Baccanale Preview
The spring appetizer for the Imola Baccanale, in Piazza Matteotti
About Baccanale Preview
A taste of Baccanale in spring
The Baccanale Preview is the event that, every year in May, anticipates the great autumn food and wine festival in Imola, in the Metropolitan City of Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna. For several evenings, Piazza Matteotti in the historic center transforms into an outdoor gastronomic route, where the city's restaurants and master pastry chefs present dishes inspired by the theme chosen for the year's edition. It's the way the Municipality of Imola unveils the common thread of the Baccanale and sparks the curiosity of gourmets.
The Baccanale, a continuing story
The Baccanale is the event that has made Imola a national reference point for food culture since 1985: each edition revolves around a theme and intertwines gastronomy, conferences, exhibitions, shows, and workshops for over three weeks in autumn. The Preview was born as its spring prologue: lighter and more festive, it brings the most convivial part of the festival to the square, anticipating its theme and directly involving local restaurateurs.
What to expect in the square
- Themed dishes: each restaurant offers a recipe inspired by the year's theme, so that walking through the square creates an ideal multi-handed menu.
- Music and DJ sets: the spring evenings are enlivened by musical performances and DJs that get the public dancing.
- Workshops and meetings: space is also dedicated to children and enthusiasts, with activities focused on pastry and local products.
- Convivial atmosphere: outdoor tables, illuminated historic center, and the desire to be together around good food.
The Imola area, a laboratory of taste
Imola and its surroundings are today a vibrant gastronomic district, capable of combining fine dining, historic taverns, pizzerias, and signature pastry shops. The Baccanale Preview showcases this richness: a showcase that dialogues between the city's establishments and the typical products of Romagna, in anticipation of the autumn Baccanale which attracts thousands of visitors to Imola every year.
Baccanale Preview — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Baccanale Preview was held in Piazza Matteotti in Imola from Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 17, 2026, with hours from 5:00 PM to midnight on Friday and Saturday, and from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Sunday. The common thread was the theme chosen for the autumn Baccanale: 'Encounters - Italian Cuisine Without Borders', a reflection on Italian gastronomic tradition enriched by international influences and contaminations. Three days of food and public in the square saw a constant presence and positive feedback for the offerings of Imola's restaurateurs.
Programme Baccanale Preview 2026
Friday, May 15
- From 5:00 PM to midnight — opening of the restaurant stands in Piazza Matteotti, themed dishes and live music / DJ set in the evening.
Saturday, May 16
- From 5:00 PM to midnight — gastronomic offerings from restaurants and pastry shops, accompanied by music and DJ sets.
Sunday, May 17
- From 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM — final evening in the square; during the day, the children's workshop 'The Youngest Junior Pastry Chef', with young participants busy preparing and decorating desserts with the master pastry chefs.
The protagonists in the square
Thirteen Imola restaurants and pastry shops, each with a dish inspired by the theme: Ristorante San Domenico, Semplice, Osteria Callegherie, Fiskebar Linea 22, Casa Serafini, Taverna San Pietro, Pizzeria Quattroquinti, Osteria del Vicolo Nuovo, Vivanderia Note e Aromi, Gastarea Bistrot e Territorio, Ristorante Bandini, Dulcis Cafè and Pasticceria Sebastiano Caridi, with the participation of Tenuta Torre Diana of Mordano.
Highlights Baccanale Preview 2026
Prices Baccanale Preview 2026
Practical information — Baccanale Preview
Where
Piazza Matteotti, in the historic center of Imola (Metropolitan City of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna).
How to get there
By train: Imola station is on the Bologna-Rimini line, a few minutes' walk from the historic center. By car: take the Imola exit from the A14 motorway, then follow signs for the center; parking is available in the areas surrounding the historic nucleus.
When
The Preview generally takes place in May, over a weekend, in the evening hours. The actual Baccanale is held in autumn (between late October and mid-November).
Prices
Access to the square is free; dishes offered by restaurants are paid for according to the prices of each establishment.
Info
Official Baccanale website and channels of the Municipality of Imola.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Baccanale Preview
Piazza Matteotti
Piazza Matteotti, 40026 Imola