At the Sandrigo Festival, everyone gets their own cod.

From a shared cicchetto in the park of a villa to the gourmet experience of a gala dinner, cod changes shape, rhythm and ritual, maintaining its identity and convivial vocation . In Sandrigo , Bacco&Bacalà and the The Gran Galà del Bacalà introduces the 39th Vicentina-style Bacalà Festival , scheduled for September 17 to 28, 2026. Two different formats, demonstrating how a dish rooted in tradition can fit into both the contemporary languages of the aperitif and the more codified ones of the restaurant industry, showcasing an innate versatility and speaking to different audiences and generations .

The first event will be Bacco&Bacalà , on Saturday, August 29th, starting at 5:00 PM in the park of Villa Mascotto in Ancignano. The aperifestival , made possible thanks to the support of the Fondazione Banca Popolare di Marostica Volksbank, will offer stockfish in the light and informal form of a cicchetto, to be shared outdoors and accompanied by select wines and cocktails. The free service, the relaxed atmosphere of the aperitivo, and the opportunity to sample different preparations give cod a more immediate dimension , a food that fosters encounters and conviviality .

On Tuesday, September 15 , at 8:30 pm , the Gran Gala del Bacalà will offer a contrasting and complementary interpretation. The evening, dedicated to the theme "A Journey through the Europe of Stockfish and Cod ," will unfold through a seven-course menu created by the restaurant group of the Venerabile Confraternita del Bacalà alla Vicentina. The gastronomic journey will recall the historical event that gave rise to the relationship between the Veneto and the Lofoten Islands: departing from Candia in 1431, the Venetian merchant Pietro Querini was shipwrecked on the Norwegian island of Røst, where he discovered stockfish, cod naturally dried in the north winds. Upon his return home, he contributed to the spread of this food, which over time became part of Venetian cuisine and the main ingredient of bacalà alla Vicentina. 30 chefs , 35 waiters and 40 Knights of Bacalà will contribute to the evening; during the dinner the extraordinary investiture of the new Knights will also take place.

The two events are united by the PGI Lofoten Stockfish , used in all the Festival 's dishes and linked for centuries to the relationship between Veneto and Norway. Since 2022, Pro Sandrigo has collaborated with the Lofoten Stockfish Consortium to use the certified raw material during the event.

The calendar of events, which require reservations, also includes Riso…Ti Amo (Rice…I Love You ), scheduled for Monday, September 21st at 7:30 pm in the food area of the Festival . The evening will feature four interpretations of risotto, prepared by volunteers together with chefs from restaurants recommended by the Confraternita del Bacalà alla Vicentina (Vicenza-style Bacalà Brotherhood).

During the Vicenza-style Bacalà Festival , alongside food stands, there will be a rich program of music and local initiatives. The event is organized by Pro Sandrigo, with the patronage of the Veneto Region and the Municipality of Sandrigo, the support of the main sponsors BCC Veneta, the Consorzio Tørrfisk fra Lofoten, and Seafood from Norway, and the participation of the Confraternita del Bacalà alla Vicentina.

Full program, information, and reservations : www.festadelbaccala.com