Made in Malga 2026: Asiago celebrates mountain cheeses over two September weekends

September is one of the most fascinating times to head up to the Asiago Plateau. The days are still pleasant, the forests are slowly beginning to change colour and the atmosphere of the high season gives way to a more relaxed pace. It is against this backdrop that, for two consecutive weekends, the historic centre of Asiago will once again be transformed into Italy’s mountain cheese capital.

Made in Malga 2026 will take place from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 and from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September. Now in its 14^th edition, the event will bring together producers, cheesemakers, affineurs, brewers and experts from the Italian and European mountains, offering visitors a journey through flavours, regions and traditional production techniques.

Cheese will be the main attraction, but the programme will go far beyond simple tasting. The event can be experienced through five different routes: strolling among the stalls of the market fair, taking part in the masterclasses, sampling beers produced at high altitude, stopping at the Mountain Tavern or learning more about Asiago DOP through sensory experiences.

The market fair in Asiago’s historic centre

The heart of Made in Malga will once again be the market fair, set up along the streets of Asiago’s historic centre. It is an opportunity to meet directly with the people who work every day in mountain huts and small dairies, and to discover alpine cheeses, cured meats, honeys, preserves and other specialities produced in mountain regions.

Behind each stall there will be not only products to taste and buy, but also stories of pastures, animals, seasons and communities that continue to safeguard knowledge passed down over time. The visit thus also becomes a way to understand how important the work of the mountain huts is in keeping high-altitude areas alive and preserving their landscape.

The market fair will be open on Friday from 10:30 to 19:00 and on Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 to 19:00. Admission is free.

Masterclasses to discover great mountain cheeses

Those wishing to go beyond simply tasting can take part in the Made in Malga masterclasses, scheduled for 5, 6, 12 and 13 September at the Hotel Paradiso in Asiago.

Each session will last approximately one hour and will feature a guided tasting of four cheeses accompanied by wines, beers or other selected products. The programme will range from Asiago DOP paired with wines from Sicily and Trentino to a vertical tasting of Formai de Mut d’alpeggio, as well as French cheeses, high-altitude blue cheeses and products from the Alpine Arc and Turkey made at around 2,000 metres.

One of the most eagerly awaited events will once again be the tasting of the mountain cheeses that are finalists in the Italian Cheese Awards 2026. The masterclasses have limited places, require booking and cost between 18 and 35 euros.

Mountain Beer Festival: high-altitude flavours in the glass

In Piazza Carli Gardens, alongside Made in Malga, the Mountain Beer Festival will take place, an event dedicated to craft beers produced in the mountains.

The event will bring breweries from various Italian regions to Asiago, from Piedmont to Aosta Valley, from Valtellina to Trentino, and on to Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Tuscany. Visitors will be able to discover unpasteurised and unfiltered beers, also made using water from springs located above 600 metres in altitude.

The festival will remain open until 23:00 on Friday and Saturday and until 20:00 on Sunday. Admission will also be free.

The Mountain Tavern with traditional dishes and flavours of the Plateau

Made in Malga will also be an opportunity to sit down for a meal. The Mountain Tavern will return to Piazza Carli, an informal venue where visitors can taste dishes linked to Alpine tradition and local products.

The menu will include boards of Asiago DOP at different stages of ageing, canederli, chanterelle lasagne, Rotzo potato gnocchi, tortel di patate, speck, polenta and dishes in which cheese is the central ingredient. There will also be pizzas and sandwiches prepared with local products, Tyrolean specialities, traditional desserts and pairings with the craft beers featured at the event.

The Tavern will be open until late on Friday and Saturday, while on Sunday it will close at 20:00. The dishes will also be available to take away.

Asiago Experience, a journey through the senses

The fifth route will be Asiago Experience, hosted in the Sala della Reggenza of the Mountain Community. A genuine sensory workshop where visitors can learn to recognise the aromas, fragrances and characteristics of Asiago DOP.

The sessions will explore the connection between cheese and the biodiversity of the pastures, offering experiences focused on pairing it with honey and wine, the history of the designation, cheesemaking techniques and olfactory training. Activities are free, but booking is required.

An opportunity to experience Asiago at the end of summer

Made in Malga is not just an event for cheese enthusiasts. The two weekends can be an opportunity to discover Asiago and the Plateau of the Seven Municipalities during one of the most pleasant periods of the year, combining events in the historic centre with a walk in the woods, an excursion to the mountain huts or a visit to places that tell the story and culture of the area.

The event is organised by Guru Comunicazione under the patronage of the Municipality of Asiago, with the Consorzio Tutela Formaggio Asiago as its main partner. The full programme, bookings and all the latest information are available on the official Made in Malga 2026 website.