Mount Etna hosts Bronte pistachio festival from 25 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 09:49 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Mount Etna is the setting for the XXXV Sagra del Pistacchio Verde di Bronte DOP, which takes place in Bronte from 25 to 27 September and from 2 to 4 October 2026. The festival links Sicily’s active volcano with the town’s protected green pistachio, while its programme combines food, music, performances and activities for families.
The event is in Bronte, in the Catania area of Italy, and the Comune di Bronte has confirmed the two festival weekends.
Bronte pistachio festival opens on 25 September
The Sagra del Pistacchio begins at 6pm on Friday 25 September 2026, with the inauguration and opening of the stands in Viale Catania. The opening programme includes the San Biagio CittĂ di Bronte band, the Majorettes of Randazzo, a pistachio gelato tasting in Piazza Spedalieri and evening music in several town squares.
Across the two weekends, visitors will find dishes made with Bronte pistachio, including gelato, pasta pesto, arancini and sweets. The programme also includes tastings, show cooking, concerts, exhibitions, children’s activities and the Pistacchio Experience. The published festival programme for Bronte lists events across Viale Catania, Piazza Spedalieri, Piazza Rosario and Piazza Enrico Cimbali.
Mount Etna gives the food festival its setting
Bronte places the festival within the landscape of Mount Etna, whose volcanic environment is closely connected with the agricultural identity of eastern Sicily. The town’s event focuses on the Pistacchio Verde di Bronte DOP, while the wider mountain remains an active volcanic site rather than a conventional town-centre attraction.
Mount Etna is described by the BBC as Europe’s tallest active volcano. The festival therefore offers a different way to encounter the Catania area: its programme is concentrated in Bronte’s streets and squares, while the volcano provides the geographical context. This relationship between town, crop and mountain is the central fact that distinguishes the event from a general food fair. The BBC background on Mount Etna records the volcano’s active status.
Food, performances and local routes continue in October
The second part of the programme runs from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2026. Friday is dedicated in part to school activities, while Sunday includes further pistachio demonstrations, a Pistacchio Experience, Sicilian puppet theatre, street bands and a pistachio cake tasting.
The programme also gives the festival a cultural dimension beyond food. Music, public performances and local exhibitions are placed among the tasting areas, while the Pro Loco of Bronte operates an information point in Viale Catania during the event. The confirmed dates and programme details identify Bronte as the venue and the Comune as the authority that confirmed the schedule.
Visiting Mount Etna: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Sagra del Pistacchio takes place from 25 to 27 September and from 2 to 4 October 2026 in Bronte, with the opening at 6pm on 25 September in Viale Catania.
- The event uses streets and squares in Bronte, including Viale Catania, Piazza Spedalieri, Piazza Rosario and Piazza Enrico Cimbali. A free shuttle bus is planned to support movement around the festival.
- Local tours are scheduled for 26 and 27 September and 3 and 4 October 2026, with departures at 11am and 4pm. Reservations are available at the Pro Loco stand or through the published telephone contact.
- The programme includes food stands, show cooking, music and family activities, so the visit is centred on the town rather than on a summit route or crater excursion.
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Frequently asked questions about Mount Etna
When does the pistachio festival take place at Mount Etna?
The XXXV Sagra del Pistacchio Verde di Bronte DOP runs in Bronte from 25 to 27 September and from 2 to 4 October 2026.
What is the Sagra del Pistacchio in Bronte?
It is a food and culture festival devoted to Bronte’s green pistachio, with tastings, show cooking, music, performances and family activities.
Where is Mount Etna and how do you get there?
Mount Etna is in Sicily, with Bronte in the Catania area providing the festival setting. The event programme lists a free local shuttle bus and an information point run by the Pro Loco of Bronte.
