A whole Italian piazza — food, wine, opera and a brass-loud main stage — packed inside South Africa's oldest colonial building for two days.
Early Bird closes 31 October. Book now and pay R150 Saturday, R120 Sunday.
Italy in Town moves into the Castle of Good Hope for the first time. Five bastions, two courtyards, a moat and a whole weekend of Italy — presented by the Italian South African Chamber of Trade and Industries together with the Consulate of Italy in Cape Town.
Wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta rolled in front of you, porchetta, arancini, cannoli and gelato — from vendors chosen for one thing only: whether it tastes like it should. Plus a Chefs' Stage running live demos across both days.
Spritz, negronis, Italian beer and espresso poured in the courtyard from open to close.
Kick-off 18:30 on the Saturday, live on the Main Stage screens in the First Courtyard. Pizza in one hand, Springboks on the other — then Dino Moran takes the stage again at 20:30 and the party runs to 22:00.
Thando performs on both days. Accordion opens each morning at 10:00.
An artisan market of Italian and Italian-inspired makers — ceramics, leather, deli goods, design, lifestyle and gifting well ahead of December.
It's a family festival, not a night out with a queue. Open from 10:00, run in daylight, in a walled venue with plenty of room to sit down and eat.
In celebration of World Pasta Day, a hands-on class with Italian Deli Online — learn to make pasta from scratch, eat well and meet people. Mangia, parla e divertiti.
The only event before the festival weekend. Ticketed separately from festival entry.
Same festival, new home. Here's the crowd, the food and the noise from the last edition — now moving into the Castle of Good Hope with a bigger site and a bigger programme.
One ticket, one day. Saturday is the longer programme and includes the rugby; Sunday is the relaxed one. Doing both days is easy — buy a Saturday and a Sunday ticket in the same Quicket checkout.
Tickets are valid only for the date selected at checkout. Food, drinks and separately ticketed experiences — including the wine tasting cards below — are not included in general admission. Programme details may change.
Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 November, inside the Castle of Good Hope. Three ways to go a little deeper on the day. Each is booked separately, with limited places per session.
There is something special about making pasta from scratch — flour on the table, fresh dough beneath your hands, good conversation and the simple pleasure of sharing food. It is a tradition passed down through generations, bringing people together around the table.
Join us at the Italy in Town Festival on 21 & 22 November 2026 at the Castle of Good Hope for a little taste of Italian tradition, in collaboration with Italian Deli Online.
Whether you are a passionate foodie or simply curious to learn something new, our pasta-making classes invite you to roll up your sleeves, discover the art of fresh pasta and enjoy a welcoming drink as you settle into the experience.
Come for the pasta, stay for the company, and experience the Italian tradition of bringing people together through good food and good conversation.
Part of the Italy in Town Festival — celebrating the flavours, culture and traditions that make Italy so special.
In Italy, a good pizza begins long before it comes out of the oven. It starts with simple ingredients, a little patience, a well-prepared dough and the knowledge passed down through generations. Most of all, it is about the pleasure of bringing people together around good food.
Join us at the Italy in Town Festival on 21 & 22 November 2026 at the Castle of Good Hope for an authentic Italian pizza-making experience, presented in collaboration with Italian Deli Online and guided by an Italian chef from Italy.
Discover the art of preparing pizza from scratch, learn a little about the traditions behind one of Italy's most beloved dishes, and enjoy the experience at an unhurried pace. You will be welcomed with a drink before getting hands-on and enjoying the simple pleasure of making something delicious.
Whether you grew up with a love for Italian food or are discovering it for the first time, this is an opportunity to share in a little of Italy's culinary heritage — one dough, one ingredient and one slice at a time.
Because in Italy, food is never just food. It is tradition, family and the joy of stare insieme — simply being together.
Part of the Italy in Town Festival — celebrating the flavours, traditions and spirit of Italy, right here in Cape Town.
An exceptional Italian experience awaits. Step into the VIP Experience Lounge at the Italy in Town Festival on 21 & 22 November at the Castle of Good Hope, where Italian culinary traditions, fine wine and the art of living well come together in an intimate and exclusive setting.
Reserved for just 30 guests per session, this is an opportunity to savour Italy in Town beyond the ordinary, with three exclusive experiences curated especially for our VIP guests:
Olive Oil and Cheese Experience by Rialto. Discover the flavours, craftsmanship and traditions behind some of Italy's finest culinary treasures.
Wine Masterclass by Vinotria. Explore the world of wine with our Wine Partners, Vinotria, in an engaging and memorable tasting experience, accompanied by bottomless Prosecco throughout your session.
Live Cooking Demonstration by Chef Giuliano of Monticello Farm. Experience Italian cuisine brought to life as Chef Giuliano shares his culinary craft and passion for authentic Italian flavours.
And because no Italian gathering is complete without something delicious to share, Rialto will provide a selection of snacks and refreshments throughout your experience. Each guest will also receive a curated gift bag, a little something to take home and remember the occasion by.
Beyond the tastings and demonstrations, the VIP Lounge offers a space to unwind in comfort, with a clear view of the entertainment stage and the opportunity to enjoy the live rugby screening. It is the perfect setting to relax, connect and take in the festival atmosphere while enjoying a little Italian indulgence.
Your VIP Experience includes
With limited seating available, guests are encouraged to secure their preferred session in advance.
Join us for an experience where exceptional flavours, Italian hospitality and the pleasure of good company take centre stage.
No sit-down class, no fixed seating time. You buy a card, then walk the festival and spend your tastings wherever you like — every participating wine vendor pours you one and marks the card off.
Four tastings, spent wherever you like. Your card is good for up to four wines from the participating vendors around the festival. Valid for one person.
Six tastings from the premium pours. An elevated selection — your card is good for up to six premium wines across the participating vendors. Valid for one person.
Read this before you book: a tasting card covers the tastings only. It does not include entry to Italy in Town 2026 — you'll need a festival entry ticket for the same day as well. Over-18s only, ID may be requested.
First Courtyard, both days. The Chefs' Stage runs its own live cooking schedule alongside this, and the Cape Town Culture Band roams the grounds off-stage.
Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company, it's the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa — a five-pointed bastion fort with a moat, two courtyards and walls thick enough to hold a festival inside. It sits on the edge of the Grand Parade, five minutes from Cape Town station.
Official Italy in Town 2026 layout plan. Layout may be adjusted before the event.
Join the Italy in Town list and we'll email you a code to use on Quicket, plus first word on programme drops, tasting cards and vendor reveals. One or two emails a month, nothing else.
We're inviting vendors to apply for Italy in Town 2026 at the Castle of Good Hope, 21–22 November 2026.
Stands from the last edition — producers, retailers, deli, drinks and everything in between.
This curated festival celebrates the very best of Italian culture, cuisine, craftsmanship, lifestyle and community, bringing together an exciting audience of food lovers, families, culture seekers and Italian lifestyle enthusiasts in the heart of Cape Town.
If your brand, product, food offering or experience aligns with the spirit of Italy, we invite you to be part of this vibrant celebration.
Download the vendor pack below. One PDF with everything you need: the event and schedule, the floorplan, vendor categories and fees, what each stand includes, add-ons — plus the application form, contract and terms.
Supporting documents required from approved vendors: Hawkers or Business Licence (all vendors), a current Certificate of Acceptability (food vendors), Gas COC if working with gas, Trailer Licence and trailer gas & electrical COC if applicable.
Information pack, floorplan, fees, application form, contract and terms — one 8-page PDF.
Download the vendor pack (PDF) Email the vendor team
Interested in partnering with Italy in Town 2026? Talk to the sponsorship team.
Early Bird pricing runs until 31 October — R150 on Saturday and R120 on Sunday. From 1 November it moves to R180 and R150, and the VIP Experience Lounge is R1 300 per person per session.
Book on QuicketWe use essential cookies to make the site work. With your permission we'd also like to set analytics and advertising cookies, so we can measure which adverts bring people to the festival. You can change your mind any time. Read our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
