Oil Festival
On the shores of Garda, three days dedicated to extra virgin olive oil and olive tree culture
About Oil Festival
Garda Oil Celebrated
The Oil Festival takes place every spring in Torri del Benaco, in the province of Verona, one of the most charming villages on the Veronese shore of Lake Garda. The event, organized in collaboration with Slow Food, celebrates the culture of extra virgin olive oil and welcomes producers from various Italian regions and neighboring Slovenia.
The Olive Tree Village
The heart of the event is the Olive Tree Village, set up at the De Paoli Pier, where dozens of companies present and offer tastings of their extra virgin oils. Alongside the market, there are Slow Food Tasting Workshops, presentations dedicated to Garda oils and wines, cooking shows featuring chefs and local products like Verona IGP Radicchio, and scattered concerts from the "Music Under the Olive Trees" series.
The Guide to Extra Virgin Olive Oils
A key moment of the festival is the presentation of the Slow Food Guide to Extra Virgin Olive Oils, with an awards ceremony for the best olive oil companies in Italy. This recognition brings the best of national production to Torri del Benaco, making the Garda village a showcase for oil quality.
Between Tastings and Scenery
The Oil Festival is also an invitation to discover Torri del Benaco and its surroundings: the town's restaurants and bars offer themed menus featuring extra virgin olive oil, while guided tours visit ancient local oil mills. An event that combines taste, culture, and the charm of Lake Garda in the province of Verona.
Oil Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 Oil Festival in Torri del Benaco (VR) is held from Friday, April 10th to Sunday, April 12th. There are 54 exhibiting companies, from Abruzzo, Puglia, Tuscany, Veneto, Sicily, and Slovenia. The 2026 Guide to Extra Virgin Olive Oils by Slow Food highlights 766 companies and 1,211 oils. Seven restaurants and bars in the town are offering themed menus featuring extra virgin olive oil as the star ingredient.
Programme Oil Festival 2026
Friday, April 10th
- 6:00 PM — Opening at the De Paoli Pier with a Tasting Workshop on Garda Wines, led by Angelo Peretti
Saturday, April 11th
- 9:30 AM — Cinema Teatro: Presentation of the 2026 Slow Food Guide to Extra Virgin Olive Oils with awards ceremony for the companies
- from 2:30 PM — Opening of the Olive Tree Village at the De Paoli Pier (54 producers)
- 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM — Slow Food Tasting Workshops
- 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM — "Music Under the Olive Trees" scattered concerts in the town
Sunday, April 12th
- 11:00 AM, 3:30 PM, 5:00 PM — Tasting Workshops
- 12:30 PM — Cooking show featuring Verona IGP Radicchio, by chef Vanessa Lorenzetti
- 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM — Guided tours of the historic Crero oil mill (by reservation)
- 3:00 PM — Accordion concert by Marco Salvetti at the Church of the Trinity
- 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM — Scattered concerts
Highlights Oil Festival 2026
Prices Oil Festival 2026
Practical information — Oil Festival
How to get there
Torri del Benaco is located on the Veronese shore of Lake Garda. By car, take the Affi exit (A22 motorway) and then follow the lakeside SR249. During the season, boat connections to other Lake Garda towns are available.
Where
Events are concentrated at the De Paoli Pier and in the historic center, with some activities also taking place at the Cinema Teatro and the Church of the Trinity.
Costs
Free entry to the tasting area; some tasting workshops and guided tours may require booking.
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Where does it take place — Oil Festival
Molo De Paoli e centro storico
Molo De Paoli, 37010 Torri del Benaco