The 20 New Venice Italian Festival It starts this Thursday (28) and runs until Sunday (31) in the city of Goiás considered the largest Italian colony in the Midwest. With the theme “Brindiamo Storia e Sapori” (Celebrating History and Flavors)The commemorative edition focuses on experiences linked to wine and the memory of... Italian immigration in Goiás.
The festival takes place in Nova Veneza, a municipality 29 kilometers from Goiânia, where Italian immigrants arrived around 1912. In 2025, the event broke its historical attendance record, receiving approximately 150.000 people over four days.
The highlight: the grape stomping.
The most anticipated novelty of this edition is the grape stomping, a traditional winemaking practice brought to Brazil by Italian immigrants. Italian-Brazilian Folkloric Group will stage the entire harvesting and treading process for the public — on Friday (May 28th) at 7 pm; on Saturday (May 30th) at 11 am and 7 pm; and on Sunday (May 31st) at 11 am. At the end of each performance, there will be a raffle: and whoever wins will get to experience the practice alongside the dancers.
“Bringing the practice of grape treading to the festival this year adds an even deeper connection to our immigrants to the program,” said Maria do Carmo Basílio, general coordinator of the event.
Grape treading originated in antiquity as an essential part of wine production. The method consists of gathering the grapes in wooden or stone tanks and treading them rhythmically for about two hours, separating the juice from the skins. Despite modern fermentation technologies, the practice persists because the human foot, unlike mechanical presses, does not break the grape seeds—thus preventing the release of undesirable bitter elements in the wine.
Exclusive limited edition wine
Another new feature of the 20th edition is... Venice 1924 Cabernet Sauvignon, wine produced especially for the festival in Serra GauchaThe drink is a limited edition and will be available for purchase during the event.
20 editions and cultural heritage
The Italian Festival of Nova Veneza was recognized in 2021 as an intangible cultural heritage of Goiás by... Government of the State of GoiásOver two decades, it has established itself as the largest festival of its kind in the Midwest, bringing together typical cuisine prepared by dozens of cooks in the "Grandma's Kitchen," artistic performances about the history of immigration, Italian music, and wine tasting.
Entry is open to the public.
The big shows of the edition
The musical lineup for this edition brings together names from different styles across four nights of festivities. On Thursday (28), the official opening features singer Leonardo as the main attraction. On Friday (29), the stage welcomes singer Laura Dalmás, a reference in music typically Italian in Rio Grande do Sul, and the Versatto Band, from Goiás.
Saturday (30) is the busiest day: at lunch, singer Valdir Amaral performs in Italian, followed by Banda Cavatappi (RS) and the Tenores de Nova Veneza. In the evening, the highlight is singer Tony Angeli, one of the biggest names in Italian music in Brazil, followed by the Carnavale di Venezia Masked Ball with Ana Paula Drigo and Banda Brizza.
On Sunday (31), the closing will be by Naiara Azevedo, with the traditional Panelaço and another presentation by the Italian-Brazilian Folkloric Group of SC before the main show.
PROGRAM — 20th Italian Festival of Nova Veneza (GO)
28 to 31 May 2026
May 28th — Thursday
19 PM — Holy Mass at Ranchão Decolores — Downtown Nova Veneza
19 PM — Dinner at Cantina da Nonna — Praça da Matriz
20:30 PM — Official opening on the main stage
21:30 PM — Local Cultural, Musical, and Artistic Performances
22 PM — Show with the singer Leonardo
02 PM — Closing
May 29th — Friday
18 PM — Bocce Game Championship — Qualifying Round
19 PM — Dinner at Cantina da Nonna — Praça da Matriz
19 PM — Local Cultural, Musical, and Artistic Performances + Italian-Brazilian Folkloric Group from SC + Grape Stomping (second stage)
21 PM — Performance by the Amici di Venezia Choir
21:30 PM — A typically Italian show with singer Laura Dalmás (RS)
23:30 pm — Show with Banda Versatto (GO)
02 PM — Closing
May 30th — Saturday · Lunch
11:00 AM — Lunch at Cantina da Nonna — Praça da Matriz
11 PM — Local Cultural, Musical, and Artistic Performances + Italian-Brazilian Folkloric Group from SC + Grape Stomping (second stage)
12pm — Italian-language show with singer Valdir Amaral
13 PM — Bocce Game Championship — Qualifying Round
13:30 PM — A typically Italian performance by the Cavatappi Band (RS)
16 PM — Show with the Tenors of Nova Veneza — Weber Rosa and Alex
May 30th — Saturday · Dinner
19 PM — Dinner at Cantina da Nonna — Praça da Matriz
19 PM — Local Cultural, Musical, and Artistic Performances + Italian-Brazilian Folkloric Group from SC + Grape Stomping (second stage)
20 PM — Show with the Italian singer Tony Angeli
22pm — Carnavale di Venezia — Masquerade Ball with Ana Paula Drigo
23:30 PM — Show with the Brizza Band
02 PM — Closing
May 31st — Sunday
8:00 AM — Bocce Game Championship — Semifinal and Final Phase
11:00 AM — Lunch at Cantina da Nonna — Praça da Matriz
11 PM — Local Cultural, Musical, and Artistic Performances + Italian-Brazilian Folkloric Group from SC + Grape Stomping (second stage)
13:30 PM — Show with the Santa Fé Band
15:30 PM — Show with the Tenors of Nova Veneza — Weber Rosa and Alex
17 PM — Show featuring the traditional Panelaço (a type of Brazilian street food stall).
18 PM — Performance by the Italian-Brazilian Folkloric Group of SC
19:30 PM — Show with Naiara Azevedo
22 PM — Closing
FOLLOW ITALIANISM
