This September, Turin comes alive with Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2026, one of the world’s most important celebrations of food culture, sustainability, and biodiversity. This year’s gathering carries special significance as it is the first Terra Madre since the passing of Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini, whose vision transformed the global conversation around food, local traditions, and environmental stewardship. Petrini’s legacy continues to inspire communities around the world and remains at the heart of the event’s mission.
For five days, the city of Turin fills with international producers, chefs, tastings, markets, and cultural events, offering travelers a unique opportunity to experience Italy through its flavors, traditions, and people.
The 16th edition of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto will take place from September 24 to 28. Organized by Slow Food together with the Piedmont Region and the City of Turin, it is one of the world’s leading international gatherings dedicated to food culture, sustainability, and food policy. The 2026 edition also celebrates the 40th anniversary of Slow Food Italy, bringing together communities, producers, chefs, and visitors from across the globe while honoring the enduring legacy of Carlo “Carlin” Petrini and the movement he founded.
Travel planning around Terra Madre: Expect a Busy City
During Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, the city becomes especially lively and in high demand. Hotels tend to sell out quickly, and many restaurants are fully booked throughout the event days. Visitors during this period reserve accommodations and dining well in advance to fully enjoy the experience. If you’re just passing through Turin, you can take advantage of a wide range of events.
Biodiversity at the Heart of the Event
The central theme of the 2026 edition of the conference is biodiversity, not only the variety of plants and animals, but also the cultural knowledge and traditions that transform ingredients into the foods that define communities worldwide. For over four decades, Slow Food has worked to identify and protect endangered food products, agricultural practices, and local food cultures. A milestone in this effort was the creation of the Ark of Taste in 1996, now a global catalog featuring more than 6,500 heritage foods from five continents. Through initiatives such as the Slow Food Presidia, the Slow Food Chefs’ Alliance, and community garden projects, the movement supports small-scale producers and sustainable supply chains while promoting food that is “good, clean, and fair.” Biodiversity is presented not only as conservation, but as resilience, cultural dialog, and an alternative to standardized industrial food systems and monoculture.
Events Across the City
Throughout the event, the streets, squares, and neighborhoods of Turin will host hundreds of activities, including conferences, taste workshops, dining experiences with chefs and producers, sensory activities, and collaborations with local cultural institutions and schools. A major highlight is the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto Market, where hundreds of producers from Italy and around the world showcase foods that reflect and protect the identity, biodiversity, and traditions of their regions.
A Global Meeting Through Food
For a few days, Turin transforms into a global meeting place where farmers, artisans, chefs, and travelers from all over the world connect through food. The conference celebrates cuisine as a universal language shaped by centuries of exchange, migration, and shared human experience, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience the city at its most vibrant and international.
Visiting Turin during Terra Madre Salone del Gusto means discovering the city at its most vibrant, where historic cafés, local markets, and neighborhood trattorias become part of a global conversation about food and culture. It’s the perfect moment to explore beyond the event itself and experience the authentic rhythms of Piedmontese life.
Join Casa Mia Tours for guided walking tours, cooking experiences, and curated local itineraries designed to help you connect with Turin like a local. Whether you’re tasting traditional specialties, exploring elegant piazzas, or uncovering hidden corners of the city, our tours offer the ideal complement to your Terra Madre visit.
👉 Discover our Turin experiences!
