Pioppi Blue Fish Festival

The oldest festival in Cilento

The Pioppi Blue Fish Festival is considered the oldest gastronomic event in the Cilento region. The first edition dates back to September 1969, when local fishermen offered fried anchovies to doctors gathered in Pioppi for an international cardiology congress dedicated to the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. From that encounter between science and seafood cuisine, a tradition was born that continues every year, reaching its 55th edition in 2026.

The event has always been organized by the Pro Loco of Pioppi, formally established in 1970 with twenty-nine founding members, under the patronage of the Municipality of Pollica, in the province of Salerno, in the heart of the Cilento and Campania regions.

Blue fish, the heart of the Mediterranean diet

The undisputed star is the blue fish caught by local boats and prepared according to recipes passed down through generations. Once considered a "poor" food, it is incredibly rich in minerals like phosphorus, iron, calcium, and iodine, and has become a symbol of a dietary model studied worldwide. Dishes available at the Pro Loco stands include:

• fried anchovies, the festival's oldest and most popular dish;
• marinated anchovies and gratin-style anchovies;
• anchovy meatballs;
• pasta with anchovies and cherry tomatoes;
• calamari and seafood salads;
• traditional Cilento desserts, from cannoli to cake with naspro icing.

The dishes are paired with extra virgin olive oil and wines produced in the nearby hills: two products that, together with blue fish, form the "triangle" of the Cilento Mediterranean diet.

Evenings on the seafront

The festival takes place outdoors on the Pioppi seafront, in front of Palazzo Vinciprova and just a short walk from the beach, with the participation of local restaurants. Evenings generally begin around 7:30 PM and continue late into the night, animated by folk music groups, often featuring performers from across Southern Italy: tarantellas, tammorras, and traditional songs turn the seaside promenade into a grand village party. In recent editions, the event has concluded with a fireworks display over the sea.

Pioppi, capital of the Mediterranean diet

Pioppi is no ordinary village: this small district of Pollica is known as the world capital of the Mediterranean diet, a recognition linked to the studies conducted here starting in the 1960s on the relationship between diet and health. Visitors attending the festival can combine their culinary experience with a visit to the Mediterranean Diet Museum, a stroll through the historic center, or a stop at the beaches of the Pollica municipality, which also includes the nearby village of Acciaroli and has long held the Blue Flag status for the Cilento coast.

The 2026 edition

As per tradition, the event is expected in September 2026, usually held over one of the middle weekends of the month, spanning three consecutive evenings. At the time of writing, official dates and the program for the 55th edition have not yet been released by the organizers. We recommend following the social media channels of the Pro Loco di Pioppi and the website of the Municipality of Pollica, which publish the poster and program a few weeks before the event.

Why it's worth a visit

It is an authentic festival, free of unnecessary frills: you eat fresh fish at outdoor tables, listen to folk music, and breathe in the air of a fishing village at the end of summer, when the Cilento sea is still warm and the peak-season crowds have thinned out. For many visitors, it is the most direct way to understand what the Mediterranean diet truly means.