National Panettone and Pandoro Fair

A fair that set the standard

The National Panettone and Pandoro Fair is Italy's longest-running event entirely dedicated to artisanal Christmas leavened cakes. Founded in 2008 by patron Emanuele Giordano, it has established itself over the years as a benchmark for pastry chefs, bakers, and enthusiasts, featuring dozens of initiatives including fairs, previews, and side events. Its historic home is the Capital: the Hotel Cristoforo Colombo at Via Cristoforo Colombo 710, in the EUR district of Rome, Lazio.

What to expect at the fair

The heart of the event lies in the producers' stands: over thirty artisanal exhibitors from diverse regions, each offering their own interpretation of panettone and pandoro. Alongside the classic Milanese and Veronese recipes, you will find great variations from the South—Sicilian citrus, pistachio, figs, chocolate, premium creams, and candied fruits—demonstrating how the Christmas leavened cake has become a common language of Italian pastry over the years.

• Tasting counters and free samplings at the exhibition spaces
• Direct sales of products, perfect for Christmas shopping
• Direct meetings with master pastry chefs and their shop stories
• Awards and recognitions presented during the weekend
• Thematic paths that change from year to year

Competitions and awards

The fair is not just a commercial showcase; it is also a moment for evaluation and exchange. Over the years, awards have been introduced for product quality, ingredient research, and presentation. The 2025 edition saw the establishment of the «Panettone for Peace» award, which carries a strong symbolic value, alongside a competition for the best packaging with public voting via QR Code: a simple way to directly involve visitors in the judging process.

A public of families and curious foodies

The atmosphere is more like a neighborhood market than a trade fair. Admission is free, allowing visitors to wander between stalls at their leisure, taste, and ask for advice. It is an event suitable for families and children, who can discover up close a craft made of sourdough starters nurtured for years, long leavening times, and manual skill. For those arriving from outside Rome, the fair weekend coincides with the start of the city's Christmas lights and markets, making it a perfect addition to a broader visit.

Panettone beyond Christmas

The Panettone POP project was born from the fair, dedicated to the de-seasonalization of the great leavened cake: the idea is to offer it throughout the year, linking it to various holidays and festivities, thus removing it from the sole December window. The project's calendar is previewed during the Roman event, which confirms itself as a laboratory of ideas as well as a meeting point.

Why it's worth visiting

In a city that offers so much during the Christmas season, the National Panettone and Pandoro Fair remains a human-scale, free, and practical event: two days to understand the difference between an industrial and an artisanal leavened cake, to take home a treat chosen with care, and to meet the makers in person. A small piece of Italian confectionery tradition told in the heart of the EUR district.