What Is TOP Festival, and When Is It Held?

TOP Festival is Cortona's annual food-and-wine festival celebrating local Territory, Origins and Products (the acronym behind the name). The 2026 edition ran over the weekend of 18–20 September, turning Via Nazionale, Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza Signorelli into a connected route through local food, wine, music and conversation.

During the weekend, the acronym became something more tangible: the taste of wine made a few kilometres away, the voice of a producer explaining a family recipe, and the simple pleasure of meeting in streets that still function as Cortona's shared living room.

The second edition was promoted by Confcommercio Firenze-Arezzo and the Municipality of Cortona, and curated by Marco Talladira.

Why This Festival Matters for International Residents and Visitors

This is what makes the event especially meaningful for international residents and visitors. The festival does not present the territory as a postcard. It opens the door to the relationships, routines and small producers that make life here feel rooted.

Three Letters, One Local Identity

Territory means more than landscape. It is the network connecting vineyards, olive groves, farms, shops, restaurants and homes. At TOP Festival, that network became visible in the heart of town.

Origins are not treated as nostalgia. They are traditions that continue to evolve: local ingredients presented by a new generation, historic piazzas animated by contemporary music, and recipes shared with people who may have arrived from another country but have chosen Cortona as part of their own story.

Products are the most immediate way to understand the place. Cortona DOC wines, extra-virgin olive oil, honey, cheeses, aglione and other local specialities tell us about climate, seasons, craftsmanship and patience. Buying them locally also keeps value within the community.

"The real luxury of Cortona is not simply the view. It is knowing where the wine comes from, recognising the person behind the counter and feeling that the piazza belongs to everyday life."

The weekend began on Friday evening with the TOP Dinner: a long table under the stars along Via Nazionale, preceded by a welcome aperitivo in Piazza della Repubblica. The menu brought together Chianina beef, local vegetables, cheeses and Syrah, paired with wines from the Consorzio Vini Cortona.

On Saturday, the Grape Dinner Party in Piazza Signorelli celebrated the 2026 harvest. Across Saturday and Sunday, the historic centre became a widespread festival: wine and growers in Piazza Signorelli; spirits, bitters and cocktails in Piazza della Repubblica; and a market route of local excellence through the streets. Restaurants, bars and shops joined with special menus, dedicated drinks and extended opening hours.

Why Does This Matter When Choosing a Home in Cortona?

For someone considering a second home, relocation or investment, events such as TOP Festival reveal something property photographs cannot show: the quality of the life around the property.

A home in the historic centre places you within walking distance of the piazzas, shops and social life. A farmhouse in the surrounding countryside offers another connection: vineyards, olive groves and producers may be your neighbours. In both cases, living in Cortona means moving naturally between privacy and community.

The festival also demonstrates why Cortona remains attractive beyond the peak summer season. September brings the harvest, softer light and a more relaxed rhythm, while the calendar continues to create reasons to meet, return and participate. For owners who spend only part of the year here, these moments help a second house become a genuine home.

Living Cortona, Not Simply Visiting It

TOP Festival captures the promise that draws many people to this part of Tuscany: beauty with substance. The architecture is extraordinary, but it is the living community — producers, restaurateurs, shopkeepers, neighbours and newcomers — that gives the town its lasting character.

At Cortona International, our role is not only to introduce properties. It is to help clients understand where and how they want to live: inside the energy of the historic centre, among the vineyards and olive groves, or in a village where local life unfolds at a slower pace.

Because the right home is not only the one with the right rooms or view. It is the one that gives you a meaningful place in the territory.

Frequently Asked Questions About TOP Festival

When is TOP Festival held?

TOP Festival takes place each September in Cortona. The 2026 edition ran from 18 to 20 September, with the TOP Dinner on 18 September and the main festival on 19–20 September.

Where does TOP Festival take place?

The festival is held in the historic centre of Cortona, across Via Nazionale, Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza Signorelli.

What can visitors do at TOP Festival?

Visitors can taste Cortona DOC wines, local olive oil, honey and cheeses, join wine and grower events in Piazza Signorelli, sample spirits and cocktails in Piazza della Repubblica, and eat at restaurants offering special festival menus.

Who organizes TOP Festival?

TOP Festival is promoted by Confcommercio Firenze-Arezzo and the Municipality of Cortona, and curated by Marco Talladira.