Bronte Pistachio Festival 2026: Official Programme, Timetable and Guide to the 35th Edition

Welcome to Bronte, where the lava rock meets the unmistakable flavour of the’Green Gold! The 35th Bronte Pistachio Festival, Sicily’s most popular culinary and cultural event.

The celebrations take place over two weekends:

25–26–27 September 2026
2–3–4 October 2026

📱 How to find your way around during the festival: the Bronte Experience app

Getting around the food stalls, concert squares and narrow streets of the historic centre has never been easier: to have an interactive map, directions and points of interest at your fingertips on your smartphone, you can download and use the app Bronte Experience.

General Programme of Events, Exhibitions and Performances

Friday 25 September 2026

6.00 pm: Opening of the Pistachio Festival attended by representatives of the local authorities. Ribbon-cutting ceremony on Viale Catania.
6.00 pm: Opening of the stand.
6.00 pm: The “San Biagio Città di Bronte” brass band parading through the streets during the festival.
6.00 pm: A parade by the “ASD Majorettes Città di Randazzo” along the streets of the festival.
9.30 pm: Lady Gaga cover band concert – Piazza E. Cimbali.
11.00 pm: Evening show featuring the artist Salvatore Palumbo, known as “Savvo Zauddu”, with a DJ set – Piazza Rosario.

Saturday 26 September 2026

09:00: Painting competition “Visions of Bronte: stories of lava, culture and precious fruits”, organised by FIDAPA, Bronte Branch – Nunzio Sciavarrello Art Gallery.
10.00 am: Opening of the stand.
10.30 am: A meeting with local groups from the Adrano, Biancavilla, Paternò and Maletto areas, held along the routes of the festival.
10.30 am: A travelling show by the “Tinto Brass Street Band” along the streets of the festival.
11.00 am: Pistachio Experience, organised by the AIACE Consumers’ Association – Collegio Maria.
11.00 am: Children’s show organised by Boom Animazione – Piazza Rosario.
5.00 pm: FIDAPA Impromptu Painting Competition Awards Ceremony – Nunzio Sciavarrello Art Gallery.
6.00 pm: A travelling show by the “Tinto Brass Street Band” along the streets of the festival.
7.00 pm: “KAMI”, a fire show presented by the Joculares Company – Piazza Rosario.
9.30 pm: Musical show “Brigantini Super Band 2026” – Piazza Cimbali.

Sunday 27 September 2026

10.00 am: Opening of the stand.
10.00 am: Pistachio Experience, organised by the AIACE Consumers’ Association – Collegio Maria.
10.30 am: Exhibition and parade of Sicilian carts along the streets of the festival.
11.00 am: Conference “The value of PDO produce in the heart of Sicily: the Bronte pistachio as a tourist attraction” – Nunzio Sciavarrello Art Gallery.
6.00 pm: The travelling show “Di Passaggio” along the streets of the festival.
7.00 pm: Juggling show “Mr Sardella Show” – Piazza Rosario.
9.30 pm: ERNESTO MARIA PONTE in “3… 2… 1… BOOMER!” – Musical cabaret show featuring the A-social band – Piazza Enrico Cimbali.

Friday 2 October 2026 (“The school at the Pistachio Festival”)

10.00 am: Opening of the stand.
11.00 am: A welcome from the Mayor. Entertainment provided by “Smile Soluzione per i tuoi Eventi” – Piazza Castiglione.
12.00: “On everyone’s lips”: pistachio ice cream on offer to all our young guests – Piazza Castiglione.
3.00 pm: Children’s show organised by “Madagascar” – Piazza Rosario.
6.00 pm: The “Sikania in movimento” folk group parading through the streets during the festival.
9.00 pm: “Italo Disco Arena” musical show – Piazza Cimbali.
11.00 pm: “The Fluo Night” DJ Set – Piazza Rosario.

Saturday 3 October 2026

10.00 am: Opening of the stand.
11.00 am: Pistachio Experience, organised by the AIACE Consumers’ Association – Collegio Maria.
5.30 pm: A travelling musical show, “Ottoni Animati”, along the streets of the festival.
7.30 pm: Performance by “ASD Katane Country Western Dance” – Piazza Rosario.
8.00 pm: Musical show featuring Mamma Show – Piazza Rosario.
9.30 pm: The band “MELOTONES” – Piazza Cimbali.

Sunday 4 October 2026

10.00 am: Opening of the stand.
10.00 am – 6.00 pm: “2026 Pistachio Trophy”, organised by the “Bronte Model” Association at the Zaina Artigianale racetrack.
11.00 am: FIDAPA Bronte Branch National Event: “Walk in Pink for Life” along the streets of the festival.
11.00 am: Pistachio Experience, organised by the AIACE Consumers’ Association – Collegio Maria.
11.00 am: Entertainment “The Adventures in Orlando for the Sake of Angelica” – Sicilian puppets by the Napoli brothers – Piazza Rosario.
11.30 am: Blue Stars Street Band parade through the streets of the festival.
3.30 pm: Repeat performance of the Sicilian Puppet Show “The Adventures in Orlando for the Sake of Angelica” – F.lli Napoli – Piazza Rosario.
6.00 pm: Tasting of the Grand Pistachio Cake – Piazza Castiglione.
7.30 pm: Blue Stars Street Band parade through the streets of the festival.
8.00 pm: The band “ALT-VEGA” and a musical performance by Katia Rizzo – Piazza Cimbali.

Consortium for the Protection of Bronte Green Pistachios PDO (Piazza Spedalieri)

“Bronte and its PDO pistachios” hosts cooking demonstrations by master pastry chefs and ice-cream makers:

Friday 25 September:
- 7.00 pm – Opening ceremony and tasting of PDO pistachio ice cream.
- 8.30 pm – Performance by Mago Plip & the musical show “Sei e ventisei” (Cesare Cremonini tribute band).
Saturday 26 September:
- 11.00 am – Cookery demonstration: “Cannoli with ricotta and PDO pistachio powder”, presented by farmer-chef Carlo Savoca.
- 1.00 pm – Cookery demonstration by the “G. Falcone” Hotel Management School, Maniace campus.
- 3.00 pm – Cookery demonstration featuring ‘filletta’ with pistachios and Bronte PDO green pistachio ice cream, presented by Aunt Rosetta, the Queen of ‘filletta’.
- 5.00 pm – Cookery demonstration at the “G. Falcone” Institute in Maniace, featuring products from the Maltese company “MAYPOLE”, which is twinned with the consortium.
- 8.30 pm – Musical show “GLI ANNI – The Real MAX PEZZALI & 883 Tribute Show”.
Sunday 27 September:
- 12.30 pm – Cookery demonstration by Chef Roberto Spitaleri.
- 3.30 pm – A live demonstration of how to make Bronte green pistachio PDO ice cream, featuring a sensory quiz led by master ice-cream maker Vincenzo Orefice.
- 8.30 pm – Musical performance: “Mivida Band live”.
Friday 2 October:
- 11.00 am – “Pistachios and our local area”: featuring schools from Bronte.
- 1.00 pm – Cookery demonstration by the “G. Falcone” Institute in Maniace, featuring products from the Maltese company “MAYPOLE”.
- 5.00 pm – Discussion on Bronte green pistachios (PDO).
- 6.30 pm – Dance performances organised by Lombardo Academy, Vida Academy and the Koreos Professional Dance Centre.
Saturday 3 October:
- 10.30 am – Cookery demonstration featuring ‘filletta’ with pistachios and Bronte PDO green pistachio ice cream, with Aunt Rosetta.
- 12.00 pm – A demonstration of how to make gourmet ice cream using Bronte green pistachios (PDO), led by master ice-cream maker Gabriele Fiumara.
- 1.30 pm – Cookery demonstration at the “G. Falcone” Hotel Management School, Maniace campus.
- 4.30 pm – Second gourmet ice cream event with Gabriele Fiumara.
- 9.00 pm – Musical performance by the Mso band in “Sorrisi e Canzoni” & comedy show “One Man Show” with Carmelo Caccamo.
Sunday 4 October:
- 10.30 am – A cooking demonstration featuring mozzarella with Bronte green pistachios (PDO), led by farmer-chef Carlo Savoca (in collaboration with Coldiretti Catania).
- 1.00 pm – A demonstration of how to make gourmet DOP pistachio ice cream, led by master ice-cream maker Vincenzo Orefice.
- 4.00 pm – Cookery demonstration by chef Sandro Rinaldo Chiù.

Permanent Exhibitions, Information and Logistics

Art exhibition: Works by Cristina Lefter, Reina, Vincenzo Martini and Nelu Pascu (25 September – 4 October, Circolo di Cultura).
“Freehand”: Charity exhibition featuring watercolour paintings and knitted items (Pro Loco Bronte, Palazzo Fiorini Virzì, 10.00 am – 7.00 pm).
Bronte Pistachio Museum: Organised by the “Il Tipico Brontese” Association, Via Torquato Tasso.
Nelson Castle: Temporary exhibition “La Casa delle Bambole”, curated by OREA O.d.V. (10.00 – 18.00).
Free Shuttle Bus: A shuttle service will be running throughout the festival to provide easy access between the car parks and the town centre.

Enjoy the authentic experience: Join our tours of the pistachio groves! 🌿

Tasting pistachios at the stalls is an extraordinary experience, but walking where it begins, amongst the ancient lava flows of Mount Etna, it’s something you’ll never forget.

To mark the festival, we are organising Exclusive guided tours of our pistachio groves:

You’ll walk across the lava fields and discover how plants manage to put down roots in the rock.
You’ll learn about manual harvesting techniques and hear the stories of local producers.
We will round off the tour with a a guided tasting of our artisan specialities made from pure pistachios.

Places on the tours during the festival weekends are limited to ensure the best possible experience for every participant.

👉 Find out more and book your tour of the pistachio grove now on Bronte.store

Tour of an ancient pistachio grove in Bronte with tasting

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Have you always heard of the renowned Bronte pistachio, but don't know how and where it is grown?

DESCRIPTION

We’ll take you on a journey to discover “Loco” – so called since the days of ancient Rome – the home of Bronte pistachios at the foot of Mount Etna.
Here, time seems to have stood still, where the Bronte pistachio plantations stretch as far as the eye can see and the lava rock provides a nurturing home for the trees.

You will have the opportunity to observe the pistachio plant up close, to touch its bark, to breathe in the smell of pistachio resin and the air of our territory.

We will unveil tools and harvesting techniques and guide you through the necessary steps for processing pistachios.

The experience will be a sensory dive entirely outdoors, among the pistachio trees and typical vegetation of Etna. In a setting simple and rustic typical of the Loca.

TASTING

And to end on a high note, we will delight you with a outdoor tasting based on the our pistachio productsto give that extra touch to the sensory experience.
It will not be a simple tour, but an experience immersed in the ancient and authentic Brontese tradition...