Now in its 33rd edition, the São Caetano Italian Festival takes place on weekends in August in the Fundação neighborhood. With free admission, one of the main events celebrating Italian heritage in São Paulo offers a wide range of concerts and traditional cuisine.
With support from the Social Solidarity Fund and the Department of Culture, all proceeds from the festival will go toward sustaining the work of local social organizations. The event is also sponsored by the city government, which has invested approximately R$ 2.5 million in the infrastructure. In addition, it supports efforts to secure sponsors for the donation of supplies.
In fact, in 2026, six new organizations will join the festival, including APAE (Association of Parents and Friends of People with Special Needs), the PAAUV Institute, and community centers that provide support for families.
What to expect from the 33rd São Caetano Italian Festival?
This year, the festival is revamping its set design and is featuring a space inspired by a traditional European village to further enhance the visitor’s immersive experience. In addition, the festival will have approximately 900 volunteers to staff the 35 food stalls.
All of this is to accommodate the crowd, which is expected to exceed the approximately 156,000 visitors from the previous edition.
A major highlight of the event, the circuit celebrating Italian cuisine in São Paulo features a variety of recipes unique to each participating organization. The menu is packed with pasta, fried foods, and breads, as well as traditional drinks and desserts.
Classics such as spaghetti, polenta, focaccia, gnocchi, fogazza, cannoli, and pizza are must-haves and are the main highlights of the menu. Traditional sweets like “palha italiana” are also part of the festival’s culinary offerings.
While savoring the hearty food, visitors can also enjoy Italian and European music performances. The event features traditional dance performances and theatrical presentations, bringing a piece of Italy to the Fundação neighborhood.
A regular fixture since the first edition, Fred Rovella will be performing once again with a repertoire full of Italian songs, entertaining the crowd every weekend of the event.
Make plans to go!
The Italian Festival of São Caetano do Sul takes place on the weekends from August 8 to 30, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturdays and until 10:00 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is free, and the event is open to the whole family.
The festival takes place at Treviso Provincial Park and the area surrounding the São Caetano Parish (Matriz Velha) in the Fundação neighborhood of São Caetano do Sul. Due to limited parking availability in the immediate vicinity, attendees are advised to use public transportation or ride-hailing apps.
