Risò - International Rice Festival
The major international rice festival in the Italian capital of rice cultivation
About Risò
Risò is an international festival entirely dedicated to rice, transforming Vercelli—the European capital of rice cultivation—into a grand stage for regional promotion. Featuring producer pavilions, live cooking shows, tastings, exhibitions, scientific conferences, and a dedicated family area, the event explores rice in all its dimensions: economic, cultural, gastronomic, and environmental. Held in the heart of Vercelli, Piedmont, this event seamlessly blends international business, tradition, and innovation.
Risò, the festival celebrating Piedmont's white gold
Risò - International Rice Festival is the major event that transforms Vercelli, in the heart of the Piedmontese rice plains, into the world capital of rice every September. Surrounded by rice paddies that reflect the sky like vast lakes in spring, the city is the natural setting for an event showcasing one of Italy's most iconic agri-food treasures. Promoted by the Province of Vercelli, the City of Vercelli, and the National Rice Board (Ente Nazionale Risi), the festival brings together institutions, producers, researchers, chefs, and thousands of visitors.
An event with many souls
Risò is more than just a local food festival: it is an international format that weaves together multiple layers. There is the business-to-business dimension, with meetings between foreign buyers and local companies; the scientific dimension, featuring an international conference promoted by the University of Eastern Piedmont "Amedeo Avogadro"; and above all, the grand popular celebration of the Risò Village, which opens to the public in the historic city center.
The Village is divided into various thematic areas: the Producers' Pavilion, the Institutional Pavilion, the Food Pavilion with showcooking and tastings, the Kids' Area with workshops and interactive games for children, and an exhibition space dedicated to tractors and the agricultural supply chain. The event also includes exhibitions, talks, local tours, and meetings with industry experts.
A tradition looking to the future
Vercelli's rice farming is rooted in centuries of history, marked by the labor of the mondine (rice weeders) and great hydraulic engineering works like the Cavour Canal, the 19th-century infrastructure that made intensive rice cultivation on the plains possible. Alongside historical memory, Risò highlights agricultural innovation, sustainability, and research, showcasing how Piedmontese rice—from Arborio to Carnaroli—is a staple on tables worldwide today.
Vercelli, city of rice
Visiting Risò is also the perfect opportunity to discover Vercelli and its heritage: the Basilica of Sant'Andrea, the Salone Dugentesco, the Civic Theatre, and the evocative waterways that cross the province. A weekend where gastronomy, culture, and landscape merge under the banner of Piedmont's white gold.
Risò — edition 2026
The second edition of Risò returns to Vercelli from September 9 to 14, 2026, featuring international B2B days (September 9-10), a public Village (September 11-13), and an international scientific conference (September 13-14). This edition celebrates three major anniversaries: 160 years of the Cavour Canal, 120 years since the achievement of the 8-hour workday, and 80 years of the Arborio rice variety.
The second edition of Risò - International Rice Festival takes place in Vercelli from September 9 to 14, 2026, following its extraordinary debut in 2025. The 2026 edition is dedicated to three symbolic anniversaries in Italian rice farming: the 160th anniversary of the Cavour Canal, the hydraulic engineering marvel that enabled the irrigation of the rice-growing plains; the 120th anniversary of the 8-hour workday; and the 80th anniversary of the recognition of the Arborio variety, one of the most famous rice types in the world.
The event is promoted by the Province of Vercelli, the City of Vercelli, and the National Rice Board, with the involvement of the University of Eastern Piedmont, Ceipiemonte, the Monte Rosa Laghi Alto Piemonte Chamber of Commerce, the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), and numerous institutional partners.
Programme Risò 2026
September 9-10 — B2B Days (Vercelli Commodity Exchange)
- September 9: A day dedicated to Piedmontese food specialties
- September 10: Meetings reserved for producers and processors of rice and rice-based products, featuring international buyers
September 11-13 — Risò Village open to the public (historic center)
The Village is the beating heart of the event and is divided into thematic areas:
- Producers Pavilion — stands and direct sales from rice farms
- Institutional and Supply Chain Pavilion — organizations, consortia, and regional promotion
- Food Pavilion — showcooking and tastings
- Kids Area — workshops and interactive games for families
- "Tractors" Exhibition Space — agricultural machinery and rice-growing technology
Three exhibitions will be on display: 160 Years of the Cavour Canal, 80 Years of Arborio Rice, and Reflections of Rice. The program also includes local tours and meetings with institutions and industry experts.
September 13-14 — International Scientific Conference
"International Conference on Rice Innovation for Sustainable Agricultural and Nutrition," promoted by the University of Eastern Piedmont "Amedeo Avogadro."
The detailed day-by-day program, including times and guest speakers, is available at festivaldelriso.it
Highlights Risò 2026
- Celebration of the 160th anniversary of the Cavour Canal, the 120th anniversary of the 8-hour workday, and the 80th anniversary of Arborio rice
- Risò Village featuring Producers, Institutional, Food, and Kids pavilions
- Showcooking and tastings
- International B2B days and university scientific conference
Prices Risò 2026
Practical information — Risò
How to get there
By train: Vercelli is on the Turin-Milan line, with the station just a few minutes from the historic center where the Risò Village is held.
By car: Take the Vercelli Ovest or Vercelli Est exit on the A4 Turin-Milan motorway.
When
The public Village is open from September 11 to 13, 2026, in the historic center at Piazza Antico Ospedale and surrounding areas. The B2B days take place on September 9 and 10 at the Borsa Merci, while the international scientific conference is scheduled for September 13 and 14.
Admission
Access to the Village, as well as booking for cooking shows, talks, and exhibitions, is free. We recommend booking via the website www.festivaldelriso.it to skip the queue at the entrance and gain direct access to the event.
Information
Official website: festivaldelriso.it — official social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube @RISO.FestivaldelRiso.
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Where does it take place — Risò
Village di Risò
Piazza Antico Ospedale, 13100 Vercelli