Malvasia returns to the spotlight in Settimo San Pietro , where the fifteenth edition of "Malavaxia – Malvasia Festival" will take place from October 16 to 18, 2026. For three days, the ancient Campidano houses, courtyards, and streets of the town will host a program that connects wine culture with gastronomy and local heritage.
"Malavaxia," says Chiara Fanni, Councilor for Culture and Popular Traditions for the Municipality of Settimo San Pietro , "is an important event for promoting the culture and popular traditions of our municipality. Malvasia is part of a heritage that includes knowledge, places, and customs linked to the history of our community. As an administration, we want to promote awareness and transmission of this knowledge to new generations. The opening of Campidano homes and magasinusu, along with events dedicated to traditional dress , gastronomy, and expressions of popular culture, offers the opportunity to share this heritage with residents and visitors."
The event is promoted by the Municipality of Settimo San Pietro , with the support of the Region and the Fondazione di Sardegna. It is Organized by the Association of Local Authorities for Cultural and Entertainment Activities . The town's associations will contribute to events dedicated to local flavors and hospitality in the magasinusu , offering visitors the opportunity to learn about Malvasia in traditional places.
The festival preview will open on Friday, October 16th at 5 pm at Casa Dessy , at Via Gramsci 81 , with the inauguration. At 5:30 pm , the “ Malvasia d’ eccellenza ” competition will begin, during which sommeliers, oenologists, and food and wine critics will taste the competing labels, evaluating their aromas, flavors, and balance.
At 8:30 pm , again at Casa Dessy, the Malvasia Cocktail Experience will take place, curated by Cristian Mura of Matilde Cocktails Emporium . The event will offer a meeting of tradition and creativity, through signature cocktails that interpret Malvasia in new combinations.
The highlight of the festival will be Saturday, October 17 , when the ancient Campidano houses and the magasinusu will open from 6 pm . The tasting trail will allow you to discover the different expressions of Malvasia inside the historic houses and courtyards, where food stands will also be set up with local specialties, curated by the Settimo San Pietro associations.
The city streets will host the " Local Flavors and Traditions Market," featuring typical products and artistic crafts. Children's entertainment is planned for 6 p.m. in Piazza Gramsci .
The evening will continue at 8.30pm with the Balla Sardigna group in the streets of the town and, at Casa Dessy , with the awards ceremony of the “ Malvasia d ' eccellenza” competition .
The program will be completed by the exhibition of sacred objects set up in the parish oratory of the Parish of San Pietro Apostolo , which can be visited from 3:30 pm to 11:30 pm . On Sunday, October 18 , the finals of the “ La Rete della Malvasia” table football tournament will open at 10 am , involving players of all ages. At 11 am , the Casa Ligas-Uda Ethnographic Museum , at Via Verdi 20 , will host a guided tour of the Museum of Traditional Dress. From 11 am to 4 pm, Via Gramsci will also host the gathering of vintage cars and motorcycles . At 1 pm it will be time for lunch in the magasinusu , based on typical local products and curated by local associations. The program will resume at 3 pm at Casa Dessy with the awards ceremony for the “ My Malvasia Festival” competition. At 5 pm , the Is Cerbus masks will parade through the city streets, while from 6:30 pm , in Via Gramsci , the closing will be entrusted to the show with Pippo Palmieri, directly from the "Zoo di 105" , and the party dedicated to the music of the 1990s and 2000s . On Sunday it will still be possible to visit the exhibition of sacred objects in the parish oratory, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm .
"With the Festival," says Mayor Gigi Puddu, "Settimo San Pietro invites the public to discover Malvasia through tastings, local cuisine, and the town: a journey that engages producers, associations, and communities around a shared heritage. The goal is to revitalize Malvasia by encouraging new plantings, with the hope of engaging young people in particular: in recent decades, the area planted with Malvasia has dwindled to just a few hectares. It needs to be revitalized with a concrete intervention plan."
RAFFAELE SERRELI
