A food and wine bridge uniting Campania and Veneto in Prato della Valle

Four days to be fully experienced with tastings, show cooking sessions and thematic talks

Padua, June 17, 2026 – Four days dedicated to the “vision that unites”, are set to take place in Padua, from June 25 to 28, 2026, in the evocative setting of Prato della Valle, one of Europe’s most iconic places, thanks to “Bufala Fest – All Forms of Taste”, the food and wine event resulting from the partnership between the Cultural Association “Giardino delle Idee”, Zed and Creaeventi, which is configured as a true “food and wine bridge” aimed at fostering integration between the excellence of the Campania buffalo supply chain and the rich culinary heritage of the Veneto region.

Collaborations and Patronages

“Bufala Fest – All Forms of Taste”, organised in collaboration with the Consortium for the Protection of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO, enjoys the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF), the Senate of the Republic, the Chamber of Deputies, the Campania Region and the Municipality of Padua.

Statements

Antonio Rea, Organisational Director of Bufala Fest – not only mozzarella

“We are proud to bring to Prato della Valle an edition of Bufala Fest characterised by a programme of the highest quality and by exhibitors representing the country’s gastronomic excellence, also thanks to the valuable support of Coldiretti Padova. The buffalo sector is an extraordinary sector, not only for dairy production, but also and above all for the meat supply chain, which we believe still has untapped potential. Our event aims to go beyond the food and wine dimension to become a platform for cultural discussion and a driver of sustainable development, promoting knowledge, innovation and territorial identity”.

Daniele Cristofoli, CEO of Zed

“We are ready to raise the curtain on the preview of the tenth edition of “Bufala Fest – All Forms of Taste”, the result of the great collaboration with the “Giardino delle Idee” Association and Creaeventi. We chose Prato della Valle to transform one of Europe’s most beautiful squares into a true gastronomic and cultural bridge, capable of uniting the buffalo supply chain with the excellence of Venetian cuisine. These will be four days of absolute engagement, unique in terms of taste, entertainment and knowledge”.

Daniela Di Prisco, President of the “Giardino delle Idee” Association

“From June 25 to 28, through a qualified programme of meetings and debates, we will explore how vision, combined with innovation and sustainability, can be the key to enhancing the entire buffalo sector. We invite everyone to take part, to discover together the essence of the vision that unites and to help build an increasingly innovative and sustainable future for the buffalo supply chain, as well as for the entire Italian agri-food sector, reaffirming the priceless value of the Mediterranean Diet and Italian Cuisine as UNESCO heritage, as well as models of health, culture and identity around the world”.

The Partners

The Padua stage of “Bufala Fest – All Forms of Taste” enjoys the support of authoritative brands of international prestige, such as: Agugiaro & Figna Molini S.p.A. Benefit Company with Le 5 Stagioni and Le Sinfonie flours; Leffe; La Torrente; Carta Corona; King’s Rigamonti; La Molisana; Aperol Spritz; Olio Bono; Caseificio Colonne; La Contadina; Guappa; Acqua San Benedetto; Manuel Caffè; Arcos Since 1734; Fonderia Nolana Del Giudice; Marana Forni; Berto’s; Ferrowine.

Radio Birikina is the media partner of the event.

2026 Theme: The Vision that Unites

The guiding theme of Bufala Fest 2026 is the “Vision that Unites”: not simply a slogan, but the most valuable strategic competence for every company and operator in the buffalo supply chain and in the entire agri-food sector of our country. Bufala Fest celebrates the milestone of ten editions by not only looking back at the path travelled, but also by looking towards the horizon, because in a decade that has seen the buffalo supply chain grow, evolve and establish itself, today more than ever the entire Italian agri-food supply chain is called upon to face new and fundamental challenges.

The Artists of Taste in Prato della Valle

There are over 20 stands where visitors will be able to taste dishes prepared by the “artists of taste”, the exhibitors present in Prato della Valle, who will offer dishes and recipes featuring at least one product from the buffalo supply chain: Gianni Calaon – pizza in pala (pizzeria); La Molisana (pasta factory); Berlino Beer, Food & Music (pub); Grazia Pane, Dolci & Caffè (pastry shop); La Mafaldina (fry shop + pizzeria); Caffè Pedrocchi (restaurant); Amsterdam Eeatertainment (pub); Gelateria Friso (artisanal and gluten-free ice cream); Antico Forno Padova (pastry shop); Arte Bianca Torreglia (pizzeria); Macchèpasta (restaurant); iDon Padova (pizzeria); Caseificio Le Colonne; Caseificio La Contadina; Manuel Caffè; Aperol .

Free Access and “Adult”, “Child” and “Gluten Free” Tasting Tickets

Entry to the Bufala Fest Village set up in Prato della Valle is free and follows these opening hours:

• Thursday, June 25 and Friday, June 26, from 6:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
• Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28, from 12:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Admission is also free for the show cooking sessions scheduled in the Taste Space area and for the thematic talks scheduled in the Giardino delle Idee area.

For all those who wish to enjoy the gastronomic delicacies offered by the exhibitors, three types of tickets are available:

Adult Ticket which, at a cost of €20.00, includes:

• 1 meal of your choice from: First Course, Pizza, Sandwich, 500 g of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO.
• 1 treat of your choice from: Single-portion Dessert, Ice Cream, Mixed Fried Food, 250 g of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO.
• 1 drink of your choice from: Aperol Spritz, Beer, Soft Drink, Water.
• Liqueur + Coffee: 1 Guappa liqueur + 1 Manuel coffee.

Child Ticket which, at a cost of €16.00, includes:

• 1 meal of your choice from: First Course, Pizza, Sandwich, 500 g of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO.
• 1 treat of your choice from: Single-portion Dessert, Ice Cream, Mixed Fried Food, 250 g of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO.
• 1 drink of your choice from: Soft Drink or Water.

Gluten Free Ticket which, at a cost of €18.00, includes:

• 1 meal: Pizza (at stand no. 13 – Arte Bianca).
• 1 treat of your choice from: Single-portion Dessert (at stand no. 12 – Antico Forno) or Ice Cream (at stand no. 10 – Gelateria Friso).
• 1 drink of your choice from: Aperol Spritz, Soft Drink, Water.

Skip the Line

Furthermore, on the official event website, by connecting to the link https://padova.bufalafest.com/ticket/ there is a “Skip the Line” section from which it is possible to purchase the different types of tickets in advance, offering the double advantage of avoiding queues at the ticket offices and receiving a beautiful event gadget, to be collected at the ticket offices.

Starred Chefs, Show Cooking and Masterclasses in the Taste Space Area with Chef Erny Lombardo

Visitors can access the Taste Space area free of charge, curated and coordinated by Chef Erny Lombardo, creator of the “Pizza a Teatro” format, the culinary project that, in addition to pizza, explores fresh pasta, bread-making, dairy products, popular cuisine and dishes inspired by the tradition of the Monzù.

In the Taste Space area, starred chefs, professionals and companies from the food sector will be the protagonists of show cooking sessions, masterclasses and tastings dedicated to the value of the “Vision that Unites”, with the aim of enhancing the buffalo supply chain and its integration with other agri-food supply chains, organised in collaboration with: Agugiaro & Figna with “Le 5 Stagioni” and “Le Sinfonie” flours; La Torrente; King’s – Rigamonti; La Molisana; Olio Bono; Le Colonne; Arcos Since 1734.

Giardino delle Idee: meetings and debates on the theme of the Vision that Unites

Thanks to the support of the “Giardino delle Idee” Cultural Association, Bufala Fest continues to also be Knowledge by providing, in a dedicated area of the village set up in Prato della Valle, three meetings attended by food sector operators, entrepreneurs, journalists, representatives of institutions and the academic world.

Three appointments, coordinated by Marketing & ESG Consultant Vincenzo La Croce and journalist Domenico Ascolese, organised to help raise awareness of the potential of the buffalo supply chain and its impact on territories as a driver of growth for the economic ecosystem of the Italian agri-food sector.

On June 25, 26 and 27, in Prato della Valle, the following thematic talks are scheduled:

Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., Inaugural Talk on the theme “All Forms of Taste: the buffalo supply chain between vision, Mediterranean diet and Italian cuisine as UNESCO heritage”

The talk aims to analyse the evolution of the buffalo supply chain as a strategic asset of the Italian agri-food system, within the framework of the recognition of the Mediterranean Diet (2010) and Italian Cuisine (2025) as Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Speakers: Luca De Carlo, President of the 9th Standing Committee on Industry, Commerce, Tourism, Agriculture and Agri-Food Production of the Senate of the Republic; Sergio Giordani, Mayor of the Municipality of Padua; Nicola Caputo, Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the export and internationalisation of the agri-food supply chain and for European and international policies

in the sector; Damiano de Marchi, Lecturer at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice; Pier Maria Saccani, Director of the Consortium of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO. Moderated by journalist Alberto Rodighiero (Il Gazzettino).

Friday, June 26, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., Talk on the theme “Innovation and Identity: the vision of territories for the agri-food of the future”

The talk addresses the challenge of transforming the agri-food heritage of Veneto and Campania into an integrated and competitive industrial system. The key points are: Supply Chain Integration; Safety and Traceability in Industry 4.0; Marketing of Origin.

Speakers: Lorenzo Furlan, Director of the Innovation and Experimentation Department of Veneto Agricoltura; Patrizio Bertin, President of Ascom Confcommercio Padova; Antonio Bressa, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Padua; Alessandro Vannozzi, Lecturer at the Department of Agronomy, Animals, Food, Natural Resources and Environment (DAFNAE) of the University of Padua. Moderated by journalist Claudio Malfitano (Il Mattino di Padova).

Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., Talk on the theme “The sustainable vision: ESG criteria as a compass for the future of Italian agri-food”.

Tradition, excellence and connection with the territory are no longer enough to guarantee the international competitiveness of Made in Italy. The talk explores how ESG criteria (Environmental, Social, Governance) are transforming the agri-food supply chain – with a strategic focus on the buffalo sector – from a traditional model into a traceable, circular and financially resilient ecosystem.

Speakers: Vincenzo La Croce, Strategic Marketing and ESG Consultant; Roberto Lorin, President of Coldiretti Padova; Riccardo Agugiaro, CEO of Agugiaro e Figna Molini S.p.A. Benefit Company; Marco Noventa, Nutritionist and Animal Production Technician at OP Azove; Albino Vitola, Chartered Accountant, specialising in tax and financial support for agricultural businesses and Partner at Agrinoverim; Walter Pierucci, Meat Specialist. Moderated by journalist Silvia Bergamin (Il Mattino di Padova).

Bufala Fest Embraces Art: the Connection with Fonderia Nolana Del Giudice

Also on the occasion of the Padua stage, Bufala Fest renews its connection with art, thanks to the partnership with the artistic workshop “Fonderia Nolana Del Giudice”, which has created a special and exclusive commemorative medal that will be a special gift for the personalities and partners present in Bufala Fest’s “Taste Village”.

The press kit with all the details of the event can be viewed and downloaded by clicking on:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1e_vFU55S7T8jpKkRZf27ieus_euVHPoh?usp=sharing

Bufala Fest Padua Press Office

Domenico Ascolese – +39 338 111 6659 | [ufficiostampa@bufalafest.com](mailto:ufficiostampa@bufalafest.com)

Pietro Possamai – +39 3469583122 | [press@zedlive.com](mailto:press@zedlive.com)