There is a moment every year when Italians suddenly start looking at the weather differently.
A few days of rain. Cooler nights. Humid forests. Then the question begins: are the porcini finally coming?
September marks the beginning of one of Italy’s most anticipated food seasons, particularly across the Apennines and mountain areas where mushroom hunting is part hobby, part tradition and almost part competitive sport.
But you do not need to walk through a forest at dawn carrying a wicker basket to enjoy it.
Throughout September 2026, towns across Italy are organizing mushroom festivals where porcini appear in risotto, tagliatelle, polenta, soups, bruschetta, fried dishes and grilled meat accompaniments.
Some are small village celebrations. Others attract tens of thousands of visitors and have effectively become major regional food fairs.
And this year there is an unusually rich calendar, stretching from Lazio and Emilia-Romagna to Lombardy, Tuscany and Campania.
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September 2026 Is Basically Mushroom Month in Italy
If you want to plan a weekend around porcini, these are some of the most interesting confirmed events currently scheduled:
- Velletri, Lazio: Festa del Fungo Porcino, September 3-20
- Rocca Priora, Lazio: Sagra del Fungo Porcino, September 4-6
- Lariano, Lazio: Festa del Fungo Porcino e dei Suoi Sapori, September 10-13
- Cunardo, Lombardy: Festa del Fungo, September 11-13
- Oriolo Romano, Lazio: Sagra del Fungo Porcino, September 11-13 and 18-20
- Bema, Lombardy: Sagra dei Funghi, September 13
- Poggio alla Malva, Tuscany: Sagra della Polenta, Funghi Porcini e Cinghiale, September 12-20
- Borgo Val di Taro, Emilia-Romagna: Fiera del Fungo di Borgotaro IGP, September 19-20 and 26-27
- Scarperia, Tuscany: Sagra del Tortello e del Fungo Porcino, September 19-20 and 26-27
- Cusano Mutri, Campania: Sagra dei Funghi, beginning in late September and continuing into October
There are numerous smaller events as well, particularly in Tuscany and Lazio, meaning it is possible to find a mushroom-focused festival during almost every weekend of the month.
Velletri Has One of the Biggest Mushroom Festivals in Italy
The most striking event on the 2026 calendar is in Lazio.
The historic Festa del Fungo Porcino, organized by the association traditionally linked to Lariano, moves this year to Velletri and runs from September 3 to 20.
This is not a weekend village sagra.
The organizers describe an event lasting 18 days, with more than 160 exhibitors across an exhibition area of around 50,000 square metres. The festival says previous editions have attracted more than 150,000 visitors.
Food remains the main attraction, but the programme also includes agriculture, markets, entertainment, shows and events built around the Castelli Romani food culture.
And, unusually for a major festival, the organizers have already published useful price indications.
A standing menu costs between approximately €8 and €16, depending on the option chosen, while the table-service menu is listed at €22. An additional glass of wine costs €2.
That makes Velletri particularly interesting for visitors who want to know their budget before arriving rather than discovering individual stall prices once inside.
Borgotaro Is the Destination for Serious Porcini Fans
If Velletri wins on size, Borgo Val di Taro is difficult to beat for mushroom prestige.
The Parma Apennines town hosts the 51st edition of the Fiera del Fungo di Borgotaro IGP on September 19-20 and again on September 26-27.
The important letters here are IGP.
Fungo di Borgotaro is a protected geographical product associated with porcini growing in the forests around Borgo Val di Taro, Albareto and the nearby Apennine territory. Four porcini species can fall under the denomination, and the area’s relationship with mushroom collection goes back generations.
During the fair, the historic centre fills with food producers, street food, agricultural stalls, cooking demonstrations and a mycological exhibition dedicated to identifying and understanding different mushroom species.
There is even a Museo del Fungo Porcino, with special guided visits scheduled during the fair weekends.
This is the place to choose if your idea of a mushroom festival is not simply eating a plate of pasta, but understanding why porcini have become such an important part of local identity.
Lombardy Has Its Own Porcini Weekend
Northern Italy has plenty to offer as well.
In Cunardo, in the province of Varese, the 23rd Festa del Fungo takes place from September 11 to 13 at the Baita del Fondista.
The menu revolves around fresh porcini, with dishes including polenta with mushrooms, risotto, tagliatelle, lasagne, fritters and braised meat with mushrooms.
Entrance is free, while food and drinks are purchased separately.
Further north in the mountains of the Valtellina, Bema holds its traditional Sagra dei Funghi on September 13. Lunch is dedicated to porcini and other local products, while the evening shifts towards another local speciality: potato gnocchi.
These Lombardy events are smaller than Velletri or Borgotaro, but that is also part of their appeal. They feel much closer to the traditional Italian village sagra: mountain food, communal tables, music and recipes closely connected to the surrounding forests.
Oriolo Romano Turns Porcini Into a Two-Weekend Event
Lazio has another strong contender in Oriolo Romano, near Viterbo.
The town’s Sagra del Fungo Porcino returns on September 11-13 and again on September 18-20, filling the historic centre around Palazzo Altieri.
The signature dish is straightforward and difficult to argue with: fettuccine with porcini mushrooms.
But menus also include several other mushroom dishes, and the organizers provide dedicated options for visitors with coeliac disease.
The concentration of events around Rome this September is remarkable. Between Velletri, Rocca Priora, Lariano and Oriolo Romano, someone based in the capital could effectively spend several weekends travelling from one porcini festival to another without ever leaving Lazio.
Tuscany and Southern Italy Have Their Own Mushroom Weekends
Tuscany is another strong destination in September, with smaller festivals where porcini are combined with some of the region’s most traditional dishes.
Among the events scheduled for 2026 are the Sagra della Polenta, Funghi Porcini e Cinghiale in Poggio alla Malva from September 12 to 20, and the Sagra del Fungo Porcino in Buti from September 25 to 27.
Further south, Cusano Mutri in Campania hosts one of the best-known mushroom festivals in Italy. Its 2026 edition begins on September 25 and continues into October, filling the historic centre with restaurants, stalls and local dishes based on porcini and other mushrooms from the Matese area.
How Much Does It Cost to Eat Porcini in Italy?
Porcini remain a premium seasonal ingredient, and prices can change quickly depending on weather, availability and origin.
Fresh Italian porcini can commonly sell for around €40-60 per kilogram, although particularly scarce or high-quality products may cost more.
Festivals are usually a cheaper way to enjoy them. At Velletri, for example, official 2026 menu options range from approximately €8 to €16 for standing service, while the table-service menu costs €22.
At smaller sagre, individual dishes are often priced separately. A reasonable budget is around €20-30 per person for a meal and a drink, depending on how much fresh porcini is included.
Want to Pick Mushrooms Yourself? Check the Rules First
Collecting mushrooms in Italy is regulated locally, so permits, daily limits and authorised areas vary between regions and municipalities.
There is also an important safety issue. Italy’s Ministry of Health recommends having privately collected wild mushrooms checked by qualified mycologists before eating them. Official guidance is available through the Italian Ministry of Health.
Why September Is the Best Time for Mushroom Lovers
What makes these festivals special is not simply the food. They combine seasonal produce, local traditions and small-town travel at a time when much of Italy is leaving the peak summer crowds behind.
If food is one of the reasons you travel around Italy, you may also enjoy our guide to how Milan and Italy are becoming global food destinations.
From the giant event in Velletri to Borgotaro’s prestigious IGP porcini and the mountain sagre of Lombardy and Campania, September offers dozens of opportunities to experience one of Italy’s most loved autumn traditions.
