Parma Ham Festival 2026: Langhirano Celebrates Its Most Famous Product
The unmistakable flavour of Parma Ham, lively streets, ham factories open to visitors and a packed programme of food events: from 4 to 6 September 2026, Langhirano hosts the 29th Parma Ham Festival, one of the most important food festivals in the province of Parma.
For an entire weekend, the home of Prosciutto di Parma PDO becomes a meeting point for food lovers, tourists and families, with tastings, cooking shows, visits to production facilities, markets, live music and entertainment.
And in 2026, the celebrations will not end on Sunday 6 September. A second series of events will take place from 10 to 13 September, offering visitors even more opportunities to discover Parma Ham and the local Food Valley.
Friday 4 September: Opening Ceremony and White Night
The 2026 Parma Ham Festival officially gets underway on Friday 4 September.
At 6:30 pm in Piazza G. Ferrari, the opening ceremony of the 29th edition will take place. Special guests include chef Andrea Mainardi and Olympic champion Fausto Desalu, who will take part in the cooking show “Pronti, cuochi, via!”.
From 9:00 pm, the centre of Langhirano comes alive with the Parma Ham White Night, featuring music and entertainment throughout the town.
The evening programme includes the Eco di Montagnana Choir, the Castrignano Band with Le Orchidee Majorettes, the Bolly DJ Set and, at 11:00 pm, Vascology with a tribute to Italian rock star Vasco Rossi.
Saturday 5 September: Langhirano at the Heart of the Food Valley
Saturday will be one of the busiest days of the festival.
From 10:00 am, the Prosciutto di Parma Experience will welcome visitors, while the streets and squares of Langhirano will host markets, food events, children's activities, sports demonstrations and plenty of opportunities to taste local specialities.
The Parma Ham Museum will also take part in the celebrations with special opening hours and activities for visitors.
The programme will continue into the evening with live music and entertainment. The BlueBerkel are among the acts scheduled to perform, while at 9:30 pm Piazza G. Ferrari will host “Maledetta Nostalgia”. The evening will continue with music by DJ Andrea Carpi.
Sunday 6 September: Luca Pappagallo, Tastings and Traditional Dancing
Sunday offers another full programme dedicated to Parma Ham and the culinary traditions of the area.
At 5:45 pm, visitors can watch the traditional opening of a wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano, followed by a tasting.
At 6:30 pm, popular Italian cook Luca Pappagallo will take centre stage for a cooking show featuring Parma Ham.
At 6:45 pm, visitors will also have the opportunity to discover some of the key stages involved in producing authentic Prosciutto di Parma, including salting, the application of sugna – a traditional protective coating – quality testing with the characteristic horse-bone needle and the final branding with the famous Ducal Crown.
The first weekend will end at 9:15 pm in Piazza G. Ferrari with “Vai col Liscio” and the Luca Canali Show Orchestra, bringing traditional Italian ballroom dancing to the heart of Langhirano.
Finestre Aperte 2026: Visit the Parma Ham Factories
One of the most interesting experiences during the festival is Finestre Aperte – Open Doors.
This initiative gives visitors the opportunity to enter participating ham factories and discover how authentic Prosciutto di Parma PDO is made.
It is particularly worthwhile for international visitors who want to go beyond simply tasting the finished product. A factory visit provides an opportunity to see the ageing rooms and understand the long production process behind one of Italy's most famous cured meats.
For the 2026 edition, visits are scheduled during the first two weekends of September and advance booking is required.
The participation fee is €2 for adults, while visitors under the age of 18 can take part free of charge. Visitors must travel independently to the participating ham factories.
Parma Ham Museum During the Festival
Anyone wishing to learn more about the history of this famous local speciality can also visit the Parma Ham Museum, located at Via Bocchialini 7 in Langhirano.
The museum explores the relationship between the Parma area, traditional production methods and the gastronomic culture that has made Prosciutto di Parma famous throughout the world.
Special opening hours and activities are planned during the festival. On the second weekend, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, the museum will be open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, with a special admission price of €3 and free guided tours at 11:00 am and 4:00 pm.
The Festival Continues from 10 to 13 September
The celebrations do not end after the main weekend.
From Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 September 2026, Langhirano will continue celebrating its most famous product with Prosciutto di Parma in Festa.
The programme includes further food events, markets, entertainment and tastings. On Saturday 12 September, visitors will also have the opportunity to discover pairings featuring Prosciutto di Parma PDO, Culatello di Zibello PDO and Colli di Parma DOC wines.
Sunday 13 September: Dinner Under the Stars and Final Events
The final Sunday offers plenty of reasons to spend another day in Langhirano.
The town centre will host Le Boutiques della Versilia and the Magic Market, while the Parma Ham Museum will remain open to visitors.
At 4:30 pm, a Taste Workshop will showcase Langhirano's De.Co. local specialities paired with Prosciutto di Parma PDO and wines from the Colli di Parma.
At 8:00 pm, one of the most atmospheric events of the day will begin: the Dinner Under the Stars.
At 8:30 pm in Piazza G. Ferrari, the programme continues with the Italian Super Hot Championship, a competition for chilli pepper eaters.
What to Eat at the Parma Ham Festival
The undisputed star of the festival is, of course, Prosciutto di Parma PDO, enjoyed in the very area where it is produced.
However, the festival is also an excellent opportunity to discover other specialities from Parma's famous Food Valley, including Parmigiano Reggiano, Culatello di Zibello, traditional cured meats, Colli di Parma wines and many other dishes from Emilia-Romagna's culinary tradition.
For visitors coming from outside the Parma area or from abroad, the festival can therefore become a complete food experience dedicated to some of the region's most celebrated flavours.
Why Visit Langhirano During the Parma Ham Festival?
The Parma Ham Festival is much more than a traditional food fair.
It offers visitors the chance to enter working ham factories, meet producers, learn about the ageing process, visit the Parma Ham Museum and taste the product in the very place where its history and tradition developed.
Those who want to spend an entire day exploring the area can also discover the hills surrounding Langhirano and the nearby Torrechiara Castle, combining food, history and beautiful landscapes in one itinerary.
Useful Information
Event: 29th Parma Ham Festival
Main dates: 4, 5 and 6 September 2026
Additional events: 10–13 September 2026
Location: Langhirano, Province of Parma, Italy
Main areas: Langhirano town centre and Piazza G. Ferrari
Finestre Aperte – Open Doors: ham factory tours during the first two weekends of September
Parma Ham Museum: Via Bocchialini 7, Langhirano
