The Bardolino Grape and Wine Festival 2026 returns from October 1 to 5 for its ninety-fifth edition, presenting thirty tasting cellars, regional food pavilions, and specialized night transit across Lake Garda’s eastern shoreline.
Organized by Fondazione Bardolino Top and the Municipality of Bardolino with the active participation of approximately one thousand local volunteers, the five-day harvest celebration unfolds along Lungolago Cornicello, Lungolago Mirabello, Piazza del Porto, and Parco Carrara Bottagisio. The festival serves as the central showcase for the eastern morainic basin’s autumn wine production, spotlighting Bardolino DOC, Bardolino Classico, Bardolino Superiore DOCG, and Chiaretto rosé.
Awarded Estates and Morainic Terroir
The municipal wine competition awarded thirty-two estate labels from twenty-three wineries spanning the entire production zone: from Bardolino, Calmasino, and Cisano southward to Lazise, Cavaion Veronese, Caprino, Bussolengo, Sommacampagna, and Valeggio sul Mincio. The official ceremony takes place on Sunday, October 4, at 18:00 inside Parco Carrara Bottagisio, coinciding with the vineyard honours of Consorzio Tutela Vini Bardolino and the investiture of new members into the Confraternita del Vino Bardolino.
Visitors purchase the commemorative tasting glass and pouch at ticket kiosks, providing direct access to vineyard stands hosted by individual producers. Alongside ruby-hued Corvina and Rondinella blends, food stands operated by civic sports clubs and volunteer guilds serve traditional Veronese autumn specialities, including risotto al tastasal, grilled lake fish, and chestnut polenta, as outlined in our comprehensive Lake Garda autumn guide to harvest and olive mills.
Art Installations, Villa Terzi Projections and Children’s Area
New cultural additions for the ninety-fifth edition include the celebratory ceremonial gown handcrafted by the historical sewing guild Ucia e Pesseta, displayed at Sala Preonda alongside works by local painters through October 5. On Thursday, Friday, and Sunday evenings, the lakeside Villa Terzi hosts “Vino & Arte”, a customized video-mapping architectural installation created by Ben Peretti that projects visual narratives of viticulture across the historic façade.
Environmental measures introduced for 2026 replace single-use plastic water bottles with recyclable water cartons. For travelling families, Parco Bassani provides a dedicated children’s recreation zone with interactive educational games and theatrical storytelling.
Night Return Shuttles to the Upper Lake
To ensure road safety and reduce lakeside traffic congestion along the SR249 Gardesana Orientale, Destination Verona & Garda Foundation operates dedicated night return coach services on Thursday 1, Friday 2, and Saturday 3 October. Departing at 22:30 and 00:30 from the Bardolino tourist office (IAT) in Piazzale Aldo Moro, the coaches serve passengers returning north toward Malcesine, making intermediate stops at Torri del Benaco, Pai, Castelletto di Brenzone, Porto di Brenzone, and Val di Sogno.
Tickets cost €10 per passenger with mandatory online advance reservation. Each reservation includes a complimentary Garda Veneto Guest Card offering regional attraction concessions. Travellers crossing from the western shore can coordinate their travel with the scheduled Navigarda autumn ferry crossings between Toscolano Maderno and Torri del Benaco.
