If you are in Turin today or tomorrow, you have one more day to walk through one of Italy’s most significant food events of 2026. Terra Madre Salone del Gusto runs until 28 September in Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello, bringing together more than 600 food producers from across Italy and 90 countries.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Slow Food movement, and the event carries the theme of food policy — focusing on how production, distribution, and choice shape communities and ecosystems. It is the biennial edition of the event, which alternates between years.
What Terra Madre Is
Terra Madre Salone del Gusto is a combined trade fair, public market, and cultural festival organised by Slow Food, the movement founded in Piedmont by Carlo Petrini in 1986. The event brings together small-scale food producers, chefs, researchers, and food advocates alongside the general public.
Entry to the outdoor areas in the piazzas is free. A paid ticket (around €15) gives access to ticketed tastings and talks inside the main conference spaces.
What to Expect in the Piazzas
The event spans both Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello, Turin’s two main central squares, connected by Via Roma. Each piazza hosts a mix of market stalls and tasting stations.
At the stalls you will find:
- Presidia products — rare or endangered food varieties that Slow Food protects through its producer network
- Regional Italian producers from Piedmont, Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria, and beyond
- International producers from countries across Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia
- Wine and craft spirits from small-batch producers
- Street food from Piedmontese and Italian regional traditions
The market area is the most accessible part of the event — you can walk through, taste, and buy directly from producers without any ticket. For scheduled tastings and the congress programme (which includes speakers on food policy, agroecology, and supply chains), booking in advance through the Slow Food website is recommended.
Turin as a Food City
The event suits Turin’s culinary identity well. Piedmont is home to truffle country (Alba is an hour away), the Barolo and Barbaresco wine appellations, and a regional cuisine built around slow-cooked meat dishes, fresh egg pasta, and gianduia chocolate. Turin itself is considered the birthplace of Italian chocolate culture.
Beyond Terra Madre, the city rewards time spent outside the main tourist circuit. The Egyptian Museum and Museo Nazionale del Cinema are among Italy’s best specialised museums. The Porta Palazzo market — one of Europe’s largest open-air food markets — runs on weekday mornings and Saturday.
Getting to Turin
Turin is well-connected by rail. The high-speed Frecciarossa and Frecciargento services run from Milan Centrale in about 45 minutes. From Rome, direct high-speed services take around 4.5 hours. Turin Porta Nuova station drops you within a 15-minute walk of both piazzas.
By air: Turin Caselle Airport (TRN) serves several European hubs, though connections are limited compared to Milan. Many visitors combine a Turin visit with arrivals into Milan Malpensa, with direct bus services between the airports.
Visiting After Terra Madre
If you are in northern Italy this week but cannot reach Turin before the event closes on 28 September, the Piedmont region has much to offer in the weeks ahead. October marks the start of the white truffle season around Alba (the famous truffle fair runs through November) and the harvest in the Barolo and Asti wine appellations.
For food-focused itinerary ideas across Italy, see our Italy food guide and Italy itineraries for multi-city routes through the north.
Source: Slow Food Terra Madre official programme; 10times.com, September 2026.