Italy · month by month
Bologna food calendar
What is in season in Bologna, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in Bologna
The best of January: Tortellini in brodo and Sfrappole.
In season
- New olive oil and cavolo nero
Winter vegetables and the cold-weather menu of bollito misto.
Nov–Feb
Eat it now
- Tortellini in brodoChristmas
The Christmas Day dish: tiny pork-filled tortellini in capon broth. Shops sell them by the kilo.
Dec–Jan - SfrappoleCarnival
Bologna's name for the fried, sugared carnival ribbons.
Jan–Feb - Bollito misto with salsa verde
Boiled meats from the cart, the winter Sunday lunch of the city.
Nov–Mar
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in Bologna
The best of February: Sfrappole, Bollito misto with salsa verde and SANA Food.
In season
- New olive oil and cavolo nero
Winter vegetables and the cold-weather menu of bollito misto.
Nov–Feb
Eat it now
- SfrappoleCarnival
Bologna's name for the fried, sugared carnival ribbons.
Jan–Feb - Bollito misto with salsa verde
Boiled meats from the cart, the winter Sunday lunch of the city.
Nov–Mar
On the calendar
- SANA Food (BolognaFiere)
21-23 Feb 2027; trade fair with a public Sunday; ticketed
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in Bologna
The best of March: Bollito misto with salsa verde.
Eat it now
- Bollito misto with salsa verde
Boiled meats from the cart, the winter Sunday lunch of the city.
Nov–Mar
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in Bologna
Peak seasonThe best of April: Asparago Verde di Altedo IGP and Altedo green asparagus.
In season
- Asparago Verde di Altedo IGP
- Altedo green asparagus
From the plain north of the city; with eggs, in risotto and in tortelli.
Apr–May
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in Bologna
Peak seasonThe best of May: Altedo green asparagus, Vignola cherries and Cherry fair, Vignola.
In season
- Altedo green asparagus
From the plain north of the city; with eggs, in risotto and in tortelli.
Apr–May - Vignola cherries
Short, sweet season; the hill town of Vignola holds a cherry fair in late May or June.
May–Jun
On the calendar
- Cherry fair, VignolaMay
Market stalls of the new cherries in the town where they grow.
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in Bologna
Peak seasonThe best of June: Vignola cherries.
In season
- Vignola cherries
Short, sweet season; the hill town of Vignola holds a cherry fair in late May or June.
May–Jun
Plan around
- Closures
2 June (public holiday) shops, markets and restaurants mostly closed
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in Bologna
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
Nothing special on our calendar for July yet. The city guide has what is good all year.
August in Bologna
A hard monthPlan around
- August closuresmid-August
Bologna empties around Ferragosto; many osterie close for two or three weeks.
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in Bologna
Peak seasonThe best of September: Porcini and Sagra del Tortellino, Castelfranco Emilia.
In season
- Porcini
From the Apennines, sliced raw, grilled or in tagliatelle.
Sep–Nov
On the calendar
- Sagra del Tortellino, Castelfranco EmiliaSeptember
The town that claims the tortellino's birth holds its festival in September.
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in Bologna
Peak seasonThe best of October: White truffles from the hills, Porcini and Mortadella, Please.
In season
- White truffles from the hills
The Savigno and Apennine truffle grounds; shaved over tagliatelle and fried eggs.
Oct–Dec - Porcini
From the Apennines, sliced raw, grilled or in tagliatelle.
Sep–Nov
On the calendar
- Mortadella, Please (Zola Predosa)
9-11 Oct 2026, free; next listed 8-10 Oct 2027
- C'e Piu Gusto (Palazzo Re Enzo)
17-18 Oct 2026; free entry, ticketed masterclasses
- Tartófla, Savignoweekends in October and November
White truffle festival in the hills southwest of the city.
Oct–Nov
Plan around
- Closures
4 October (Saint Day, San Petronio): almost everything except churches and museums closed
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in Bologna
The best of November: Bollito misto with salsa verde, White truffles from the hills and Tartófla, Savigno.
In season
- White truffles from the hills
The Savigno and Apennine truffle grounds; shaved over tagliatelle and fried eggs.
Oct–Dec - Porcini
From the Apennines, sliced raw, grilled or in tagliatelle.
Sep–Nov - New olive oil and cavolo nero
Winter vegetables and the cold-weather menu of bollito misto.
Nov–Feb
Eat it now
- Bollito misto with salsa verde
Boiled meats from the cart, the winter Sunday lunch of the city.
Nov–Mar
On the calendar
- Tartófla, Savignoweekends in October and November
White truffle festival in the hills southwest of the city.
Oct–Nov
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in Bologna
The best of December: Certosino and Tortellini in brodo.
In season
- White truffles from the hills
The Savigno and Apennine truffle grounds; shaved over tagliatelle and fried eggs.
Oct–Dec - New olive oil and cavolo nero
Winter vegetables and the cold-weather menu of bollito misto.
Nov–Feb
Eat it now
- CertosinoChristmas
Bologna's spiced honey, chocolate and candied fruit cake.
- Tortellini in brodoChristmas
The Christmas Day dish: tiny pork-filled tortellini in capon broth. Shops sell them by the kilo.
Dec–Jan - Bollito misto with salsa verde
Boiled meats from the cart, the winter Sunday lunch of the city.
Nov–Mar
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.