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Cremona Salami Festival
One party leads to another… and another!!!
The Salami Festival is back for its 2026 edition, which will liven up the city center for three days. From October 9 to 11 the historic heart of Cremona will host the eighth edition of the event, featuring tastings, art installations, the giant Salami Violin, the debut of the CiokoBurger and the Salame Veg, awards, performances, and producers from all over Italy.
A violin made entirely of salami, a local tradition, a salami and chocolate burger, a all-plant-based salami: Cremona’s Salami Festival returns for its eighth edition, October 9–11, with a program designed to surprise even those who think they already know everything about salami. Three days in Cremona’s historic center where the tradition of salami-making blends with new influences, experimentation, and unexpected pairings. As always, the event is organized by SGP Grandi Eventi, a company specializing in outdoor events and regional marketing tied to food and wine.
Setting the tone for the 2026 edition are, above all, the new items available for tasting, featuring the debut of the Ciokoburger and the Salame Veg, as well as a series of original gastronomic “fusions.” Among these, the Beer Salami, which takes center stage thanks to the participation of three companies that use beer in their mixture, accompanied by the surprising Salami Chips, with their intense flavor and crunchy texture, and some very “hot” experiences for those who love spicy food.
However, the Salami Festival isn’t just about experimentation—it’s also about excellence. The “Salami Stellati” showcase brings three specialties to Cremona that have already won awards in major Italian competitions and are made with unconventional ingredients. Local heritage and tradition will take center stage at the two events of “Passione Cucina,” during which the Strada del Gusto Cremonese and the newly formed Cremasco Food District will offer a gastronomic journey centered on the region’s iconic products, highlighting their quality, history, and identity.
Even the installations opt for an element of surprise. Now a much-anticipated highlight for the public, the artistic creations featuring the festival’s star ingredient will this year take the form of a 2.5-meter-tall “Maxi Salami Violin,” crafted from Cà dell’Ora salami paste as a tribute to Cremona’s violin-making tradition, and through the “Cuore di Salame” (Heart of Salami), a composition measuring approximately 2x2 meters made up of salami-filled rolls, conceived as a beating heart in the heart of the city.
Among the special events is the Salami Oscar Award presented to Andrea Impero, a Michelin-starred chef who created an exclusive salami using Cinturino Nero Umbro pork and Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne, served as the opening course of the tasting menu at his restaurant Elementi Fine Dining (1 Michelin star). Also a must-see for 2026 is the Premio Bontà, which will be awarded to Giuseppina Biaggi, president of the Cooperativa Nazareth, for the Forno di Comunità project, which uses bread-making as a tool for social inclusion, training, and participation.
To make the experience even more immersive, there will be traveling performances and traditional games designed for audiences of all ages, in a historic center that—from the Gardens of Piazza Roma to Corso Garibaldi, passing through Corso Campi and Corso Cavour—will be transformed for three days into a journey of discovery featuring artisanal products from all Italian regions and beyond.
