Parma Festivals: Three Events You Should Not Miss

Parma hosts three events that, between them, define what the city is about: food, music, and international trade. Two happen every year in September; the third every two years in May. If you can time your visit around any of them, you will see a side of Parma that goes well beyond the usual sightseeing.

Festival del Prosciutto di Parma

Every September, the ham producers in Langhirano — the hill town south of Parma where most Prosciutto di Parma is made — open their factories to the public. The Finestre Aperte tours take you through salting rooms, drying halls and ageing cellars stacked with thousands of legs curing in the mountain air. Tours must be booked in advance and fill up fast.

The festival also includes the Prosciutto Museum, food stalls, markets and live entertainment. For full practical details — booking, transport, what to expect — see our complete Festival del Prosciutto guide.

Want to visit a factory outside festival season? See our guide to Parma ham factories you can visit on your own, or join our Parma ham tour from Bologna with transport and tastings included.

Cibus — International Food Exhibition

Cibus is Italy’s leading international food trade fair, held every two years in May at the Fiera di Parma. It has run since 1985 and now attracts tens of thousands of professionals from over 70 countries — restaurateurs, retailers, distributors, chefs and buyers.

Thousands of Italian food products are presented, from artisanal specialties to large-scale innovations, alongside food processing technologies and packaging. Parma’s position at the centre of the Italian agri-food sector — next to the Italian Center for Agri-Food Research — makes it the natural home for this event.

Looking for an authentic food experience?
Join our Foodie's Delight Tour – Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar & cured meats in one unforgettable day.

Cibus is primarily a trade fair, but it reinforces Parma’s reputation as a global food capital. If you are in the industry, it is worth planning a visit around the fair dates. The official site is cibus.it.

Festival Verdi

The Festival Verdi runs from late September into October at the Teatro Regio di Parma and the Teatro Verdi in Busseto, Verdi’s adopted hometown. The programme includes full opera productions, the Gala Verdiano, the Messa da Requiem, and the opening Verdi Street Parade — a free, open-air procession through Parma’s city centre.

The festival also programmes educational events, singing competitions, chamber concerts and open-air performances. Tickets for the main operas sell out months in advance through the Teatro Regio website.

For a broader view of what September offers — including the ham festival, Festival Verdi and Settembre Gastronomico — see our guide to Parma in September.

Planning your visit

For accommodation, transport and a full overview of what to see and eat, start with our guide to planning your trip to Parma and things to do in Parma.