Caseifici Aperti (Open Dairies)
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Caseifici Aperti ("open dairies") is the Parmigiano Reggiano Consorzio's open weekend. The 2026 edition was Saturday May 23 and Sunday May 24, with 53 dairies across the five provinces of the production area: 19 in Parma, 12 in Reggio Emilia, 12 in Modena, 6 in Mantova south of the Po and 4 in Bologna. Visitors could watch the cheese being made, walk through the stables and aging rooms, see wheels opened, taste with experts from the tasters' association and eat lunch at some dairies.
The honest news for anyone reading this in autumn 2026: the next date is not announced. The Consorzio ran two editions in 2025 (April 12–13 and October 4–5), but on September 29, 2026 its Caseifici Aperti page said only "see you at the next edition", and its news page listed no autumn 2026 weekend. The good news is that you do not need the event. The Consorzio itself now promotes dairy visits "365 days a year", bookable on its site.
At a glance
- Last edition
- Saturday May 23 and Sunday May 24, 2026: 53 dairies in five provinces, 19 of them in the province of Parma.
- Next edition
- Not announced on September 29, 2026. In 2025 there were two: April 12–13 and October 4–5.
- Cost
- Set by each dairy. Some offer free visits and tastings for the weekend; others charge. Book through the Consorzio's site.
- Year-round option
- The Consorzio says its dairies can be visited 365 days a year by booking; listed adult prices ran from €5 to €30 when we checked.
- Timing
- Cheese is made in the morning. Several dairies show live production only on tours between 7:30 and 9 a.m.
- Organizer
- Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano, Reggio Emilia.
In this guide
What happens on an open-dairy weekend
Every participating dairy opens for the basics: the cheesemaking in the morning, the stables, the aging warehouse and the shop. In 2026, 21 of the 53 dairies added a program of eight themed events and 13 special events, from a harp breakfast to fire-branding of wheels and wood-fired cooking. The showpieces the Consorzio highlighted were in Reggio Emilia and Modena. New in 2026 was an "OFF" event in Bologna's Giardini Margherita, with cooking shows and a shuttle to two Bologna dairies.
The 19 Parma-province dairies of 2026 included three inside the city limits (Società Agricola Giansanti on Strada Traversetolo, Caseificio Ugolotti on Via M.E. Lepido and Agrizoo on Strada Gazzano) and others at Fontanellato, Noceto, Medesano, Salsomaggiore, San Secondo, Busseto and Polesine Parmense. That spread matters: several sit on the way to Fontanellato, Busseto or the Bassa, so a dairy morning can open a day trip.
What it costs
There is no single ticket. Each dairy sets its own terms and you book through the Consorzio's Caseifici Aperti page. Some dairies make the weekend free: Caseificio Ugolotti's listing, for example, promises free visits and tastings for Caseifici Aperti while charging €20 an adult on normal days. Others keep their usual price or sell a lunch.
Outside the event, the year-round listings on the Consorzio's booking pages ran from €5 to €30 per adult on September 29, 2026, with most between €8 and €20; children under 6 or under 10 are often free. Prices depend on group size and whether a tasting is included. Our dairy visit page names the ones worth booking from Parma.
Open weekend or a normal morning?
| Caseifici Aperti | Booked visit, any day | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheesemaking | Yes, mornings | Yes, mornings |
| Price | Free at some dairies, normal at others | €5–€30 per adult on current listings |
| Extras | Wheel openings, lunches, music, kids' activities | Tasting of several ages, shop |
| Crowds | The 2025 editions drew over 30,000 visitors | Small groups, often a minimum of 4 |
| Language | Mostly Italian | Some dairies list English and French |
Our view: if you are in Parma on the weekend anyway, go. If not, book a weekday morning at a dairy that lists English, and pair it with a DIY food day. The Consorzio's own figures say 85% of past visitors bought cheese at the dairy shop, so bring a cool bag and read our buying guide first.
How to plan a dairy morning
- Go early. Several dairies say live cheesemaking can only be seen on their first tours, at 7:30, 8, 8:30 or 9 a.m. Afternoon visits show the aging rooms and a tasting instead.
- You need a car for most dairies, including the three in the Comune di Parma, which are outside the historic center. See the Food Valley without a car for the few exceptions.
- Book. Even on the open weekend, the Consorzio asks you to book activities through its site, and many year-round visits need a minimum number of people.
- Pick the age you like. Tastings usually run through several ages; our Parmigiano page explains what 12, 24 and 36 months taste like.
When the next edition is likely
We will not print a date the Consorzio has not announced. The pattern: a spring edition every year (April 12–13, 2025; May 23–24, 2026) and, in several years, an autumn one in early October (October 3–4, 2020; October 2022; October 2023; October 4–5, 2025). If an autumn 2026 weekend is announced, or when the 2027 spring date appears, this page will change. The Consorzio's goal is 300,000 dairy visitors a year by 2029, so the event is not going away.
Tickets and tours you can book
Booking through these links supports this site at no cost to you. Prices move by date, so we do not print them here; the official prices we checked are in the page above.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Caseifici Aperti?
Not announced on September 29, 2026. The last edition was May 23–24, 2026. In 2025 the Consorzio held two, on April 12–13 and October 4–5, so a spring 2027 edition is the likely next one. Check the Consorzio's Caseifici Aperti page.
Is Caseifici Aperti free?
It depends on the dairy. There is no event ticket; each dairy sets its own terms. Some offer free visits and tastings for the weekend, others charge their usual price or sell lunches. Booking is through the Consorzio's website.
Can I visit a Parmigiano Reggiano dairy on other days?
Yes. The Consorzio says its dairies are visitable 365 days a year by booking on its site, and it certifies some as "caseifici turistici" for regular visitors. Listed adult prices ran from €5 to €30 when we checked on September 29, 2026.
How many dairies take part near Parma?
In 2026, 19 of the 53 participating dairies were in the province of Parma, three of them inside the Comune di Parma: Società Agricola Giansanti, Caseificio Ugolotti and Agrizoo.
What time should I arrive at a dairy?
Early. Several dairies on the Consorzio's booking pages say live production can only be seen on tours starting between 7:30 and 9 a.m.; later tours show the aging rooms and a tasting instead. Check the time on the listing when you book.
Further reading
Official sources
- Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano - Caseifici Aperti 2026 news (official) – May 23-24, 2026; 53 dairies (19 Parma); 21 with special events; Bologna OFF event; 2025 editions over 30,000 visitors; 85% bought cheese; 300,000 target by 2029; checked September 29, 2026
- Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano - Caseifici Aperti page and dairy listings (official) – "Arrivederci alla prossima edizione", no date announced; year-round visit prices from €5 to €30 per adult; Ugolotti free for Caseifici Aperti, €20 otherwise; autumn editions October 3-4, 2020 and in October 2022 and 2023 (news slugs); checked September 29, 2026
- Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano - news archive (official) – 2025 editions April 12-13 and October 4-5 ("twice a year"); no autumn 2026 edition listed; checked September 29, 2026
- Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano - Vivi Parmigiano Reggiano (official) – Dairies visitable 365 days a year by booking; "caseifici turistici" certification
- ParmaToday - Caseifici Aperti 2026 – Full list of the 19 participating dairies in the province of Parma
