There's a bit of magic in the air once the August crowds have thinned out and the intense summer heat begins to soften. Italy seems to take a collective, relaxed breath, making it a pretty special time to visit. The month is all about the harvest, when the vendemmia, or grape harvest, gets into full swing. This is what fuels many of the country's best festivals in September in Italy, as local communities come together for their sagre. You get to experience these authentic celebrations without the peak-season prices, and the weather is just right for wandering around with a glass of something local in hand.
Wine festivals in Italy: celebrating the grape harvest in September
September in Italy is pretty much synonymous with the vendemmia, the grape harvest. This isn't just an agricultural event; it's a huge part of the culture that kicks off a whole season of festivals. All across the country, especially in the big wine regions, towns and villages host their own festa dell'uva (grape festival) or sagra del vino (wine fair).
Expect lively town squares, long tables for communal dining, music, and of course, plenty of opportunities to sample the local wine, often straight from the producers.
Chianti Wine Festival, Tuscany
If you find yourself in Tuscany during the second weekend of September, you absolutely have to make your way to Greve in Chianti for Expo del Chianti Classico. The main square, Piazza Matteotti, buzzes with energy as dozens of local producers set up stalls under the porticoes.
You buy a tasting glass for a set price of €20, and then you can wander around sampling seven different Chianti Classico wines. It’s a fantastic way to chat with the winemakers and try some of the best wines in the region, paired with local bread, cheese, and cured meats.
Douja d'Or, Piedmont
If you consider yourself a serious wine lover, you should have Asti in your sights for September. From the 12th to the 21st of September, Asti in Piedmont hosts the Douja d'Or. It's a national wine competition, and a chance to taste hundreds of the award-winning wines from all over Italy.
You can wander through the stands, sampling everything from Piedmont's famous Barbera and Italian dessert wines like Moscato d'Asti to top wines from other regions. It’s also a fantastic foodie event, with stalls offering up local dishes and pairings that go perfectly with the wines.
Food festivals in Italy: September's Sagra season
Beyond the big wine events, September is truly the month of the sagra. A sagra is a very local food festival, usually dedicated to celebrating one specific, seasonal ingredient. These festivals are the real heart of Italian community life.
Sagra del Tartufo, Tuscany
If you want to try something a bit special, head to the Sagra del Tartufo in Girone, a small town just a short drive from Florence. While the main truffle season is a bit later in autumn, this festival is a brilliant warm-up, running from 4th to 29th September. It’s a fantastic chance to taste this sought-after delicacy without the hefty price tag of a city restaurant. The menu is all about the truffle, and you can try it shaved over fresh pasta, on top of a pizza, or infused into classic local dishes.
Festa del Cacio, Tuscany
The beautiful town of Pienza in the Val d'Orcia, famous for its pecorino cheese, hosts a festival in its honour from 1st to 7th September. The main event is the wonderfully quirky "Palio del Cacio Fuso", where teams from the different town districts compete by rolling a whole wheel of cheese towards a target in the middle of the main square. Afterwards, you can wander through the market stalls, trying and buying all the different ages and varieties of pecorino for which the area is known.
Historic and traditional Italian festivals in September
Many Italian cities and towns use this time to celebrate their unique history with events that feel like you’ve stepped back in time. You’ll see elaborate costumes, historic rivalries played out in traditional competitions, and entire communities coming together to honour traditions that have been passed down through generations.
Regata Storica, Venice
The Regata Storica is one of the city's most important and spectacular events of the year. It all takes place on 7th September on the Grand Canal and is split into two parts. There's the historical parade, a procession of ornate, 16th-century style boats with crews in period costume, representing the glory of the Venetian Republic. Then, the main event: a series of fiercely competitive gondola and traditional boat races.
Festa della Rificolona, Florence
On the evening of September 7th, the streets of Florence are filled with a warm glow for the Festa della Rificolona, or the Festival of the Paper Lanterns. The traditional event sees hundreds of children carrying colourful, often handmade, paper lanterns on sticks through the city. The main procession winds its way to Piazza Santissima Annunziata. It’s a lovely, low-key event with deep roots in local history and is a perfect example of one of the many family-friendly festivals in Italy.
Luminara di Santa Croce, Tuscany
As dusk falls on the eve of September 13th, the electric lights along the procession route are switched off, and the entire path through the historic centre is illuminated by thousands of tiny candles, or lumini, placed in windowsills and carried by participants. It's a solemn and beautiful religious procession to honour the Volto Santo, a revered wooden crucifix kept in the city's cathedral.
Music festivals in Italy: September 2025 events
September is also a great month for music, particularly classical and jazz, often held in atmospheric settings like historic piazzas or ornate theatres. Some of the best music festivals in Italy take place at this time of the year.
Poplar Festival, Trento
Poplar Fest is one for the indie and alternative music fans. It takes over the city of Trento from 11th to 14th September and has a really fresh, youthful energy. The lineup is always an interesting mix of Italian and international acts – this year's festival features Confidence Man, King Krule, and L'Impératrice. The main venue is Doss Trento, a small hill that overlooks the city, so the setting is pretty spectacular.
MITO SettembreMusica, Milan and Turin
MITO SettembreMusica is a prestigious classical music festival that takes place across two cities, Milan and Turin, from 3rd to 18th September. It attracts world-class orchestras, conductors, and soloists from all over the globe. The programme is always packed, and what makes it special is the variety of venues. You could find yourself listening to a symphony in a grand concert hall one evening and an intimate chamber performance in a beautiful old church the next.
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