On June 13 and 14, 2026, Vallo di Nera, the only Cheese City in Umbria, hosts Fior di Cacio, an event that celebrates artisanal cheese-making traditions with the support of Slow Food and a rich cultural and gastronomic program.
In the evocative setting of the medieval castle of Vallo di Nera, in Umbria, on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 2026, the 22nd edition of Fior di Cacio will take place, an event dedicated to high-quality artisanal cheese production. Recognized by ONAF as the only Cheese City in Umbria, Vallo di Nera thus becomes a national reference point for the dairy sector.
This year, the event marks an important turning point thanks to a strategic collaboration between Slow Food and the Umbria Chamber of Commerce. In the absence of the 2026 edition of Cheese in Bra, Fior di Cacio positions itself as a privileged stage for Italian biodiversity and pastoral art, hosting not only Umbrian excellences but also Slow Food Presidia producers from various Italian regions.
The Slow Food Presidia Village will be the main novelty, offering visitors the chance to taste niche cheeses at risk of extinction, accompanied by workshops and guided tours curated by Slow Food Umbria experts.
The event, organized by the Municipality of Vallo di Nera, aims to enhance Umbrian cheese productions and the figure of the shepherd, emphasizing the environmental, social, and economic importance of the Valnerina pastures, rich in floral variety that imparts unique aromas to the cheeses.
The program includes a market exhibition in the village streets with tastings and sales of typical products such as raw milk pecorino and salted ricotta from Valnerina. On Saturday, June 13, the conference “Pastures, products, and innovation: experiences and development models compared” will take place, with round tables dedicated to territorial development and the regional dairy supply chain, followed by a roaming workshop among the stands.
Among public initiatives are “La Formaggissima in 3P,” a tasting march of prosciutto, bread, and cooked pecorino, and “The Thousand Weddings of Cheese,” a multisensory path guided by ONAF master tasters with pairings of Umbrian wines. Practical workshops will demonstrate the processing of primo sale and mozzarella spinning with tasting.
On Sunday, June 14, the traditional “maxi Ricotta di Fior di Cacio” will take place, an 80 kg form transported to the square on an Ape and distributed free to participants, accompanied by the parade of the Knights of the Set Table.
Beyond gastronomic experiences, the event offers outdoor activities such as rafting on the Nera river, excursions on the Valnerina trails, trekking on Transhumance paths, donkey walks, theater performances, workshops for children, folk music concerts, street artists, and the traditional Cheese Ruzzolone Race. On Sunday, the street art event “Finestrelle colorate” will also be held, decorating service meter doors.
Fior di Cacio 2026 is realized with the contribution of regional and national bodies, with the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture and the collaboration of the Pro Loco of Vallo di Nera, ONAF, and Slow Food Umbria. The event thus confirms itself as a cultural and territorial laboratory that unites tradition, innovation, and sustainability, projecting Umbria to the center of the national taste scene.
