Festa Italiana is set to return to Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane this May and June, with celebrated Italian chef Orazio D’Elia leading the festival’s culinary program and welcoming one of the Amalfi Coast’s most exclusive dining destinations, Conca del Sogno, for its Australian debut.
Taking place across two weekends, the waterfront festival will bring together Italian food, drink, music and culture, with Conca del Sogno announced as the headline international culinary guest for 2026 in collaboration with Orazio and the Howard Smith Wharves team.
Perched on Recommone Beach in Nerano, between Capri and Positano, Conca del Sogno is a family run beach club and restaurant renowned for its intimate seaside setting and international following. Accessible primarily by boat, the venue is synonymous with long Mediterranean lunches, champagne fuelled afternoons and a relaxed yet elevated coastal lifestyle, attracting a loyal mix of international visitors and high profile guests.
As part of Festa Italiana, Conca del Sogno will travel to Australia for the first time, bringing its chef and renowned host Pierluigi Guidone to Brisbane to join Orazio D’Elia in recreating the restaurant’s iconic spaghetti alla Nerano, featuring zucchini, Provolone del Monaco, parmesan and basil, alongside its signature cocktail, the Sgroppino. The collaboration offers guests a rare opportunity to experience one of the Amalfi Coast’s most celebrated dining experiences outside of Italy.
The collaboration marks a defining moment for the festival, pairing one of Italy’s most sought after coastal destinations with one of Australia’s most recognisable Italian chefs.
“Conca del Sogno has always been a place I’ve loved, not just for the food and hospitality, but for the memories attached to it,” Orazio said. “It’s actually where I got married, so having them come to Australia and be part of Festa Italiana this year feels really special. To share a little piece of that experience with everyone here is something I’m incredibly proud of.”
Beyond the headline collaboration, Festa Italiana continues to evolve as a true celebration of Italian culture, transforming the Howard Smith Wharves precinct into an immersive Italian waterfront experience. Guests can expect authentic Italian menus, spritz bars, live music, an Italian deli and coastal inspired styling designed to capture the atmosphere of Italy’s beach clubs and seaside towns.
Orazio will once again lead the food offering across the festival, presenting a menu spanning Italian classics and festival favourites, from antipasti through to pasta, mains and desserts.
Guests can begin with antipasti including prosciutto with melon, caprese with buffalo mozzarella, tomato and basil, gorgonzola with figs and salumi misti with pickled vegetables, alongside fritto misto of calamari and prawns with aioli and lemon, and arancini. Roman style pizzas will also be available, with options including margherita, salamina and capricciosa.
The pasta offering features dishes such as calamarata with calamari, cherry tomatoes and chilli, malloreddus alla campidanese with pork sausage ragù, risotto cacio, pepe e gamberi with prawns, pecorino and black pepper, and lasagna alla bolognese layered with slow braised ragù, alongside Orazio’s signature rigatoni alla vodka.
Porchetta alla Romana will be served in focaccia with marinated eggplant, cos lettuce and aioli, or plated with fresh lemon, while desserts include Sicilian chocolate cannoli, tiramisu and coda di aragosta, the classic Neapolitan lobster tail pastry with a cream filled centre, alongside torta al cioccolato, crème brûlée and chocolate mousse cake.
Gelato Messina will also return to the festival with a selection of signature gelato flavours and Italian inspired specials.
The drinks program will feature classic Italian spritzes designed for the perfect aperitif, alongside Italian wines, cocktails and digestivi inspired by Italy’s coastal drinking culture. Guests can sip on favourites including the Aperol Spritz, Hugo Spritz and Limoncello Spritz, while the cocktail menu will also feature a peach bellini inspired by the iconic Harry’s Bar in Venice, Amaretto Sours and Italian style frozen cocktails.
The star of the drinks offering will be Conca del Sogno host Pierluigi Guidone, serving the venue’s iconic Sgroppino, a refreshing Venetian blend of lemon sorbet, vodka and prosecco, brought to life through the festival’s interactive “Sgroppino Show”.
Felons Brewing Co. has also brewed a bespoke Italian Lager for Festa Italiana, created especially for riverside sipping throughout the festival.
Adam Flaskas, co founder and director of Artemus Group, said Festa Italiana continues to grow as one of Brisbane’s most anticipated cultural celebrations.
“Festa Italiana is all about bringing the energy, romance and spirit of Italy to the Brisbane River,” Flaskas said. “Each year we look for ways to elevate the experience, and welcoming Conca del Sogno to Australia alongside Orazio is a huge moment for the festival. To share one of the Amalfi Coast’s most iconic dining experiences with Brisbane is incredibly exciting.”
Festa Italiana will return to Howard Smith Wharves for its fourth year from Thursday 28 May to Sunday 31 May, and the following weekend from Thursday 4 June to Sunday 7 June.
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