28ª Sagra del Fungo Porcino

Before reaching the tables of the festival, the porcini mushroom tells the story of the landscape where it grows. In Castelpagano, that landscape is shaped by woodlands, trails and unspoilt nature: around one thousand hectares of forest surround the village, with oaks, Turkey oaks, beech trees and conifers.

It is precisely this close relationship with the woodland that lies at the heart of the Porcini Mushroom Festival, returning in 2026 for its 28th edition from 18 to 27 September. The event celebrates Boletus edulis, also locally described as the “cold-weather mushroom”, while offering an opportunity to discover the biodiversity, landscape and food culture of the Alto Tammaro area.

Over two weekends, Castelpagano welcomes visitors with food stands and dishes featuring porcini mushrooms, combining local flavours with music, entertainment and activities designed to encourage people to experience both the village and its surroundings.

The journey continues beyond the dining tables. Outdoor experiences include trekking along the Via dei Briganti, leading towards the fascinating Grotta di Trek, as well as the “Borgo e Natura” mountain-bike excursion. These activities offer different ways to explore the very landscape from which the festival's main ingredient originates.

For Castelpagano, the forest is much more than a natural resource: it is part of the village's identity and an environment to be discovered, protected and passed on. Porcini mushrooms and truffles are expressions of an ecosystem where biodiversity and local food production come together, representing an important resource for the wider area.

The festival therefore becomes an invitation to discover everything behind a single flavour: the land, the woodland and the community that continues to preserve it.

What to do during the Festival

Throughout the event, the village hosts a wide range of activities combining food, entertainment and local culture.

Visitors can enjoy food stands and menus featuring porcini mushrooms, Aperifungo events, porcini pizzas, tastings, live music and DJ sets. The programme also includes activities for children, a tourist train and cultural and artistic initiatives.

Outdoor experiences complete the programme, offering visitors the opportunity to discover the natural heritage surrounding Castelpagano.

Nature and excursions

One of the experiences that best represents the spirit of the festival is “Along the Via dei Briganti – Excursion to Grotta di Trek”, a route immersed in nature that follows an ancient trail also connected to local legends.

The programme also features the Castelpagano “Borgo e Natura” MTB excursion, an opportunity to explore the village and its surrounding landscapes by mountain bike.