Festival of Europe and European Aperitifs
Macerata is tinged with blue: four days of cuisine, cultures, and European social life
About European Aperitifs
A toast across Europe in the heart of Macerata
The Festival of Europe with its European Aperitifs is one of the most heartfelt and attended events of spring in Macerata, the capital of the province of the same name in the Marche region. For four days, around May 9th (the symbolic date of the European Union, anniversary of the Schuman Declaration), the city's historic center comes alive with colors, scents, and sounds from across the continent. Bars, restaurants, pizzerias, and wine bars in the center each choose a European country and reinterpret its cuisine, drinks, and atmosphere: from Spain to Germany, from France to Greece, from Poland to the Scandinavian countries, to Albania, Croatia, Portugal, and many others.
How the European Aperitifs work
The heart of the event is the European Aperitifs: the participating establishments, over fifty each year, decorate their spaces with themes, costumes, and music from the represented country, and offer the public aperitifs inspired by the gastronomic traditions of that nation. It's an opportunity to walk through the streets and squares of the center – from Piazza della Libertà to Corso della Repubblica, from Via Garibaldi to Piazza Mazzini – tasting a piece of Europe at each stop.
The public is also central to the verdict: through the official app "Aperitivi Europei Macerata", you can vote for each venue by assigning a score for decoration, quality of the culinary offering, and value for money. The venue with the highest average wins the Golden Eugenio, the charming mascot-trophy that remains on display in the winning venue for a whole year, until the next edition.
Not just aperitifs: culture, youth, and inclusion
A rich program, organized by the Municipality of Macerata together with the University of Macerata, Europe Direct Marche Region, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), and numerous local associations, revolves around the aperitifs. Conferences on the Erasmus+ program, talks on international mobility, info days on European projects, workshops for children, role-playing games, tastings, stand-up comedy, guided walks, and live concerts fill the days. In a sign of adherence to community values, symbolic monuments like the Sferisterio are illuminated in blue, the color of the European flag.
A city event, free and for everyone
The Festival of Europe is a city-wide event with free admission, designed to involve students, families, residents, and visitors. With tens of thousands of attendees recorded in recent editions, it has become a reference event for those who want to experience Macerata in a festive and international atmosphere, discovering the cultural richness of the countries that make up the European Union.
European Aperitifs — edition 2026
The Festival of Europe 2026 enlivened the historic center of Macerata from May 7th to 10th. The protagonists were the European Aperitifs with 52 participating venues, each dedicated to a European country (Spain, Germany, and France among the most chosen nations). Alongside the gastronomic offerings, a program of cultural events, talks on Erasmus, workshops, role-playing games, tastings, and concerts in Piazza della Libertà. Over 2,000 votes collected via the official app determined the winners of the Golden Eugenio.
Programme European Aperitifs 2026
Thursday, May 7th
- 3:00 PM — Info Day "Archaeodigit" (Biblioteca Mozzi Borgetti)
- 4:00 PM — "Europe Lounge" (Polo Pantaleoni)
- 5:00 PM — Children's activity "Journey through the streets of Lisbon" (Libreria del Monte)
- 6:00 PM — ESN Language Corners (Piazza della Libertà)
- 6:30 PM — Design and role-playing workshop (Galleria degli Antichi Forni)
- Evening — Music by local bands in Piazza della Libertà and opening of the European Aperitifs
Friday, May 8th
- 10:00 AM — Desk "Europe in Listening – Career Day" (Department of Economics)
- 10:00 AM — "Europe for Me" contest award ceremony (I.T.E. Gentili)
- Afternoon — "Euroyoung" animation paths and "GEAR UP!" projects
- Evening — Varnelli Distillery tastings and stand-up comedy (Antichi Forni)
Saturday, May 9th — Festival of Europe
- 4:00 PM — "Walk through the Historic Fountains"
- 4:00 PM-9:00 PM — Role-playing tables (Piazza della Libertà)
- Afternoon — Talk on the Erasmus project (Galleria degli Antichi Forni)
- 6:00 PM — Book presentation "Il disordine tributario" (Libreria Feltrinelli)
- 6:00 PM-8:00 PM — "The World of Families" (Galleria degli Antichi Forni)
- 9:00 PM — Concert by Little Pieces of Marmelade (Piazza della Libertà)
- 8:00 PM-2:00 AM — Free shuttle service from park-and-ride facilities
Sunday, May 10th
- 3:00 PM — "ERUA Sunshine Party" (Giardini Diaz)
- Afternoon — Balfolk and screen printing workshops (Piazza della Libertà), themed screenings, and the last day of European Aperitifs
Highlights European Aperitifs 2026
The 2026 Golden Eugenio competition, voted by the public via app with over 2,000 votes, saw La Botte Gaia (France) triumph, also receiving the first prize named after Fabio Andreozzi. On the podium were Civico 37 (Denmark), the most voted venue overall, and Osteria Agnese (Albania). Among the most anticipated moments were the evening concert by Little Pieces of Marmelade in Piazza della Libertà and the Sferisterio illuminated in blue.
Prices European Aperitifs 2026
Practical information — European Aperitifs
Where
Historic center of Macerata (MC), Marche: Piazza della Libertà, Corso della Repubblica, Via Garibaldi, Piazza Mazzini, and surrounding streets. Cultural events also held at Galleria degli Antichi Forni, Biblioteca Mozzi Borgetti, Giardini Diaz, and university venues.
When
Four days in May, around May 9th (Festival of Europe). Aperitifs from late afternoon/evening; on the last day, from early afternoon.
How to get there
By car: Exit A14 Civitanova Marche, then SS77 to Macerata. By train: Macerata station, a short distance from the center. During the event, a free evening shuttle service from park-and-ride facilities to the historic center is usually available.
Admission
Free event and open to all. Drinks at the aperitifs are paid for at individual participating venues.
Voting
To vote for venues and follow the program, use the official app "Aperitivi Europei Macerata", available on the App Store and Play Store.
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Where does it take place — European Aperitifs
Centro storico di Macerata
Piazza della Libertà, 62100 Macerata