41° Festa delle cape "Clam festival" 2026

The traditional “Festa delle Cape”, now in its 41st edition, will take place in Piazza Marcello d’Olivo in the heart of Lignano Pineta over two weekends: March 7–8 and March 14–15, 2026. Once again this year, the eagerly awaited event that kicks off the season of festivities in the seaside resort of Lignano Sabbiadoro cannot be missed. Don’t miss the chance to take part in the “Festa delle Cape 2026” – an unmissable event to enjoy traditional dishes and experience a unique atmosphere full of tradition and fun. After the great success of the last two editions, which registered record attendance, the 41st edition is expected to surpass all previous records, both in participation and in proceeds.

The Festa delle Cape has its roots back in 1984, born from the idea and initiative of a group of local fishermen who wished to promote the traditions of the area. After a few years, the organization was taken over by the association Lignano APS “Al Mare” (Association of Sport Fishermen), which since then has been managing every detail with passion and dedication. The main goal of the festival is to promote the typical products of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the nearby Adriatic Sea, offering tourists and visitors an authentic and unforgettable experience.

It is worth noting that all proceeds are donated to charity, while the staff is made up entirely of local volunteers who devote their time to a good cause. Over the years, thanks to the generosity of participants, numerous local associations have been supported, such as AGMEN, Bambini in Emergenza, the Organ Transplant Center, and many other organizations active in the social field.

The historic season-opening festival lasts for two weekends! This year it will take place from Saturday, March 7 to Sunday, March 8, and again from Saturday, March 14 to Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Piazza d’Olivo in Lignano Pineta.

The classic dishes featured on the menu include: peverasse (clams), cappe lunghe (razor clams), sardines (grilled, breaded, or in saor), squid, and baby cuttlefish – all freshly caught in our local waters.

Price list 2026 being updated

Cash desk and kitchens opening hours:

• Morning: from 11.00
• Evening: until 20.30
• Closing break: from 15.30 to 17.30

Entertainment and concerts:

During the event there will be moments of entertainment with concerts by local groups, and the L. Garzoni band from Lignano Sabbiadoro.

Some useful information:

a small guide to save time and move around the event:

• 1 Stage | Gazebo pre-number ticket: at 10.45am and 4.30pm on the opening day, collect the pre-number to go to the cash desk. The number plate is collected, at the sole discretion of the organisation, in relation to the pre-numbers taken and the number of people present in the square; all those who have collected the pre-number, with patience, will be able to access the cash register first and then the kitchen for collection. To speed up the flow, together with the pre-number, the paper menu is delivered where it will be possible to select your dishes and chosen drinks.
  (Without the pre-number it will no longer be possible to access the kitchen)
• 2nd Stage | Central cash desk: at 11:00 and 17:00 on the opening day, here you will see on the screen your pre-number collected previously together with the paper menu, then you can go to the cash register where the receipt for what you requested and paid will be issued; together with the receipt, tickets will be issued for each order and a new number will be issued to access the collection at the kitchen.
  (To get ahead of time, we advise you to decide and mark what to eat on your menu so that you will be quicker at the checkout.)
• 3 Stage | Kitchen: at 11.30am and 5.30pm on the opening day, here you will see on the video your number present in the tickets for the kitchen, so by presenting the receipt you can collect all the products purchased, with the exception of the clams and the drink which they will be collected in the dedicated gazebos. (This way you won't have to worry about someone walking past you at both the register and the kitchen.)
• 4th Stage | Bar kiosk: usable by all those in the square; To use it you don't need to queue at the central cash desk, but can be accessed directly.
• 4th Stage | Clam gazebo: here the portions of clams purchased are collected.
• 6 Stage | Tasting area: Heated tent or external tables and benches
  ​

Important Notice:

• The local organization reserves the right, in the event of a large influx and large volume of orders, to temporarily suspend the orders by withdrawing the ticket dispenser, if the kitchen is no longer available and fails to satisfy the large number of requests.
• Between the lunch / dinner break, approximately between the period of closure and reopening, the organization requires the replacement of all oils, the cleaning of the entire kitchen area including grills, plates, pots, and the replenishment of the entire warehouse.

Menu:

• Fried squid
• Long Cape grilled
• Clams
• Stewed cuttlefish
• Salted cod
• Grilled sardines
• Sardines in saor
• Fish lasagna "by the sea"
• "Fried" golden sardine fillets
• Cheese
• French fries
• Various side dishes
• Tart (nutella apricot berries)
• Beer
• Drinks
• Wine
• Waterfall
• Coffee