From Gragnano to the world: pasta as a universal language

The meeting between centuries-old tradition and world cultures

There are paths that lead to distant horizons and others that lead back to the point of origin. The history of pasta belongs to both directions. Over the years, it has crossed borders, encountered new ingredients, and learned different languages, while maintaining an unbreakable bond with Gragnano, its recognized capital. From September 11 to 13, 2026, the Campanian town reaffirms its role as an international crossroads by hosting the new edition of "Gragnano City of Pasta," an event promoted by the Consortium for the Protection of Gragnano Pasta PGI together with the Municipality and the Campania Region. The theme chosen for 2026, "MONDOPASTA! Pasta in the World. The World in Pasta," encapsulates a dynamic of mutual exchange: while Italian excellence has conquered international tables, global cultures have embraced and reinterpreted it. In collaboration with the Food Anthropology Laboratory, the event will transform this concept into a tasting experience, offering innovative pairings at dedicated stands and during cooking demonstrations at the Pasta Hub. The public will thus be able to discover evocative pairings, such as Vesuvius with Indian-inspired Dahl, Pacchero with Senegalese ragù, or Yakisoba prepared with Gragnano PGI Spaghetti, accompanied by the great products of the Italian Protection Consortia that are partners in the initiative.

Identity, art and recognition of excellence

The official opening of the event, on Friday, September 11, will feature two events of particular cultural and institutional importance. At 6:30 PM, the "Gragnano City of Pasta 2026" Cultural Award will be presented to Lina Sastri, an artist who has brought Neapolitan tradition to international stages while maintaining an authentic expressive style. The physical recognition presented to the actress will be a contemporary artwork created by sculptor Domenico Sepe, inspired by the 6th-century BC clay mermaid-shaped ointment jar discovered in the Necropolis of Via dei Pastai. The evening will continue at 8:00 PM with a musical performance by Sastri herself, accompanied by Claudio Romano on guitar and Gianluca Mirra on percussion. Also on September 11, at 7:45 PM, the presentation of the ordinary stamp dedicated to Gragnano PGI Pasta, issued by the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy in conjunction with Poste Italiane, will take place. To actively engage visitors in exploring the philatelic and gastronomic circuit, the "Pastaporto" will be distributed, a fun travel document to be completed with stamps from the various countries present to obtain discounts and freebies at the official store.

Meetings, historical itineraries and widespread entertainment

In addition to the tasting experience, the event will include theoretical discussions at the Pasta Hub in Piazza Aldo Moro, hosted by RAI journalist Monica Caradonna. Among the various events scheduled for the weekend, a standout is the inaugural roundtable discussion featuring Guardian journalist Rachel Roddy, food historian Luca Cesari, journalist Giulia Mancini, and Lina Sastri. The debate will continue over the following days, addressing the presence of Italian excellence abroad and the value of cultural exchange, with the awarding of a scholarship sponsored by the Consortium to the Intercultura organization. The MONDOPASTA! experience will also extend to the city's architecture and landscape thanks to the Open Pasta Factories initiative and FAI-led tours of the historic Valle dei Mulini. The three-day festival will be led by artistic director Gabriele Saurio, who will transform the streets into a vibrant stage, enlivened by the rhythms of the World Music Stage, including Afrobeat, Latin, reggae, Balkan, and city pop sounds, complemented by traveling performances by marching bands, percussionists, and street artists.