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Cuneo’s calendar is built around food, with the chestnut fair as the headline event, plus a Christmas season that transforms the arcaded centre. Most festivals are free and held in the open squares, so they double as a reason to visit in the quieter months. This page is part of our complete Cuneo travel guide, and it gives the specific dates, locations and what to expect.
Cuneo Events: Fiera Nazionale del Marrone
The National Chestnut Fair is the biggest event of the year, held the third weekend of October (16 to 18 October in 2026) across the historic centre. It fills the main squares with growers, producers and craft stalls selling roasted chestnuts, chestnut-flour cakes, pasta, bread and liqueurs. Hours run 9:00 to 23:00 on Friday and Saturday and 9:00 to 21:00 on Sunday, entry is free, and it draws thousands of visitors, so book accommodation early. The fair is the practical reason our best time to visit Cuneo guide points to mid-October, and our Cuneo travel tips page covers getting there.
Cuneo Events: IllumiNatale
IllumiNatale runs from 6 December to 6 January and turns the centre into a Christmas market circuit with craft stalls in Via Roma, carriage rides, children’s workshops and an ice rink in Piazza Galimberti. The lights are switched on with an opening show in early December, and events continue through New Year and the Epiphany. It is free to wander and the most reliable reason to visit in an otherwise cold, foggy month. For the weather you would face, see our Cuneo weather by month breakdown.
Cuneo Events: The Tuesday Market
Every Tuesday morning, Piazza Galimberti fills with a large open-air market selling produce, cheese, cured meat and clothing. It is a weekly rather than annual event but the best free way to see the city at its most alive and to buy Piedmontese toma cheese and hazelnuts for less than shop prices. Arrive before 11:00 for the best selection, in the squares our Cuneo neighbourhoods guide walks through.
Cuneo Events: Patronal and Religious Dates
The city’s patronal celebrations centre on San Michele at the end of September, with a traditional fair and market weekend in the old town, while the Santuario della Madonna degli Angeli holds processions tied to the Marian calendar in spring and autumn. These are smaller, local affairs rather than tourist draws, but they are free and give you a look at daily Cuneo life.
Cuneo Events: Planning Around Them
Two events affect prices and availability: the Marrone fair weekend fills hotels fast, and IllumiNatale weekends bring regional visitors in December. Outside those, the city is quiet and rates drop. Pair an event with the right base using our where to stay in Cuneo guide, and fill the days between with our things to do in Cuneo list.
