Festa della Marchigiana e Mostra Interregionale Bovina di Razza Marchigiana IGP
Four days in the Fortore hill town of Marchigiana IGP beef, an interregional cattle show, music and a White Night
About Festa della Marchigiana
Four days celebrating Fortore's livestock excellence
The Festa della Marchigiana is one of the most eagerly awaited summer events in the upper Sannio. The historic centre of San Giorgio La Molara, in the province of Benevento, fills with food stalls, stands selling local produce, live music and technical gatherings built around a single star: cattle of the Marchigiana breed, raised on the hill pastures of Fortore, and its meat, protected by the IGP Vitellone bianco dell'Appennino centrale.
Promoted by the town council together with farmers, associations, volunteers and local businesses, the event has grown year after year into a genuine model of local promotion: the most recent edition drew record crowds, with tens of thousands of visitors arriving from across Campania and from many other Italian regions. Today, the Festa della Marchigiana is regarded as one of the leading events dedicated to the food and livestock excellence of Fortore.
The Interregional Marchigiana Cattle Show
The technical heart of the festival is the Interregional Marchigiana Cattle Show, listed in the National Herdbook, which in 2026 reaches its nineteenth edition. Held over the weekend from 9:30am, it draws breeders from several regions of central-southern Italy: ring presentations, category competitions and award ceremonies structure the two days. Around the show, themed conferences are hosted in the Auditorium of the former Dominican Convent, dedicated to sustainable farming, quality supply chains and the productive future of inland areas.
For the Marchigiana breed, the event is not just a commercial showcase: it is public recognition of a breed that represents a stronghold of biodiversity and the backbone of the farming economy in this part of Sannio.
At the table: Marchigiana IGP in every form
The food stalls open every evening from 7pm and, over the weekend, also at lunchtime. The menu is built entirely around Fortore's Marchigiana IGP beef, served as full platters or individual dishes:
- char-grilled steaks and entrecôtes;
- tagliata (sliced grilled beef) and carpaccio;
- slow-cooked braised beef, stews and ragù;
- cold roast beef;
- burgers and sandwiches for a quicker bite.
Every year, only Fortore Marchigiana IGP cattle are slaughtered for the festival, certified to the standards of the protection consortium: a choice that has become the event's trademark and the reason why so many visitors return season after season.
Music, White Night and village life
The evenings are brought to life by events organised by the Youth Forum, with concerts in the square, the Marchigiana White Night and, to close, a lottery draw. Meanwhile the town stays lively late into the night: funfair rides for the little ones, guided walks through the old centre and visits to local cattle farms, family shows and folk music across the two main squares.
Open every day in the late afternoon, the "Ardegni Sangiorgesi" Museum rounds off the experience with its collection of tools from the local farming heritage: a piece of the puzzle that helps explain where this livestock culture comes from.
San Giorgio La Molara, gateway to the Val Fortore
Perched at 667 metres above sea level, San Giorgio La Molara is a town of just under three thousand inhabitants north-east of Benevento, on the border between Campania, Molise and Puglia. Pastures, oak woods and arable fields shape a still-agricultural landscape, where cattle farming is not folklore but real economy. It is this context that gives the festival its meaning: not just another village fair, but the annual showcase of a supply chain that employs dozens of families.
A model for promoting the local area
The event's budget — around 128,000 euros — is funded by tasting proceeds, sponsorships and contributions from public bodies, through teamwork between the town council, farmers and local associations. Mayor Nicola De Vizio describes the Marchigiana festival as much more than an event: a concept, a model and a commitment shared by the entire community. First-time visitors find exactly what they came for: quality meat served without frills, affordable prices, and a town putting its best foot forward for four days.
Festa della Marchigiana — edition 2026
The Festa della Marchigiana 2026 returns to San Giorgio La Molara, in the upper Sannio area of Benevento, from Thursday 30 July to Sunday 2 August. Four days built around Marchigiana IGP beef raised on the hills of Fortore, with food stalls open every evening from 7pm and, on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August, also at lunchtime.
The most eagerly awaited technical moment is the 19th Interregional Marchigiana Cattle Show, listed in the National Herdbook, scheduled for Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August from 9:30am with conferences, competitions and award ceremonies. The evenings are entrusted to events run by the Youth Forum, while funfair rides for children, guided visits to the town and to local cattle farms, and the "Ardegni Sangiorgesi" Museum, open from 6pm to 8pm, round out the programme.
The event is promoted by the town council together with farmers, associations, volunteers and local businesses, on a budget of around 128,000 euros funded by tastings, sponsorships and public contributions. Admission is free.
Programme Festa della Marchigiana 2026
Thursday 30 July 2026
- Opening of the event with showcooking and guided tastings of Marchigiana beef.
- Food stalls open from 7pm.
- "Ardegni Sangiorgesi" Museum open from 6pm to 8pm.
- In the evening, concert by Alessio (event curated by the Youth Forum).
Friday 31 July 2026
- Food stalls open from 7pm.
- "Ardegni Sangiorgesi" Museum open from 6pm to 8pm.
- White Night in town, with music and entertainment late into the night.
Saturday 1 August 2026
- From 9:30am: 19th Interregional Marchigiana Cattle Show listed in the National Herdbook — presentation of the animals, conferences, competitions and award ceremonies.
- Food stalls open at lunchtime and from 7pm.
- "Ardegni Sangiorgesi" Museum open from 6pm to 8pm.
- Live music in the squares and funfair rides for children.
Sunday 2 August 2026
- From 9:30am: second day of the Interregional Cattle Show with the final award ceremonies.
- Food stalls open at lunchtime and from 7pm.
- "Ardegni Sangiorgesi" Museum open from 6pm to 8pm.
- To close, lottery draw of the Festa della Marchigiana.
Throughout all four days
- Guided visits to the town and to local cattle farms.
- Themed conferences in the Auditorium of the former Dominican Convent.
- Children's play area with rides and ample parking for visitors.
Highlights Festa della Marchigiana 2026
- 19th Interregional Marchigiana Cattle Show (National Herdbook), Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August from 9:30am, with competitions and award ceremonies.
- Showcooking and guided tastings on the opening evening of Thursday 30 July.
- Concert by Alessio on 30 July and White Night on 31 July, curated by the Youth Forum.
- Menu entirely built around Marchigiana IGP: steaks, entrecôtes, tagliata, carpaccio, braised beef, stews, roast beef, ragù, burgers and sandwiches.
- Stalls open every evening from 7pm, with lunchtime service too on Saturday and Sunday.
- "Ardegni Sangiorgesi" Museum open every day from 6pm to 8pm.
- Lottery draw closing the event on Sunday 2 August.
Prices Festa della Marchigiana 2026
Practical information — Festa della Marchigiana
Getting there
By car from Benevento, continue north-east along the SS 212 of the Val Fortore towards Molise, as far as the turn-off for San Giorgio La Molara. From Naples, take the A16 Naples-Bari motorway, exit at Benevento and continue on the SS 212. The nearest railway station is Benevento, connected to Naples, Caserta and Foggia; from there, continue by regional coach services. The most convenient airports are Naples-Capodichino and Bari.
Admission and costs
Admission to the event is free. Only food and drink at the stalls are charged, with full platters and individual dishes available at affordable prices; groups are advised to book by phone or WhatsApp on the number provided by the organisers.
Useful tips
- Car parks are large but fill up quickly on weekend evenings: it's best to arrive before 8pm.
- The town sits on a hill at 667 metres: even in the height of August, evenings can be cool, so bring a light jumper.
- The best time for the Cattle Show is in the morning, when the competitions and award ceremonies take place.
- There is a play area with rides for children; families will also find more space during weekend lunchtimes, which are generally less crowded.
Contacts
Phone and bookings: +39 380 4951877 — official website: festadellamarchigiana.it. Institutional information available from the Comune di San Giorgio la Molara.
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 — Festa della Marchigiana
Centro storico di San Giorgio La Molara
Via Sant'Antonio, 82020 San Giorgio La Molara