The UK’s biggest and most vibrant Italian festival is back!
From Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th August, Cathedral Gardens will once again be transformed into a bustling Italian piazza filled with the sights, sounds, and incredible flavours of Italy and this year marks our eighth glorious year of bringing la dolce vita to the city.
Festa Italiana 2025 promises to be the most exciting edition yet, with celebrity chefs, brand-new music, top-tier food and drink vendors from Italy and across the UK, and exclusive collaborations with iconic Italian brands.
Attendees can look forward to showstopping live cookery demos from some of the best-loved Italian chefs. The likes of Gennaro Contaldo, Giuseppe Dell’Anno, Francesco Mattana, Carmela Hayes and the man himself, Maurizio Cecco (Founder of Festa Italiana and Manchester’s heavyweight Salvi’s), will be taking centre-stage.
There will also be a whole bunch of award-winning street food traders, Italian eateries and artisanal Italian producers. From fresh pasta to Neapolitan pizza, cannoli to spritz - it’s a three-day foodie paradise not to be missed!
And soundtracking the whole affair is a fresh wave of Italian music. From traditional folk to modern Italian pop and party anthems, Festa's incredible live bands will have you dancing the night away and celebrating like you're in the heart of a piazza in Napoli.
Festa is also teaming up with some of Italy’s most loved and respected brands to bring you an unforgettable taste of la dolce vita - think exclusive product tastings, interactive masterclasses, and immersive pop-ups. Sip your way through our Aperitivo Bar, cool down in the Limoncello Garden, enjoy a refreshing Spritz in the sunshine, or roll up your sleeves at the pasta-making stations.
Plus, don’t miss the Piccolo Mercato Italiano - a vibrant mini market filled with incredible independent and artisanal producers showcasing the very best of Italy’s food, drink, and craftsmanship.
Maurizio Cecco, Founder of Festa Italiana UK, says: "Festa Italiana is so much more than just a food festival- it’s a celebration of everything I love about my culture: the passion, the hospitality, the flavour, the music, the chaos! Every year it gets bigger, louder and more exciting and 2025 is going to be the best one yet. We’ve got amazing chefs, incredible vendors, fantastic music and some brilliant new surprises. I can’t wait to welcome everyone back to our piazza in the heart of Manchester!"
Festa Italiana 2025 is a must-visit summer highlight for food lovers, families, party-goers and Italophiles alike. Entry is completely free, and all are welcome - whether you’re dropping by for an Aperol spritz in the sun, settling in for a full day of feasting, or coming to soak up the atmosphere of Manchester’s biggest Italian celebration...
Find out more here.