Bolle di Malto – Italian Beer Expo
The craft beer festival turning Biella into the Italian brewing capital
About Bolle di Malto
Biella, the Capital of Craft Beer
For over ten editions, Bolle di Malto has transformed the historic center of Biella, in the heart of Upper Piedmont, into a true capital of Italian craft beer. Founded in 2015 by Raffaele Abbattista and Marta Florio and organized by the Cortocircuito Association, the event has grown into the largest national festival dedicated to the brewing world, drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the squares of the Biella province capital.
A Festival Spanning the City Squares
The festival brings the city's iconic landmarks to life: Piazza Martiri della Libertà hosts free concerts and tasting areas, Piazza 1° Maggio is dedicated to families and children, and Piazza Vittorio Veneto houses the Italian Beer Expo, alongside Via Italia and the charming Piazzo district. Over nine days, more than one hundred events take place across the city and province, ranging from brewery stalls and street food to live music and cultural talks.
Beer, Culture, and Territory
Bolle di Malto is more than just a beer festival: it is a cultural project that highlights artisanal products, local territories, and supply chains. Every year, the event features beloved formats such as Parola a Bolle, the BDM Sour Jazz in collaboration with the Biella Jazz Club, the Stati Generali della Birra, and the evocative Ceremony of the First Keg, which officially kicks off the event. The public can discover hundreds of different styles guided by 'Bolle Experts', attend tastings, expert talks, and initiatives dedicated to national brewing culture.
The Italian Beer Expo
The professional heart of the festival, the Salone Italiano della Birra, is an agora for producers, institutions, and industry professionals: it features conferences, in-depth discussions, tastings, and debates on the future of Italian beer, focusing on supply chain enhancement and experiential tourism. It is a showcase that has established Biella and Piedmont as a benchmark for the entire sector.
An Event for Everyone
Combining music, conviviality, social inclusion, and local promotion, Bolle di Malto is designed for enthusiasts and curious visitors of all ages. Access to the areas and concerts is largely free, while special tastings and experiences—from e-bike tours of breweries to Bolle in Quota trekking—are available through dedicated packages.
Bolle di Malto — edition 2026
The eleventh edition of Bolle di Malto returns to Biella from August 30 to September 7, 2026, with over one hundred events spread across the city and province. The event is divided into three distinct phases that guide the public from the surrounding territory to the heart of the festival, involving the main squares of the historic center and new city streets.
Programme Bolle di Malto 2026
The 2026 edition is organized into three phases:
Bolle Off — August 30 / September 2
A widespread route that guides the public toward the heart of the event through local activities across the city and province.
Bolle On — September 3 / 7
The beating heart of the event, bringing free concerts and areas dedicated to Italian craft breweries back to the center of Biella, in Piazza Martiri della Libertà and Piazza 1° Maggio. This year, Via San Filippo and Via Italia are also involved, connecting with their stands to Piazza Vittorio Veneto.
Italian Beer Expo — September 5 / 7
In Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the project dedicated to national brewing culture, local territories, producers, supply chains, experiential tourism, and the future of the sector, featuring meetings, in-depth discussions, tastings, and debates between institutions, businesses, and operators.
The festival's signature formats return: Parola a Bolle, BDM Sour Jazz, the Stati Generali della Birra, and the Ceremony of the First Keg, alongside new cultural, artistic, and local initiatives.
The detailed program with guests and musical and cultural appointments will be announced in the coming weeks during the official press conference.
Highlights Bolle di Malto 2026
Prices Bolle di Malto 2026
Practical information — Bolle di Malto
Getting There
Biella is accessible by car via the A4 motorway (Carisio or Santhià exits) followed by the expressway, and by train via the Biella San Paolo station, connected to Novara and Santhià. Events take place in the historic center, which is within walking distance of the stations.
Admission and Tastings
Access to the squares and concerts is mostly free. Tastings are conducted by purchasing glasses and tokens in the designated areas; some special experiences (tours, trekking, masterclasses) require payment and reservation.
Information
Phone +39 366 7025026, email [email protected]. The full updated program is available on the official website bolledimalto.it.
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Where does it take place — Bolle di Malto
Centro storico di Biella
Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 13900 Biella