Polenta Festival in Bellante
Six November evenings in the old town of this hill village near Teramo, with polenta, sausage and pork ribs, roast chestnuts and new wine
By Salvatore Giuliano Published Updated
The story
In Bellante, a hilltop village in the province of Teramo, November smells of polenta. From Tuesday 10 to Sunday 15 November 2026 the local Pro Loco, the village tourist association, brings the 17th Sagra della Polenta to Bellante Paese, the old town at the top of the hill. The kitchens open every evening at 7pm, and on Sunday at lunchtime too, in a heated dining area with table service. As the poster points out, the festival is a fundraiser for the Pro Loco's activities, backed by the Comune di Bellante, the BIM Teramo consortium and UNPLI Abruzzo, the regional federation of Pro Loco associations.
The festival was born in 2010 and within a few years became one of the fixtures of autumn around Teramo. In 2017, for the eighth edition, the organisers put up a covered, heated structure in the village's main square; in 2022 the thirteenth edition was held entirely indoors at the Pro Loco's premises on Piazza Mazzini. Behind the stoves are the Pro Loco volunteers and the village cooks, who make the polenta the traditional Bellante way.
The signature dish is polenta rossa, cornmeal polenta topped with a tomato sauce of sausage and pork ribs. The 2026 poster also lists two white versions, one with mushrooms and pancetta and one with mushrooms only. The rest of the menu is classic Abruzzo autumn festival fare, from arrosticini, the region's lamb skewers, to fried cheese, all the way to roast chestnuts with vino novello, the season's new wine. Bellante, which also holds a snail festival in summer, fills its medieval village with diners for the week.
Schedule
- The 17th Polenta Festival opens: kitchens open from 7pm in a heated dining area with table service, every evening through Sunday 15th
- Final day: on Sunday the festival also opens for lunch, as well as in the evening from 7pm
What to eat
The star is polenta rossa with a sauce of sausage and pork ribs, made the way Bellante's home cooks have always made it. If you'd like something milder, there's white polenta with mushrooms and pancetta, or with mushrooms only.
The 2026 menu also includes arrosticini (lamb skewers), fried cheese, sausage sandwiches, fries and frittelle, little fried dough fritters; to finish, roast chestnuts and vino novello, just as the season demands.
Local tips
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Parking
The festival is in the old town at the top of the hill, where space is limited. The poster announces a shuttle bus service but gives no stops or times, so call the Pro Loco number on the poster before you set off.
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Payments
Card payments are accepted, as stated on the poster.
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Crowds and timing
The kitchens open at 7pm every evening; on Sunday the festival is also open for lunch, the best option if you're travelling from further afield or with children.
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What to wear
You eat in a heated space, but mid-November evenings in the hills are cold: bring a jacket for the walk and for a wander around the old village.
Weather forecast
Data: Open-Meteo
Getting there
The festival is in Bellante Paese, the old town on top of the hill. Abruzzo Airport in Pescara is about 55 km and just over 40 minutes' drive away; the poster also mentions a shuttle bus service.
Things to do this weekend in Abruzzo →
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 Polenta Festival in Bellante?
From Tuesday 10 to Sunday 15 November 2026, every evening with the kitchens opening at 7pm; on Sunday it's also open for lunch.
Where does the festival take place?
In Bellante Paese, the old town of Bellante, in the province of Teramo. In recent years it has been held indoors at the Pro Loco's premises on Piazza Mazzini.
What food is served?
Polenta with sausage and pork rib sauce, white polenta with mushrooms and pancetta or with mushrooms only, plus arrosticini, fried cheese, sausage sandwiches, fries, fritters, roast chestnuts and vino novello.
Can I pay by card?
Yes: the poster says card payments are accepted.
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