The Novara and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (VCO) territories are hosting a dense schedule of festivals, concerts, exhibitions, and traditional fairs from August 7 to 9, 2026. According to local event calendars, the weekend features major regional highlights including the Orta Jazz Festival, Verbania’s Allegro con Brio, and Macugnaga’s Choco Moments.
The Cultural and Musical Hubs of Novara and Lake Maggiore
Urban centers and lakeside towns across the Novara area are packed with scheduled performances this weekend. In Novara, the Estate Novarese program continues alongside the ongoing superhero exhibition hosted at the Castello. Just a short trip away, Orta San Giulio is running its Orta Jazz Festival with music in the piazza.
Music lovers have multiple options scattered across the lakefront. Arona is hosting the latest iteration of the Ferragosto di Dagnente festival alongside a classical performance at Villa Usellini as part of the LagoMaggioreMusica circuit. Meanwhile, Dormelletto brings performing arts to the waterfront with a Lakescapes theatrical staging titled Sherlock Holmes: l’ultima avventura, and Colazza holds the third appointment of its regional organ itinerary series on Sunday.
Festivals and Historic Celebrations in the VCO Territory
Across the VCO area, Verbania is deep into its 2026 Allegro con Brio classical music festival, which intersects this weekend with the town’s Notte Bianca. Artisanal food production takes center stage in Macugnaga with the return of the Choco Moments chocolate festival.
Traditional and niche cultural gatherings anchor the mountain valleys. Domodossola maintains its public exhibition schedule with the ongoing Ornamenta display. Val Vigezzo hosts the patronal festival of Buttogno, while neighboring Santa Maria Maggiore presents its Musica da Bere cultural series. Comic art fans are catered to in Malesco via the Malescomics festival, and guitar enthusiasts can catch events at the Ossola Guitar Festival in Ornavasso and the SandoMusic Festival at San Domenico di Varzo.
Local Fairs, Wine Nights, and Community Gatherings
Community celebrations and food-and-wine events form the backbone of the weekend’s rural calendar. Fontaneto d’Agogna runs its Festa di Sant’Alessandro, Barengo preserves its Festa della Madonna della neve, and Vaprio d’Agogna holds its evening social series San Lorenzo sotto le stelle.
Grignasco contributes to the holiday buildup with its Aspettando il Ferragosto programming, highlighted by the dedicated wine celebration Le Notti del Vino on Saturday night. Divignano continues its local community rivalry events with the ongoing Palio dei rioni, and Agrate Conturbia opens the gates of the La Torbiera park for a specialized nocturnal wildlife visit.
