Returning for its eighth year in Manchester, the popular Festa Italiana weekender returns this August Bank Holiday weekend, with an epic line-up in-store for Italian food lovers. Be still, my carb-loving heart!
From Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th August, Cathedral Gardens in the heart of Manchester will once again be transformed into a bustling Italian piazza filled with the sights, sounds, and incredible flavours of Italy and this year marks the eighth glorious year of Festa Italiana bringing la dolce vita to the city.
Festa Italiana 2025 promises to be the most exciting edition yet, with celebrity chefs, brand new music, top-tier food and drink vendors from Italy and across the UK, and exclusive collaborations with iconic Italian brands.
Expect showstopping live cookery demos from some of the best-loved Italian chefs, with big names including Gennaro Contaldo, Giuseppe Dell’Anno, Francesco Mattana, Carmela Hayes and the man himself Maurizio Cecco (Founder of Festa Italiana and Manchester’s heavyweight Salvi’s). They’re set to stir up the crowd with passion, flair, and the authentic flavours of Italy.
This year’s Festa Italiana is set to be bigger and better than ever before, bringing award-winning street food traders, Italian eateries and artisanal Italian producers. From fresh pasta to Neapolitan pizza, and cannoli to spritzes of all kinds – it’s a three-day foodie paradise not to be missed.
Festa Italiana 2025 is also turning up the volume with a fresh wave of Italian music and irresistible new vibes. From traditional folk to modern Italian pop and party anthems, incredible live bands will have you dancing the night away and celebrating like you’re in the heart of a piazza in Napoli. Get ready for joyful singalongs, hands-in-the-air moments, and proper Italian-style partying all weekend long!
Once again, Festa Italiana will be teaming up with some of Italy’s most loved and respected brands to bring you an unforgettable taste of la dolce vita – think exclusive product tastings, interactive masterclasses, and immersive pop-ups.
Sip your way through the Aperitivo Bar, cool down in the Limoncello Garden, enjoy a refreshing Spritz in the sunshine, or roll up your sleeves at the pasta-making stations. Plus, don’t miss the Piccolo Mercato Italiano – a vibrant mini market filled with incredible independent and artisanal producers showcasing the very best of Italy’s food, drink, and craftsmanship.
Maurizio Cecco, Founder of Festa Italiana UK, said: “Festa Italiana is so much more than just a food festival – it’s a celebration of everything I love about my culture: the passion, the hospitality, the flavour, the music, the chaos!
“Every year it gets bigger, louder and more exciting and 2025 is going to be the best one yet. We’ve got amazing chefs, incredible vendors, fantastic music and some brilliant new surprises. I can’t wait to welcome everyone back to our piazza in the heart of Manchester!”
With thousands expected to attend, Festa Italiana 2025 is a must-visit summer highlight for food lovers, families, party-goers and Italophiles alike. Entry is completely free, and all are welcome – whether you’re dropping by for an Aperol Spritz in the sun, settling in for a full day of feasting, or coming to soak up the atmosphere of Manchester’s biggest Italian celebration.
Festa Italiana takes place on Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th August, and entry is unticketed and completely free.
📍 Festa Italiana will take place at Cathedral Gardens, Corporation St, Manchester M4 3BG.