A rich sampling of Swiss food and wine culture will be offered by a team of 11 chefs who, starting in mid-September, will bring their creativity to the official dinners. As always, these will take place in some of Ticino's most beautiful and iconic locations, including restaurants and hotels in the region's most picturesque corners, hosted by their Ticino colleagues.
Like every year, the Festival will officially begin with the Grand Opening at the Hotel Splendide Royal in Lugano on September 13th dedicated to the Chefs of Swiss Deluxe Hotels with Marco Veneruso , 1 Michelin Star, 16 GM who will host other protagonists of the national gastronomic scene such as Dario Moresco , 1 Michelin star, 17 GM of the Mandarin Oriental Savoy in Zurich, Stefan Beer , 1 Michelin star, 1 green star, 17 GM of the Victoria Jungfrau in Interlaken and Fabrizio Zanetti , 17 GM, of the Suvretta House in St. Moritz.
And it will close with the usual Final Party on November 15th at La Romantica Boutique Hotel in Melide with the Ticino chefs who started the Festival 20 years ago: Dario Ranza, Martin Dalsass and Lorenzo Albrici , 1 Michelin star, 16 GM points of the Locanda Orico in Bellinzona, also representing 3 institutions of the gastronomic scene, Grandes Tables Suisses, Michelin Guide and GaultMillau Guide, guests of Egidio Iadonisi.
The first official evening will be on September 14th, at the Hotel Splendide Royal , with guest Tanja Grandits , the grande dame among the great Swiss chefs, queen of aromas at the Stucki Restaurant in Basel, member of the Grandes Tables Suisses, 2 Michelin stars and 19 GM points.
An classic and modern cuisine, with the addition of international influences, will be the protagonist Monday, September 21st at Prince Leopold Villa – Lugano, where Cristian Moreschi, 16 points GM hosts Stefan Heilemann of the Widder Restaurant in Zurich, 2 Michelin stars, 18 GM points.
On Sunday 4 October at the Eden Roc Restaurant – Ascona , Marco Campanella , 2 Michelin stars, 19 GM points, hosts the 2026 revelation chef for GM Marcel Koolen of the Restaurant 7132 Silver – Vals , 2 Michelin stars, 18 GM points.
Guests will experience creative Alpine cuisine based on local ingredients and herbs gathered from the woods, crafted with harmonious contrasts and designed to enhance the natural flavors of top-quality ingredients.
On Monday, October 5th, at Ristorante Seven in Lugano, Emanuele Bertelli will host Reto Brändli of Restaurant ECCO – Ascona, 2 Michelin stars, 18 GM points, GM's Revelation of the Year 2026, one of the most exciting Swiss chefs of his generation. His cuisine is rich in character and emotion, with a clear philosophy: simplicity rather than showiness.
On Tuesday 6 October at Ristorante La Baia – Locarno Muralto, Salvatore Sanfilippo hosts Kevin Fernandez del Talvo, St. Moritz – Champfer, 1 Michelin Star, 18 GM points, who in November 2024, together with his partner Lisa Carlevero, took over the reins from Martin Dalsass, their long-time mentor.
Franck Giovannini , one of the greatest names in Swiss gastronomy, from the Hotel de Ville in Crissier, 3 Michelin stars and 19 GM points , couldn't be missing from such a special edition. On Sunday, October 11th, he will be the guest of Loris Meot , 15 GM points, at the Ciani Restaurant in Lugano.
On Sunday 25 October at the Hotel Belvedere Locarno , Rosario Stipo , 14 GM points, hosts Stéphane Décotterd of Maison Décotterd – Glion-sur-Montreux , 1 Michelin star, 18 GM points, member of Grandes Tables Suisses, author of a creative and responsible cuisine, with refined flavours and exclusively local products.
Vegetables take center stage with a particular attention to well-being and pleasure with great craftsmanship and excellence of the products, Monday, October 26th, at Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola – Lugano, where Alessandro Boleso, 16 GM points, will host Pascal Steffen, of the restaurant Roots of Basel, 2 stars, 1 green star, 18 GM pointsSunday, November 8th, at META restaurant Lugano Arturo Fragnito, 1 Michelin Star, 16 GM points will welcome Paolo Rota of the Da Vittorio Restaurant – St. Moritz, 2 Michelin stars, 18 GM points, Engadine outpost of the iconic three-starred restaurant Da Vittorio in Brusaporto, owned by the Cerea family.
Monday, November 9 at the Swiss Diamond Boutique Hotel La Romantica , Melide
Egidio Iadonisi, 13 GM points, hosts Gilles Varone of Restaurant Gilles Varone – Savièse, 2 Michelin Stars, 1 Green Star, 17 GM points, considered the enfant prodige and one of the most promising talents in Swiss gastronomy.
Tuesday, November 10th in Moncucchetto – Lugano, hosted by Andrea Muggiano
Silvio Germann of Restaurant Mammertsberg – Freidorf , 2 Michelin stars, 18 GM points, creator of the world's first "sharing" concept for haute cuisine.
In addition to the official dinners, there are many events to suit all tastes.
Saturday 19 September at the Curzutt Restaurant – Monte Carasso , a lunch dedicated to nature and the local area at 612 metres above sea level in a corner of paradise with chefs Simone Bionda Camana and Mauro Michele.
Sunday 27 September at Seven Toc Toc – Ascona , a Young Night with Nicola Leanza , 15 GM points who hosts Andrea Bertarini , 15 GM points, of the Montalbano restaurant, Stabio and Luca Bellanca , Al Faro – Lugano.
A trendy evening of local and seasonal dishes for a young and older audience, featuring Mediterranean-inspired cuisine reinterpreted by three longtime SPST chefs and close friends.
On Sunday, October 18, Déjeuner au château returns to the splendid setting of Tenuta Castello di Morcote – Vico Morcote with Francesco Sangalli , Ristorante La Sorgente, Vico Morcote, 14 GM points, Federico Palladino , Osteria Enoteca Cuntitt, Castel San Pietro, 1 Michelin Star, 16 GM points, and Paolo Casanova , Chesa Stüva Colani, Madulain, 1 Michelin Star, 17 GM points. Together, they will bring to the table the authentic flavors and culinary traditions of the area, combined with a cuisine that reflects the altitude, the alpine pastures, and the raw ingredients of the Graubünden valleys.
Thursday, October 29th, the eagerly awaited Lounge Evening at the Lugano Casino , where Moreno Manzini of the Elementi Restaurant will host Emanuele Bertelli of the Seven Restaurant – Lugano.
There will also be great evenings beyond the Gotthard dedicated to Ticino , in the structures of some members of the Swiss Deluxe Hotels group, this year in Lausanne on 13 October at the headquarters of EHL , the most important Hospitality Business School in the world, where Arturo Fragnito , Meta, 1 Michelin star and 16 GM, Cristian Moreschi , Villa Principe Leopoldo, 16 GM, Diego della Schiava , The View, 1 star and 16 GM and Andrea Pedrina will bring their culinary flair combined with the wine excellences of the Ticino region and on 27 October at the Grand Hotel du Lac in Vevey , with Jacopo Rovetini , 1 M star and 16 GM, Osteria dell'Enoteca, Losone, Marco Badalucci , Ristorante Badalucci Lugano, 16 GM, Guglielmo Curcio , Ristorante Enoteca Origini, Morbio Inferiore.
A rich program for a grand celebration of the journey accomplished over these two decades. A tribute to Ticino, Switzerland, and the people who have contributed to the success of S.Pellegrino Sapori Ticino.
