flavor.
Ascoliva Festival — edition 2026
Ascoliva Festival 2026 — 13th Edition
The 2026 edition of the Ascoliva Festival, the thirteenth, will be held in Ascoli Piceno from August 8 to 19, 2026, confirming its venue in the monumental heart of the city, Piazza Arringo, with the Olive Village. The event reaffirms its identity as the world's only festival dedicated to the Stuffed Ascolana Olive of Piceno DOP, featuring tastings by artisan producers, twelve dishes of the Piceno tradition, conferences on olive growing, the Expoliva area, initiatives for families, and services for tourists such as the Ascoliva Bus and Ascoliva Plus.
Opening is scheduled for the evening of August 8th; on subsequent days, usual hours are for lunch (approximately 11:15 AM - 2:15 PM) and from evening until late night, with extended hours during white nights.
The detailed program for the evenings (concerts, DJ sets, guests for the Ascoliva Award, dates for the Olive Olympics and the Housewives' Competition) will be announced by the organization in the weeks preceding the event, usually in July. This page will be updated with the complete lineup as soon as it is published on the official channels.
Programme Ascoliva Festival 2026
The detailed program for the 13th edition (musical evenings, guests, precise dates for the Olive Olympics, the Housewives' Competition, and the Ascoliva Award) will be announced by the organization in the weeks preceding the event, typically in July.
Traditional structure of the event, documented in recent editions:
- Opening evening with the inauguration of the Olive Village and the Expoliva area.
- White Night of Ascoli Piceno, with extended opening until late at night.
- Olive Olympics: themed games for tourists and visitors.
- Housewives' Competition: a challenge for the best homemade stuffed Ascolana olive.
- Conferences and workshops on olive growing, DOP products, and the excellences of the Piceno territory.
- Musical evenings with concerts and DJ sets.
- Ascoliva Award and final celebration to close the event.
Highlights Ascoliva Festival 2026
Prices Ascoliva Festival 2026
Practical information — Ascoliva Festival
Where
Piazza Arringo, historic center of Ascoli Piceno (Province of Ascoli Piceno, Marche). The Olive Village extends across the square and surrounding areas.
How to get there
By car: take the Ascoli Piceno exit of the Ascoli-Mare highway (RA11), then follow signs for the center; parking is available in city lots. By train: Ascoli Piceno station, a short distance from the historic center. From the coast, the Ascoliva Bus service operates during the festival.
Tickets and tastings
Entry to the festival area is free; tastings are available with a tasting coupon/ticket (in recent years, a full coupon cost €20 for 3 tastings, liqueur, and coffee; a reduced option was €5 during dedicated time slots). Gluten-free options are also available.
When
The event takes place in August, typically in the first half of the month. Typical opening hours: lunch from 11:15 AM to 2:15 PM and evenings from 6:15 PM until late night, with extended hours during white nights.
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Where does it take place — Ascoliva Festival
Piazza Arringo
Piazza Arringo, 63100 Ascoli Piceno