National Chestnut Festival
Cuneo's autumn jewel: chestnuts, flavours, and Piedmontese traditions
About Chestnut Festival
The National Chestnut Festival, a symbol of Cuneo's autumn
When the leaves change colour and the air turns crisp, the historic centre of Cuneo transforms into a vast open-air market: this is the National Chestnut Festival, the event that has been celebrating the chestnut and local flavours for over twenty years. Known by the locals as the "autumn jewel," the festival winds through the city's most beautiful streets and squares, from Via Roma to the monumental Piazza Galimberti, filling them with scents, colours, and traditions.
A showcase of the chestnut supply chain
The heart of the festival is the marrone (chestnut), the prized fruit of the Cuneo valleys, showcased in all its forms: from roasted chestnuts to jams, from desserts to processed products, as well as chestnut wood and handicrafts. Around this protagonist gather some 300 selected exhibitors from numerous Italian regions and abroad, offering gourmet excellence, local products, and artistic crafts. The event is organised by the Municipality of Cuneo in collaboration with the Piedmont Region and the local tourist board.
Much more than a food festival
The Chestnut Festival is not just about gastronomy. Over the three days, there are show cooking sessions with great chefs, guided tastings, conferences, and cultural and scientific outreach meetings dedicated to the chestnut. There is no shortage of educational workshops for schools and families, street artists, live performances, concerts, and sporting initiatives such as the famous Randonée del Marrone. A multidisciplinary programme that weaves together food, culture, music, and Piedmontese folk tradition.
International recognition
The festival, which has held the status of a national exhibition since 2009, has grown to attract between 200,000 and 300,000 visitors each year, with a steadily increasing share of foreign public. For this reason, from 2027 the event will officially obtain the title of international fair, crowning a history rooted in the agricultural tradition of the Province of Cuneo. An unmissable appointment for those who want to discover the authentic soul of Piedmont through its autumn flavours.
When to go
The National Chestnut Festival is held every year in mid-October, with stands open from morning until evening. Admission is completely free, making it perfect for a day trip or a weekend discovering Cuneo and its valleys.
Chestnut Festival — edition 2026
National Chestnut Festival 2026 — 27th edition
The National Chestnut Festival returns to Cuneo from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October 2026 for its 27th edition. The historic centre, from Via Roma to Piazza Galimberti, will host as every year about 300 selected exhibitors with the best of the chestnut supply chain and typical products of Piedmont.
The 2026 edition marks the last one in the guise of a "national" exhibition: from 2027, in fact, the festival will officially obtain the title of international fair, thanks to the growing presence of foreign visitors recorded in recent years.
Standard hours include the opening of stands on Friday and Saturday from 9:00 to 23:00 and Sunday from 9:00 to 21:00. Admission is free.
The detailed programme for the 2026 edition — including show cooking, tastings, workshops, shows, and concerts — will be announced in the weeks leading up to the event on the official website marrone.net and on the Municipality of Cuneo's channels.
Programme Chestnut Festival 2026
The detailed programme of the 27th edition will be published by the organisers in the weeks leading up to the event on the official website marrone.net and on the Municipality of Cuneo's channels.
Based on previous editions, the three-day event is usually structured as follows:
- Friday — official inauguration and ribbon-cutting on Via Roma; opening of food stands until late evening; workshops for children, tastings, and initial cultural events.
- Saturday — a full day of show cooking, guided tastings, educational workshops, street artists, and live performances.
- Sunday — morning sporting events (Randonée del Marrone), extraordinary market, workshops, music, and traditional appointments, until the evening closing.
Highlights Chestnut Festival 2026
- About 300 selected exhibitors from all over Italy and abroad
- Show cooking, guided tastings, and food and wine meetings
- Educational workshops for children and families
- Live performances, street artists, and concerts
- Randonée del Marrone and sporting initiatives
- Last "national" edition before the transition to an international fair (2027)
Prices Chestnut Festival 2026
Practical information — Chestnut Festival
How to get there
By train: Cuneo station is well connected to Turin and the line to Ventimiglia; from the station, the historic centre can be reached on foot in a few minutes.
By car: Cuneo is served by the A33 Asti-Cuneo motorway and the main state roads. During the festival, the centre is largely pedestrianised: it is advisable to use peripheral car parks and the provided reception services.
Admission and opening hours
Admission to the festival is free. Stands are generally open Friday and Saturday from 9:00 to 23:00 and Sunday from 9:00 to 21:00.
Information
Exhibitor info: +39 0171 444285 — [email protected]. Tourist info: +39 0171 690217 — [email protected]. Official website: marrone.net.
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Where does it take place — Chestnut Festival
Centro storico di Cuneo (da Via Roma a Piazza Galimberti)
Via Roma, 12100 Cuneo