Ticinum Festival 2026

From 4 to 12 September 2026, the courtyard of the Broletto once again becomes the beating heart of Pavia for the sixth edition of Ticinum Festival. Over nine evenings, visitors can enjoy a mix of cultural talks, live shows and the tastings of Ticinum Gourmet, in one of the city's most iconic and best-loved spaces.

A Late-Summer Event Rooted in Culture and the Local Area

The formula that has made Ticinum Festival a fixture of late summer in Pavia is confirmed once again: a blend of talks, cultural insights, live shows and tastings, with a twofold aim. On one hand, telling the story of Pavia and its province through stories, personalities and excellences that look beyond local borders; on the other, giving residents a reason to leave the house, meet one another and reclaim one of the city's most distinctive spaces.

The festival opens on Friday 4 September with a day that brings together the many voices of the event from the very start: the opening of the “Riverscapes” exhibition, a talk on ChipsIT and Pavia's role as Italy's microchip capital with Francesco Svelto, vice-president of the Cnr, an in-depth look at Classese — the new name for the Oltrepò Pavese's classic method wines — and, in the evening, the concert “Guarda che luna, senti che swing” with Andres Villani e i Banditi dello Swing.

Special Guests and the Key Themes of the 2026 Edition

Many leading figures are expected at the Broletto. Oscar Farinetti presents his book “Ulisse non deve morire”; Matthias Martelli, one of the most celebrated contemporary interpreters of Dario Fo's theatre, brings “Mistero Buffo” to the stage; historian Stefano Gasparri, of Ca' Foscari University in Venice, recounts the 774 siege of Pavia and Charlemagne's conquest of the Lombard kingdom; American writer Ben Pastor presents her novel “Lo specchio del pellegrino”.

The programme ranges from archaeology to history, from tourism to social media, from literature to reflections on how information is shaped and news is turned into spectacle, closing with an event dedicated to Saint Francis and his ties to Pavia. For the first time, the festival also hosts an evening curated and promoted by La Provincia Pavese, titled “Permette signorina?”, dedicated to women. The programme also includes book presentations by Pavia-based writer Paolo Mazzarello and the volume “Collezioni” by Luigi Riganti and Furio Sollazzi.

Music and Live Shows

Plenty of room is also given to live performance, with events such as “I grandi classici”, a concert by Claudio Piscina in trio, a performance by Marco Guerzoni & The Greenlight Blues Band, and “Ma quanta bella gente”, an evening retracing 35 years of Fiò dla Nebia through the voices of its protagonists, stories and numerous videos.

Ticinum Gourmet: A Journey Through the Flavours of the Oltrepò

Ticinum Gourmet also returns every evening: the event dedicated to the flavours and wines of the local area. From around 7.45-8.00pm, a chef presents a dish paired with tastings from Oltrepò Pavese wineries, with space also given to rediscovering native and forgotten grape varieties. The guest chefs, participating wineries and menus for each evening will be announced in detail in the coming days.

Tastings are held at the Cortile del Broletto, in Piazza Vittoria, Pavia, with the following prices: dish and two glasses of wine €15.00, dish only €8.00, glass of wine €4.00.

Day-by-Day Programme

Friday 4 September

• 5.30pm — Opening of the “Riverscapes” exhibition, with Filippo Amati and Maria Cristina Barbieri (Councillor for Cultural Policies, City of Pavia)
• 6.00pm — Opening of the sixth edition of Ticinum Festival
• 6.30pm — ChipsIT, why Pavia is the microchip capital, with Francesco Svelto (vice-president Cnr, UniPv). Moderated by Carlo E. Gariboldi
• 7.15pm — Is this the year of Classese, an opportunity for the Oltrepò? With Pier Filippo Frisa, communications manager of the Consorzio vini Oltrepò Pavese
• 8.00pm — Ticinum Gourmet, in the kitchen the Confraternita del risotto; wines from Roccapietra, Calatroni and Monsupello wineries
• 9.00pm — “Guarda che luna, senti che swing”, concert with Andres Villani e i Banditi dello Swing

Saturday 5 September

• 6.00pm — Presentation of the book “Ulisse non deve morire”, with author Oscar Farinetti. Moderated by Ilaria Fiorentini (linguist, UniPv), with Stefano Maggi (archaeologist, formerly UniPv)
• 7.15pm — Archaeology in the vineyard: presentation of the project and launch of the crowdfunding campaign to reopen archaeological digs in the Oltrepò, with Manuela Battaglia and Yuri Godino (archaeologists)
• 8.00pm — Ticinum Gourmet (menu to be confirmed); wines from Andrea Picchioni, Walter Massa, Bosco del Sasso and Azienda Agricola Bisi
• 9.00pm — “Il Mistero Buffo” by Dario Fo, with Matthias Martelli

Sunday 6 September

• 5.30pm — A journey through history, photography and local anniversaries: the books of Univers Edizioni, with numerous authors. Moderated by Alessandro Repossi
• 7.45pm — Ticinum Gourmet, DeCo. risotto alla Carbonara al Ticino with chef Laura Chierico; wines from Cantine Calvi Davide e Valter and Maria Cristina Risi

Monday 7 September

• 6.00pm — “Ticinum, Roma Secunda”, with Stefano Maggi (archaeologist, UniPv) and Elvira Migliario (historian, University of Trento). Moderated by Mauro Querci
• 8.00pm — Ticinum Gourmet, risotto by chef Riccardo Carnevali; wines from the producers of the Federazione Italiana Vignaioli Indipendenti (FIVI)
• 9.00pm — “Il tempo di un caffè”, preview of the Pasticceria Vigoni advertisement, with Claudia Palermiti (director) and Enrico Magenes (Pasticceria Vigoni)
• 9.15pm — Pavia, tourism, overtourism and undertourism, with Andrea Zatti (economist, UniPv), Michele Lissia (Mayor of Pavia) and other guests. Moderated by Daniela Fabbri (journalist)

Tuesday 8 September

• 6.30pm — Banning social media, with Marianna Bruschi (deputy Head of Digital, Skytg24) and Maria Cristina Barbieri (Councillor for Cultural Policies)
• 8.00pm — Ticinum Gourmet, in the kitchen Osteria del Giuse (Stradella); wines from Isimbarda, Sabaghina and Travaglino wineries
• 9.00pm — “I grandi classici”, concert by Claudio Piscina in trio

Wednesday 9 September

• 6.30pm — Presentation of the book “L'assedio di Pavia. 774. Carlo Magno conquista il regno longobardo”, with author Stefano Gasparri (historian, Ca' Foscari University, Venice)
• 8.00pm — Ticinum Gourmet, with chef Andreia Saito of Acquamatta (Semiana); wines from Cantine della Mossa perfetta
• 9.00pm — “Ma quanta bella gente”, 35 years of Fiò dla Nebia told by its protagonists, through stories and videos

Thursday 10 September

• 6.30pm — Garlasco and the spectacle of the news, with Giuseppe Mazza (UniMi) and Maria Fiore (La Provincia Pavese)
• 8.00pm — Ticinum Gourmet, with chef Alessandro Folli of Ad Astra (Varzi); wines from Cantine Giorgi and Azienda Agricola Bisi
• 9.00pm — “Permette signorina?”, an evening organised by La Provincia Pavese, with director Manila Alfano

Friday 11 September

• 6.30pm — Presentation of the book “Lo specchio del pellegrino” (Sellerio), with author Ben Pastor. In conversation with Maria Grazia Piccaluga and Stefano Maggi
• 8.00pm — Ticinum Gourmet, with La casa del Sorriso - Risotteria (Redavalle); wines dedicated to the biodiversity of the Oltrepò and its forgotten grape varieties (Uva Rara, Moradella, Riesling italico, Uva della Cascina, Vespolina)
• 9.00pm — Show by Marco Guerzoni & The Greenlight Blues Band

Saturday 12 September

• 6.00pm — Presentation of the book “Una punizione esemplare”, by Paolo Mazzarello (writer, UniPv)
• 7.00pm — Presentation of the book “Collezioni”, by Luigi Riganti and Furio Sollazzi
• 8.00pm — Ticinum Gourmet, with Cà del Saggia (Redavalle); wines from the producers of the historic Buttafuoco
• 9.00pm — Closing concert

Practical Information

Ticinum Festival is organised by Ticinum Festival under the patronage of the City of Pavia and with the support of the Fondazione della Comunità di Pavia, Cotefa Ingegneri Architetti, Winterass, Polo Tecnologico and several private sponsors. Maria Cristina Barbieri, the City of Pavia's Councillor for Cultural Policies, highlighted that every year, as activities resume in September, the administration offers residents many opportunities to take part for free in talks, concerts and debates in the Broletto courtyard, pointing in particular to the evening dedicated to the highly topical issue of whether or not to restrict young people's access to social media.

Talks, debates and shows at the festival are free to attend; Ticinum Gourmet tastings are ticketed, according to the price list above.

Getting There

The Broletto overlooks Piazza Vittoria, in the heart of Pavia's historic centre, a short walk from the Duomo and within walking distance of Pavia railway station, which is well connected to Milan.