Porcini Mushroom Festival - Agricultural Fair and Market Exhibition

The largest porcini mushroom festival in the Castelli Romani

Established in 1991, the Porcini Mushroom Festival - Agricultural Fair and Market Exhibition has grown into one of the most impressive festivals in the Lazio region, attracting over 150,000 visitors every September. Organized by the Lariano Porcini Mushroom Association, led by Bruno Abbafati, the event celebrates the king of the Castelli Romani woods: the porcini mushroom. It is the absolute star of a program that blends gastronomy, an agricultural fair, a market exhibition, music, and performances, all with free admission.

2026: The Velletri turning point and the Hay Theater

After more than thirty years of history tied to Lariano, the 34th edition marks a major turning point: from September 3rd to 20th, 2026, the festival will take place in Velletri, on the Volsca Ambiente e Servizi grounds in Colle Rosso. This 50,000-square-meter area sits on the border between Velletri, Genzano di Roma, and Lanuvio. The site, which has hosted the Teatro del Fieno (Hay Theater)—a striking natural amphitheater built from hay bales—in recent summers, offers ample parking, covered dining areas, and much larger exhibition spaces than in the past.

Agricultural Fair and Market Exhibition

Beyond the food festival, the event is a true showcase of rural life: over 160 exhibitors representing more than 50 sectors, including farms, local products, Castelli wines, handicrafts, agricultural machinery, tastings, masterclasses, and conferences dedicated to mycology and local agriculture. The event also features the presentation of the "Golden Mushroom" award, the festival's iconic symbol.

Porcini on the table

The heart of the festival remains the covered food stands, serving porcini fettuccine, cellitti, gnocchi, risotto, and porcini-filled sandwiches, all paired with local wines. On weekends, the festival is also open for lunch. The big news for 2026 is the gluten-free area, created for the first time in collaboration with the Italian Celiac Association (AIC): an entire dining space dedicated to gluten-free products.

Entertainment and special guests

The festival is famous for its lineup of popular guests. The 2025 edition featured Mara Venier, I Nomadi, Amedeo Minghi, Cristina D'Avena, and Fred De Palma, among others. The 2026 edition starts with a bang: on Thursday, September 3rd, the opening features a free concert by Fedez at the Hay Theater in Colle Rosso, with the full program to be announced soon.

Velletri, the Castelli Romani, and Lazio

The Municipality of Velletri, a city of wine at the foot of the Alban Hills within the Metropolitan City of Rome, is proud to host one of the most iconic events in the Lazio region. For the Castelli Romani, this festival is much more than a food fair: it is a late-summer ritual that tells the story of the deep bond between the Alban Hill towns, their forests, and their traditional cuisine.