Festa Italiana at Cathedral Gardens

Manchester’s most joyous summer celebration is back. From Friday 22 to Sunday 24 August 2025, Festa Italiana returns to Cathedral Gardens for its eighth edition.

Hosted – as ever – by Salvi’s, this free-entry, family-friendly festival transforms the city into a bustling Italian piazza packed with food, drink, music, and culture.

Now the UK’s biggest Italian festival, Festa Italiana welcomed over 40,000 visitors last year. For 2025, organisers promise an even more memorable lineup with star chefs, award-winning food, live music and more across three (hopefully) sun-soaked days.

Two giants of Italian cuisine, Mutti and Garofalo, have been announced as headline partners. There’ll be giveaways, surprises, and Mutti’s own demo tent showcasing the power of Italian tomatoes in classic dishes. At the heart of the action is the Demo Tent, free to all, where celebrity chefs Gennaro Contaldo, Giuseppe Dell’Anno, Francesco Mattana, Carmela Sereno Hayes, Sofia Gallo and more will cook live. New for 2025 is Festa della Donna, a Friday programme celebrating female chefs, including Manchester’s own Jonny Mulyk.

Salvi’s will launch its own Limoncello at the festival, complete with a brand-new Limoncello Garden serving spritzes throughout the weekend. Traders such as Pasta Factory, Rizzo’s, Proove and Conni’s return alongside exciting newcomers, while the Piccolo Mercato Italiano brings together artisanal producers and independent brands. Expect pizza, handmade pasta, cannoli, gelato and more – washed down with prosecco and Aperol spritz, naturally.

Music keeps the festa alive from start to finish, from traditional folk to modern party anthems. Highlights include the opening parade on Friday, the Viva la Cucina event on Saturday night, and hands-on workshops across the weekend.

Food is the heart of Festa Italiana. Expect a mouth-watering mix of Neapolitan pizza, handmade pasta, cannoli, gelato, spritz, and more from Italy’s best producers and UK-based Italian traders. The Piccolo Mercato Italiano is new for 2025 – a vibrant mini market showcasing the finest artisanal goods, ideal for discovering authentic flavours and craftsmanship.

The 2025 music lineup covers everything from traditional folk to modern party anthems – Cathedral Gardens will be home to Napoli-style partying all weekend long.

Weekend Highlights: 

Opening Parade: A spectacular musical procession kicks things off on Friday, tracing the festival’s roots back to the original Salvi’s in the Corn Exchange

Festa Italiana Della Donna: A celebration of Italy’s female culinary talent

Viva la Cucina: Saturday night cooking classes with celebrity chefs

Hands-On Experiences: Sip through the Aperitivo Bar, cool off in the Limoncello Garden, or roll pasta at a workshop

“Festa Italiana is so much more than a food festival,” says Cecco. “It’s everything I love about my culture – the passion, the flavour, the music, the chaos! And 2025 will be the best yet.”