Cena dei Mille Parma 2026: A 400-Metre-Long Table in the Heart of Parma
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Location: Piazza Garibaldi and Strada della Repubblica, Parma
Event: Cena dei Mille – 7th edition
Guests: 1,000 diners
Guest Chef: Gennaro Esposito
Ticket price: €150 + booking fees
Tickets: Sold out
On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, the historic centre of Parma will once again become a spectacular open-air restaurant for the Cena dei Mille, one of the city's most iconic food events.
A table approximately 400 metres long will stretch from Piazza Garibaldi along Strada della Repubblica, welcoming 1,000 guests for an unforgettable evening celebrating fine dining and the outstanding products of the Parma Food Valley.
The special guest of the 2026 edition will be Gennaro Esposito, the two-Michelin-starred chef behind La Torre del Saracino in Vico Equense.
Cena dei Mille Parma 2026: Full Menu
The evening will begin with a large welcome aperitif before guests take their seats for a four-course dinner created by some of the leading names and organisations in Italian gastronomy.
Starter – Parma Quality Restaurants
Tomato velouté, crunchy vegetables, prawn and basil oil
The opening dish celebrates tomato, one of the products most closely associated with Parma's agri-food industry. Fresh vegetables, prawn and aromatic basil oil complete a colourful and elegant starter.
First Course – Gennaro Esposito
Mixed pasta soup with Mediterranean rock fish
Guest chef Gennaro Esposito brings the flavours of the Mediterranean to Parma with a dish that reflects his culinary identity.
The recipe creates a meeting between the traditions of southern Italy and the gastronomic culture of the Parma Food Valley.
Main Course – Chef to Chef Emilia-Romagna
White beef, vineyard peach and Fragno truffle
The main course returns to the flavours of Emilia-Romagna and the Parma Apennines.
White beef is combined with vineyard peach and Fragno Truffle, one of the most distinctive seasonal products of the hills and mountains surrounding Parma.
Dessert – ALMA
Oro della Bassa
Dessert will be created by ALMA – The International School of Italian Cuisine, based in Colorno near Parma.
Its creation, called Oro della Bassa – “Gold of the Lowlands” – pays tribute to the gastronomic heritage and landscapes of the Parma lowlands.
The Welcome Aperitif
Before dinner, guests will be welcomed by a large aperitif area featuring 18 dedicated stations.
Twelve will focus on food, showcasing some of the most important products and supply chains of the Parma Food Valley, including Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, pasta, tomato, milk and anchovies.
Other regional specialities will include Culatello di Zibello, Coppa di Parma, Salame Felino, Piacenza DOP cured meats and Borgotaro mushrooms, together with extra virgin olive oil and Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Reggio Emilia.
Six additional stations will be dedicated to wines, alcohol-free drinks and mixology.
Wines at Cena dei Mille 2026
The 2026 edition will also feature the Franciacorta Consortium, bringing the famous Italian sparkling wine to the heart of Parma.
Local wines will also play an important role. Dessert will be paired with Malvasia Dolce Spumante DOC from the Colli di Parma wine area.
The wine selection will also include labels from Venturini Baldini and Il Poggiarello.
Gennaro Esposito: Guest Chef for 2026
The seventh edition of Cena dei Mille welcomes one of the best-known names in contemporary Italian cuisine.
Gennaro Esposito is chef and patron of La Torre del Saracino in Vico Equense, near Naples, a restaurant awarded two Michelin stars.
His participation continues the tradition of inviting prestigious chefs to Parma for the event. Previous editions have featured major names from Italian haute cuisine, including Carlo Cracco, Norbert Niederkofler, Chicco Cerea, Enrico Crippa, Enrico Bartolini, Riccardo Monco, Davide Oldani, Iginio Massari and Giancarlo Perbellini.
1,000 Guests Dining in Parma City Centre
One of the most impressive features of Cena dei Mille is its extraordinary setting.
A single table approximately 400 metres long will begin in Piazza Garibaldi and continue along Strada della Repubblica, creating a spectacular dining room beneath the open sky.
For one evening, the historic heart of Parma will be transformed into a restaurant for 1,000 guests, surrounded by some of the city's most recognisable architecture.
The event is organised by the Fondazione Parma UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, in collaboration with the Municipality of Parma and Parma Alimentare.
Cena dei Mille 2026 Tickets: Sold Out in Six Minutes
Tickets for the 2026 edition went on sale on July 8, 2026 at 10:00 am, priced at €150 per person plus booking fees.
Demand was exceptionally high: all available seats were sold out in just six minutes, setting a new sales record for the event.
Part of the proceeds from Cena dei Mille is also dedicated to charitable initiatives, adding a strong element of solidarity to one of Parma's most prestigious annual events.
Special Souvenirs for the 2026 Edition
The table setting itself will also celebrate Parma.
Bormioli Luigi will create 1,000 opal glass charger plates, decorated with a design inspired by Parma's historic Ospedale Vecchio.
Coccinelle will create 1,000 special leather bracelets for the evening, produced in an intense shade of red and designed as a souvenir for participants.
What Happens if It Rains?
The organisers have also prepared an alternative solution in case of bad weather.
If weather conditions make it impossible to hold the dinner along Strada della Repubblica, the event is expected to be moved under the porticoes of Via Mazzini.
Why Cena dei Mille Is One of Parma's Signature Events
Cena dei Mille is much more than an outdoor dinner. It is a showcase for Parma's gastronomic identity, bringing together Michelin-starred chefs, local restaurants, producers, culinary schools and some of Italy's most prestigious DOP and IGP products.
The event reflects Parma's international reputation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and as the heart of the Italian Food Valley.
For international visitors planning a trip to Parma in September, Cena dei Mille is also an opportunity to experience the historic city centre in a completely different atmosphere, where Italian cuisine, local traditions and fine dining come together around one extraordinary table.
