What to do the weekend of 16–17 May 2026

The second weekend of May brings a rich programme across Novara and the VCO area: opera performances, art festivals, food fairs and outdoor events. Below is a selection of the main happenings with practical notes to help you plan.

Featured events

• Novara - Teatro Coccia: Rossini's L'Italiana in Algeri on stage (performances during the weekend).
• Spazio Nòva: A P È R T O Festival with installations, workshops and live performances throughout the weekend.
• Bimbimbici (Novara): the children's bike ride celebrates its 25th edition on Sunday with family activities.
• Bellinzago: Carbonara vs cacio e pepe, a festival dedicated to Roman cuisine with themed evenings.
• Cameri: Porchetta fair — three days focused on traditional dishes (porchetta, roasted ribs, gnocco fritto).
• Boca: opening of the 2026 Wine Exhibition.
• Cannobio (Lake Maggiore): regional market featuring typical local products.
• Borgomanero - Teatro Rosmini: AbbaShow, a tribute with choreography and costumes celebrating ABBA.
• Verbania: opening of the exhibition Stanze come mondi dedicated to architect Alessandro Mendini.
• Maggiora: villa Antonelli opens to the public and RX For All returns at the Maggiora Offroad Arena with an inclusive format.
• VCO: the second edition of the Slalom dell'Ossola and other motor and cultural events.
• Solidarity initiatives: Emergency Days stages in Bellinzago, Arona and Cavaglietto to support humanitarian projects.

Family activities

• Outdoor games and workshops at Villa Marazza (Borgomanero) for children.
• Reuse and swap events on via Sforzesca (Novara) and open days at the ENPA shelter.

Practical tips

Schedules and tickets: check official organiser channels for times, pricing and booking. Many outdoor events are free while theatre performances and exhibitions may require reservation.

Getting there: most events are reachable by car or local transport; expect restricted access in historic centres on event days.

Useful info: since events are spread across multiple municipalities, monitor weather updates and any organisational notices before you travel.