The Lugana Festival a Sirmione will make its debut from 16 to 19 October 2026, with a first edition designed to highlight the area’s wine production, gastronomic heritage and rural landscape in the Benaco peninsula. Promoted by the Municipality of Sirmione in agreement with the Consorzio Tutela Lugana DOC, the event will run across four days between the peninsula’s historic centre and the hamlets of Colombare and Lugana, linking specialist tastings with visits to farms in the lower lake area.
Public activities will be centred at Palazzo Callas, in Piazza Giosuè Carducci, where it will be turned into the Lugana Hub on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October. The historic venue will host an enoteca with tasting counters for labels from member wineries, alongside six themed masterclasses led by university lecturers and professional sommeliers, focusing on different expressions of the Turbiana grape, from vintage styles and long-aged reserves to sparkling versions, including how the region’s clay-rich soils influence the wine.
On Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October, the Lugana Express shuttle will operate to take participants from the historic centre to wineries within the municipal area and nearby, with stops for guided tours of vinification facilities and walks among the vines after the harvest. The festival will close on Monday 19 October with the final stage of a culinary competition for chefs and catering operators, who will present new recipes designed to integrate or enhance the aromatic notes of Lugana wine. Entry to the limited-capacity masterclasses and transfers requires prior registration, with details on participating wineries, the tasting schedule and tickets available on luganafestival.it and the tourism site visitsirmione.com.
Italian Version