Festa del Riso in Porto Tolle 2026: the Delta del Po celebrates its rice
From 17 to 20 September 2026, in Piazza Ciceruacchio and Via Giolo in Ca' Tiepolo, the 16th Festa del Riso returns in honour of Riso del Delta del Po IGP (the PGI rice of the Po delta): the 7th rice gala dinner, the food stalls, the producers' market, guided walks among the rice fields and the closing fireworks.
If one product tells the story of Porto Tolle as much as fish does, it is rice. On land reclaimed from the water between the branches of the Po grow the varieties of Riso del Delta del Po IGP, the only Italian rice with protected geographical status grown in a delta, where the grain takes up the minerals of the alluvial soil and the breeze of the Adriatic. The Festa del Riso, run by the municipality and the Pro Loco of Porto Tolle with the fair committees of the hamlets, is when that heritage comes to the table.
The 2026 programme
The 16th edition opens on Thursday 17 September with the 7th Galà del Riso, a dinner by reservation prepared with the Cipriani-Colombo catering college of Adria: a menu built entirely around Delta rice. From Friday 18 to Sunday 20 the festival fills Piazza Ciceruacchio and Via Giolo with the food stalls and their risottos from sea and land, the market of makers and local produce, talks and teaching workshops, live music and shows, the funfair and children's entertainment, excursions and guided visits among rice fields, rice mills and the Sacca degli Scardovari lagoon, and the closing firework display.
Updates are posted on the "Festa del Riso di Porto Tolle" Facebook page and under the hashtag #festadelriso_portotolle. The festival is organised with the Veneto Region, the Province of Rovigo, the municipality and Pro Loco of Porto Tolle, the Po Delta Regional Park authority and the protection consortium of Riso del Delta del Po IGP.
Delta rice on the plate: what to taste
At the festival rice appears in every form: risotto with Scardovari mussels and clams, risotto with pumpkin and sausage, risotto with radicchio and gorgonzola, sardines in saor with rice polenta, cakes made with rice flour. It is the best way to understand why the Carnaroli and Volano of the Delta hold their bite and take up seafood sauces better than any other.
To carry the tasting further, Ristò Italia in the centre of Ca' Tiepolo serves Risotto alla Pescatora with Carnaroli rice, fish, mussels and shellfish: the house version of the festival's signature dish, made with the day's catch. Alongside it, the classics of the Delta: Cozza di Scardovari DOP (the PDO mussel of the Scardovari lagoon), spaghetti with clams, and the mixed grill for two.
A weekend of rice fields, lagoons and levees
The Festa del Riso falls in the finest moment of the Delta year: the rice fields carry the colours of the harvest, the lagoons fill with birds and the levees are perfect for cycling. From Albergo Italia you can set off in the saddle: towards the rice fields of Scardovari and Santa Giulia, towards the lagoon with its mussel and oyster beds, or by boat towards the mouth of the Po di Pila.
Where to sleep for the Festa del Riso
Albergo Italia, a three-star hotel in the centre of Porto Tolle, is a few steps from the festival area: air-conditioned rooms, breakfast with local produce, private parking and bicycle storage. For more independence, Alloggi Centrale offers rooms and apartments nearby. The festival weekend is one of the busiest in September: please book in good time.
All the events of the area are listed on the official destination portal venetodeltapo.it.
Practical information
Where: Piazza Ciceruacchio – Via Giolo, Ca' Tiepolo, 45018 Porto Tolle (RO). When: Thursday 17 September 2026 the Galà del Riso (by reservation); Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026 the festival. Entry free; food stalls paid; gala dinner by reservation.
Organisation: the municipality of Porto Tolle and the Pro Loco, with the Province of Rovigo, the Veneto Region, the Po Delta Park and the protection consortium of Riso del Delta del Po IGP. Getting here: from Rovigo the SS 495 / SP 46; from Ferrara and Ravenna the Romea SS 309 and the Santa Maria in Punta bridge; from Venice and Chioggia the Romea SS 309 southbound.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Riso del Delta del Po IGP?
- It is the PGI-protected rice grown in the delta soils between Veneto and Emilia-Romagna; the main varieties are Carnaroli, Volano, Baldo and Arborio.
- Is the Festa del Riso suitable for children?
- Yes: teaching workshops, entertainment and the little sightseeing train are part of the programme every year.
- Can you visit a rice field during the festival?
- Yes, the programme includes excursions and guided visits to rice fields and rice mills; information and bookings at the tourist office in Piazza Ciceruacchio.
- How do you join the Galà del Riso?
- It is a dinner by reservation on Thursday 17 September; contact details are published on the "Festa del Riso di Porto Tolle" Facebook page.
- Where can you sleep near the Festa del Riso?
- At Albergo Italia or Alloggi Centrale, both in the centre of Ca' Tiepolo, a few steps from the festival area.
