Asti Square Pepper Festival
Four days of flavors, music, and tradition in the heart of the Asti Monferrato
About Motta Pepper Festival
The square pepper festival in the Asti Monferrato
In the small hamlet of Motta, part of the Municipality of Costigliole d'Asti in the province of Asti, one of Piedmont's most deeply rooted festivals takes place every summer: the Asti Square Pepper Festival. Born in the post-war period, the event celebrates the iconic product of this land, the square pepper, a fleshy and sweet variety recognized as a Slow Food Presidium. The Tanaro valley, around Motta, was so rich in crops that in the 1960s and 70s it was nicknamed the "little California" for its extraordinary horticultural production.
Food and wine stands
The heart of the festival is the food stands, open every evening from 7:00 PM. Here you can enjoy traditional Asti and Monferrato dishes, grilled meats, street food, and above all the unmissable fried frogs alla mottese, paired with the pepper in a combination that is now a classic of the festival. All accompanied by local wines, beers, and cocktails.
The Square Pepper Market
During the festival, there is space for the Motta Square Pepper Market, a showcase for the Slow Food Presidium and local producers, accompanied by stalls of agricultural products and crafts. It is an opportunity to buy fresh peppers directly from the growers and meet those who carry on the tradition.
Music, dancing, and fun
Every evening offers live music: the festival is divided between a ballroom dancing area with orchestras and a youth area with DJs and shows, so as to satisfy all generations. There is no shortage of games for children, a funfair, a charity stand, bar service, and moments of tradition such as the field mass and performances by the marching band.
A tradition of Costigliole d'Asti
Organized by the Pro Loco of Motta with the support of the Municipality of Costigliole d'Asti, the festival has free admission and is one of the most heartfelt events of the Asti summer. An event that combines taste, rural culture, and village celebration in the heart of the Monferrato, in Piedmont.
Motta Pepper Festival — edition 2026
La 79ª Sagra del Peperone a Motta
L'edizione 2026 della Sagra del Peperone Quadrato d'Asti, la 79ª, si terrà al Campo sportivo di Motta, frazione di Costigliole d'Asti (provincia di Asti), da venerdì 31 luglio a lunedì 3 agosto 2026. Confermato il consueto format di quattro giorni con apertura degli stand enogastronomici ogni sera e tante serate musicali.
Come ogni anno protagonisti saranno il peperone quadrato, Presidio Slow Food, le rane fritte alla mottese, il mercato dei produttori locali e l'animazione divisa tra area liscio e area giovani.
Il programma dettagliato con i nomi delle orchestre, dei dj e degli spettacoli serali sarà pubblicato dalla Pro Loco di Motta in prossimità dell'evento. Per aggiornamenti si consiglia di seguire la pagina Facebook proloco.motta o contattare gli organizzatori.
Programme Motta Pepper Festival 2026
Il programma dettagliato della 79ª edizione (orchestre, dj, ospiti e orari serali) sarà annunciato dalla Pro Loco di Motta nelle settimane precedenti la sagra. Struttura abituale della manifestazione, confermata negli anni:
- Quattro serate (venerdì-lunedì) con stand enogastronomici aperti dalle 19:00
- Specialità tipiche: peperone quadrato, rane fritte alla mottese, grigliate e street food, vini del territorio
- Area liscio con orchestre da ballo e area giovani con dj e spettacoli ogni sera
- Mercato del Peperone Quadrato della Motta (Presidio Slow Food) e banchi di prodotti agricoli e artigianato
- Giochi per bambini, luna park, stand della beneficenza e servizio bar
Highlights Motta Pepper Festival 2026
Il peperone quadrato Presidio Slow Food, le rane fritte alla mottese e le serate di musica e ballo nel cuore del Monferrato astigiano.
Prices Motta Pepper Festival 2026
Practical information — Motta Pepper Festival
How to get there
The festival takes place at the Motta sports field, a hamlet of Costigliole d'Asti (AT), along Via Valle Tanaro. By car, it can be reached from Asti in about 20 minutes via the SP456 del Turchino; useful motorway exits are Asti Est (A21). The nearest train station is Costigliole d'Asti, on the Asti-Alba line.
Admission and hours
Free admission. Food and wine stands open every evening starting at 7:00 PM. On Sunday, there is also a fair with a market from the morning.
Contacts
Pro Loco di Motta — tel. +39 338 8371991, e-mail [email protected]. Updates on the program and dates on the official Facebook page proloco.motta.
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Where does it take place — Motta Pepper Festival
Campo sportivo di Motta
Campo sportivo di Motta, Via Valle Tanaro, 14055 Costigliole d'Asti