Panissa Festival

The Panissa Festival in the heart of Vercelli

The Panissa Festival is one of the most cherished summer events in Vercelli, the capital of the Piedmontese province of the same name and the heart of the great rice fields of the Po Valley. For seven evenings at the end of August, the courtyard of the Palestra Mazzini on Corso De Gregori transforms into a large gastronomic pavilion celebrating the region's signature dish.

What is panissa?

Panissa is a hearty risotto, originally a peasant dish, prepared with Carnaroli rice grown in the Vercelli rice fields, Saluggia beans, and salame d'la duja, a salami preserved in lard inside a traditional terracotta jar. It is a true farm-to-table dish that tells the story of this land of water and rice better than any guidebook: tasting it here, where it was born, is the best way to understand the gastronomic identity of the Vercelli area.

A week of food, dancing, and music

The kitchen opens every evening at 7:30 PM, with lunch service also available on Sunday. Beyond panissa, the tables serve many other traditional Piedmontese specialties. However, the true heart of the festival is the large dance floor: every night, national dance orchestras and tribute bands take the stage, creating a festive atmosphere that attracts families, groups of friends, and ballroom dancing enthusiasts from across the province.

More than just food

Surrounding the kitchen and the dance floor are numerous side events: inflatable games for children, an art exhibition, sports moments with the traditional evening running race, as well as displays and activities that animate the entire week. It is a village festival in the most authentic sense, capable of bringing together both young and old.

A tradition by the Comitato Vecchia Porta Casale

The event is organized by the Comitato Vecchia Porta Casale with the patronage of the Municipality of Vercelli and has become a well-established tradition: 2026 marks the 34th edition. Admission is free, and the festival is one of the most genuine ways to discover the culture, cuisine, and hospitality of Vercelli and the rice-growing region of Piedmont.