Napoli Food Festival

A night of taste at Parco Virgiliano

The Napoli Food Festival debuted in 2026 as a grand collective celebration of Neapolitan cuisine, hosted at the Parco Virgiliano in Posillipo. This scenic viewpoint, overlooking the Gulf of Naples with a panorama stretching across Mount Vesuvius, Capri, Ischia, and Procida, reopened to the public on June 27, 2026, following extensive renovations. For one evening, it welcomed over 150 culinary professionals, including chefs, pizza makers, pastry chefs, rotisserie experts, gelato artisans, and local producers.

The faces behind the festival

The project was spearheaded by a group of Neapolitan restaurateurs—Gino Sorbillo, Marco Infante (Casa Infante), Daniele Testa (Punto Nave), Giovanni Tammaro (President of Confagricoltura Napoli), and Antonio Esposito—united under the Napoli Food Festival association, chaired by Sergio Curcio. The initiative was held in partnership with the City of Naples, with the official presentation taking place on July 2, 2026, at Palazzo San Giacomo, attended by councilors Teresa Armato (Tourism and Productive Activities) and Vincenzo Santagada (Public Green Spaces and Health).

«United by Food»: the concept

The chosen slogan, «United by Food», perfectly captures the event's spirit: food as a universal language, bringing together both historic institutions and the city's rising stars at the same table. The inaugural edition featured a vast representation of the Neapolitan food and wine scene:

• 57 restaurants, ranging from neighborhood trattorias to historic waterfront landmarks;
• 32 pastry shops, serving traditional sfogliatelle, babà, and local sweets;
• 28 pizzerias, the beating heart of the city's culinary identity;
• 14 artisanal food producers and agricultural experts from Campania;
• 7 cocktail bars and 14 wineries showcasing the best of Campania's wines.

The evening was hosted by Fatima Trotta, featuring live cooking demonstrations, entertainment, live music, and DJ sets that kept the atmosphere vibrant until late.

Taste in the service of solidarity

The Napoli Food Festival is more than just a gastronomic showcase: all proceeds, after covering organizational costs not met by sponsors, were donated to three organizations dedicated to healthcare and humanitarian aid—Emergency, the Santobono-Pausilipon Foundation, and the Santobono Hospital Supporters Association (ETS). The Santobono-Pausilipon is the leading pediatric center in Southern Italy, specializing in emergency care, pediatric oncology, and neonatal intensive care, while Emergency, founded in 1994, provides medical care to victims of war and poverty. This commitment sets the festival apart from many other food events in the Campania region.

Naples, Posillipo, and the city's cuisine

Choosing Parco Virgiliano as the venue was no coincidence: the Posillipo hill, with its views of the Phlegraean Fields and the islands of the gulf, is a quintessential symbol of Naples, and its reopening was long-awaited by locals. The stalls showcased a cuisine that weaves together sea and land—from the fish of the gulf to the products of the Naples province, the UNESCO-recognized Neapolitan pizza, and the city's legendary pastry tradition.

An event destined to grow

The public success of the first edition—drawing visitors from across Campania and numerous tourists—has prompted organizers to announce a second edition with an even broader program. For those visiting Naples in the summer, the Napoli Food Festival is a must-add to your agenda: a single evening to taste the very best of the city while supporting a worthy cause.