Parma in September: Festival Verdi, Prosciutto Festival and Settembre Gastronomico

September is the best month to be in Parma. The summer heat has broken, the city is busy but not overcrowded, and three major events overlap to create a concentration of food, music and culture that no other month can match: the Festival Verdi, the Festival del Prosciutto, and Settembre Gastronomico.

If you are planning a trip to Emilia-Romagna and can choose when to go, September in Parma is hard to beat. Here is what each event offers and how to plan around them.

Festival Verdi

The Festival Verdi runs from late September into October, typically starting around the 20th. It is dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi, who was born in the nearby village of Roncole and composed many of his greatest works in this region.

Performances take place at the Teatro Regio di Parma, one of Italy’s most important opera houses, and at the Teatro Verdi in Busseto, Verdi’s adopted hometown about 40 minutes northwest of Parma. The programme typically includes two or three full operas, a gala concert, and the Messa da Requiem.

The festival opens with the Verdi Street Parade — a free, open-air procession through Parma’s city centre with music and performance that fills the streets on the first Saturday.

Tickets for the main operas sell out well in advance. Check the Teatro Regio di Parma website from May onwards. If the operas are sold out, the street parade and fringe events are free and give a genuine flavour of the festival atmosphere.

Festival del Prosciutto di Parma

The Festival del Prosciutto takes place over two weekends in early-to-mid September in Langhirano, the town in the hills south of Parma where most Prosciutto di Parma is produced. The main draw is Finestre Aperte — when certified factories open their doors for guided tours of the salting rooms, drying halls and ageing cellars.

Tours run in small groups and must be booked in advance. The festival also includes food stalls, markets and the Prosciutto Museum at a reduced entry fee. For full practical details — booking, transport, what to expect — see our dedicated Festival del Prosciutto guide.

Settembre Gastronomico

Settembre Gastronomico is Parma’s month-long celebration of its UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy status. Running throughout September, it programmes over fifty events across the city and province: cooking workshops, producer visits, tastings, food-themed film screenings, book presentations and children’s activities.

See where the food actually comes from.
The Emilia Delizia food tour takes you inside working Parmigiano, balsamic, and ham producers — rated 4.9 stars on TripAdvisor.

The events are spread across the month and many are free or low-cost. The programme is published by the Comune di Parma — check their website from August for the full calendar. Highlights typically include guided tastings of Parmigiano Reggiano at different ages, balsamic vinegar workshops, and special menus at participating restaurants.

Truffle season begins

While the main truffle festivals in the Parma hills begin in October, September marks the start of the season. The Fiera del Tartufo Nero di Fragno in Calestano is one of the first, celebrating the prized black truffle from the Appennine foothills. If you are in the area in late September, it is worth checking local listings for early truffle events.

Planning your September visit

The three main events overlap well. A typical four-day trip could combine a Parma ham factory visit or the prosciutto festival (first two weekends), Settembre Gastronomico events during the week, and the Festival Verdi opening (late September). Add a day trip to Modena for balsamic vinegar and Parmigiano Reggiano — see our best day trip from Bologna for food lovers.

For broader trip planning, including accommodation and transport, see our guide to planning your trip to Parma and things to do in Parma.