Every year, across the June weekends, the small village of Breme becomes a landmark for lovers of food and wine culture, local tradition and authentic tourism in the province of Pavia. The 44th edition of the Sagra della Cipolla Rossa di Breme — the Red Onion Festival of Breme — is scheduled for the weekends of 12–13–14 and 19–20–21 June 2026, celebrating one of Lomellina’s most emblematic agricultural products: the Breme red onion, a recognised Slow Food Presidium and holder of the De.C.O. mark (Denominazione Comunale di Origine, or Municipal Designation of Origin).

The festival takes place in Breme, a municipality in the province of Pavia set in Lomellina along the banks of the River Po. The event is organised by the Associazione Produttori della Cipolla Rossa di Breme and is held entirely under cover, ensuring full accessibility even in the event of adverse weather conditions.

The Breme red onion is a local variety cultivated for centuries in the fields of the Lomellina-Pavia countryside. Its defining quality — a sweet, delicate flavour that sets it apart from common red onions — has made it the centrepiece of a refined popular cuisine, capable of featuring in every course from starter to dessert. Its recognition as a Slow Food Presidium reflects both its gastronomic value and the importance of protecting an irreplaceable agricultural biodiversity.

The festival is the most direct opportunity to meet local producers, purchase fresh onions or their processed derivatives, and immerse oneself in a farming tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation.

Traditional Dining

At the heart of the event is the restaurant service: a menu entirely built around the red onion guides visitors through a gastronomic journey that begins with the starters — including the celebrated salam d’la duja, a cured salami preserved in fat — and continues with first courses such as onion soup, pasta with onion sauce, and tripe. Main courses include the onion frittata, a mixed grill, and donkey stew with polenta. The side dishes feature the typical Breme salads: Insalata alla Bertin with raw onion and anchovies, and Insalata alla Bremese with tuna and beans. To round off the meal, artisan tarts are on offer, while just steps away from the festival site, Bar Mafalda serves its signature onion ice cream.

The accompanying wines come from the Monferrato area: Barbera d’Asti, sparkling Barbera del Monferrato, IGT Chardonnay, Grignolino and sparkling Rosato complete a food and wine offer that is fully in keeping with the spirit of the territory.

The restaurant service is available on Fridays and Saturdays for dinner only (7:15 pm to 11:00 pm), while on Sundays the kitchen is open for both lunch (12:00 pm to 2:30 pm) and dinner (7:15 pm to 11:00 pm). Payments are accepted in cash only; a Postamat ATM is available in Piazza Marconi.

Red Onion and Processed Products: Direct Sales

Within the festival area, a dedicated space is set up for the direct sale of fresh red onions and their derived products. On Saturdays, sales begin from 10:00 am; on Sundays, they continue until stocks run out. After 22 June, onions can be purchased by contacting the producers directly through the listing available on the official website cipollarossabreme.it.

Cultural Events and Guided Visits

The festival extends well beyond the dining experience. Each weekend is enriched with cultural and entertainment initiatives. On Saturdays and Sundays, a craft and hobby market is in operation, while free self-guided visits to Breme’s historic monuments are available daily from 10:00 am to 9:30 pm. On Sundays, a guided tour departs at 3:00 pm (booking recommended by calling 328 7816360). At the Sala Polifunzionale in Via Po 20, visitors can explore a photographic exhibition entitled “Abbeys, Castles and Towers of Lomellina”, curated by the Ecomuseo del Paesaggio Lomellino and the Frascarolo Photography Club. For younger visitors, a funfair in Piazza della Fiera provides entertainment for the whole family.

Breme is a village of remarkable historical and landscape appeal, home to one of the oldest Benedictine abbeys in the Po Valley. Situated at the heart of Lomellina, this corner of the province of Pavia offers rice field scenery, the gentle flow of the Po and a timeless atmosphere, ideal for those seeking slow, authentic experiences away from more crowded destinations.

Visiting Breme during the festival means taking home far more than an onion: it means carrying away a fragment of agricultural and cultural history that belongs to the deepest identity of the Pavia territory. An event worth marking on the calendar for anyone looking for things to do in the province of Pavia during the June weekends, living one of the most eagerly awaited food and wine events in all of Lomellina.

When: 12, 13, 14 June 2026 and 19, 20, 21 June 2026

Where: Breme (PV), Lomellina — fully covered festival area

Dining hours: Friday and Saturday: dinner from 7:15 pm • Sunday: lunch 12:00–2:30 pm, dinner 7:15–11:00 pm

Onion sales: Saturday from 10:00 am • Sunday from 10:00 am until stocks run out

Payments: Cash only (Postamat ATM in Piazza Marconi)

Accessibility: Visitors with mobility difficulties: book 2 days in advance by calling 328 7816360

Guided tours: Sunday at 3:00 pm – booking required: 328 7816360

Official website: www.cipollarossabreme.it

Contact: info@cipollarossabreme.it • Tel. +39 328 7816360

Entry to the festival is free of charge. No reservation is required for the restaurant service: visitors purchase their courses directly at the counters inside the area, with separate queues for food and drinks. For larger groups, it is advisable to plan orders in advance: one or two people handle the ordering while the rest of the group secures seating. Courses are served at the table within approximately 15 to 20 minutes.

Breme is best reached by private car. The village is easily accessible from the main towns of Lomellina and from Pavia, approximately 50 kilometres away. Directions are available through the official website of the Municipality of Breme at https://comune.breme.pv.it/

Do not miss the 44th Red Onion Festival of Breme: an authentic experience among ancient flavours, Lomellina landscapes and the genuine warmth of a community proud of its roots. An event worth travelling for, to discover or rediscover one of the most evocative villages in the province of Pavia.