Baccanale
The great food and culture event of Imola, in Emilia-Romagna
About Baccanale
Baccanale, Imola's Autumn of Taste
Baccanale is the historic food and culture event in Imola, in the Metropolitan City of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna. Founded in 1985, it has become over the years one of the longest-standing and most recognized national events dedicated to food culture: for over three weeks, between late October and mid-November, the entire city transforms into a widespread culinary laboratory. Promoted by the Municipality of Imola through its Cultural Activities Service, Baccanale combines the region's fine dining with cultural venues, intertwining gastronomy, history, art, and entertainment.
A Different Theme Every Year
What makes Baccanale unique is the choice, for each edition, of a theme around which the entire event revolves. In recent years, it has ranged from "A Drop of Oil" to "A World of Spices" for the 40th anniversary in 2025, up to the theme of the 2026 edition, "Encounters - Italian Cuisine Without Borders", dedicated to Italian cuisine made of contaminations, exchanges, and influences that cross borders. The theme becomes the key to interpreting the menus offered by restaurants, as well as the conferences, exhibitions, and meetings that animate the event.
What the Event Offers
- Themed Menus and Special Dishes: dozens of Imola's restaurants, trattorias, pizzerias, and pastry shops offer dishes inspired by the year's theme.
- Meetings and Conferences: scholars, food historians, and protagonists of Italian gastronomic culture lead debates and discussions.
- Tastings, Dinners, and Show Cooking: guided events with typical products, local wines, and chef demonstrations.
- Exhibitions, Markets, and Workshops: exhibitions in cultural venues, markets for local products, and activities for adults and children.
- Shows and Guided Tours: the event intertwines food with the discovery of the city's historical and artistic heritage.
Imola, a Recognized Gastronomic Laboratory
Baccanale showcases the vibrancy of the Imola gastronomic district, capable of combining fine dining, historic trattorias, and renowned pastry shops: among the protagonists is the celebrated Ristorante San Domenico, while the territory engages with institutions like Casa Artusi and the city's symbolic places, from the historic center to the Racetrack. Anticipated in spring by the Baccanale Preview, which reveals its theme, the autumn event attracts thousands of visitors to Imola each year, confirming itself as one of the reference events for food culture in Emilia-Romagna.
Baccanale — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Imola's Baccanale, the 41st edition of the event, is confirmed from October 24 to November 15, 2026. The chosen theme is "Encounters - Italian Cuisine Without Borders": a journey that tells the story of Italian cuisine as a result of cultural exchanges, contaminations, and influences that have enriched its traditions and flavors. The theme was unveiled in spring by the Baccanale Preview, held in Piazza Matteotti from May 15 to 17, 2026.
As is tradition, for over three weeks Imola will host themed menus in restaurants, special dish offers, tastings, dinners, show cooking, conferences, exhibitions, markets for typical products, workshops for adults and children, guided tours, and shows. Restaurateurs and operators had until the deadlines set by the Municipality (June 30 for restaurants, July 15 for other proposals) to join the program with themed menus and distributed initiatives. The complete calendar of events will be announced by the organization in the weeks preceding the start of the event, on the official website baccanaleimola.it.
Programme Baccanale 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 edition has not yet been published. The dates (October 24 - November 15, 2026) and the theme 'Encounters - Italian Cuisine Without Borders' are confirmed. As in previous editions, the calendar will include themed menus in restaurants, tastings and dinners, meetings and conferences, exhibitions, markets, workshops and show cooking, guided tours and shows throughout the historic center and cultural venues of Imola. The complete program will be published on the official website in the weeks preceding the start of the event.
Highlights Baccanale 2026
Prices Baccanale 2026
Practical information — Baccanale
Where
Baccanale takes place throughout the historic center of Imola (Metropolitan City of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna) and in various city locations, including restaurants, squares, the library, the theater, and cultural spaces.
How to Get Here
By train: Imola station is on the Bologna-Rimini line, a few minutes' walk from the historic center. By car: take the Imola exit of the A14 motorway, then follow signs for the center; parking is available in areas near the historic core.
When
The event is held in autumn, between late October and mid-November, for over three weeks. In spring, usually in May, the Baccanale Preview takes place in Piazza Matteotti.
Prices
Many events (meetings, exhibitions, markets) are free to enter; themed menus, dinners, tastings, and workshops are subject to charges according to the offerings of individual restaurants and organizers.
Info
Official website baccanaleimola.it and the Cultural Activities Service of the Municipality of Imola, tel. 0542 602300.
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Where does it take place — Baccanale
Centro storico di Imola
Centro storico, 40026 Imola