Ischia Safari 2026: September's gastronomic event between chefs and territory
Three days dedicated to the island's authentic flavours, between chefs, territory and charity.
Ischia Safari is the gastronomic festival devised by the two most important chefs linked to the island: Nino di Costanzo and Pasquale Palamaro. For three days, from 20 to 22 September, Ischia becomes the stage for a celebration of authentic flavours.
Ischia Safari isn't a tourist event. It's an event that ties internationally renowned chefs to the territory that shaped them. Nino di Costanzo, who heads Dáni Maison in Ischia, and Pasquale Palamaro have envisioned three days in which food tells the story of the island, its original flavours and the work behind every dish. At the same time, proceeds fund Ischia Saperi e Sapori, the non-profit association created to support the island's restaurant industry.
The three days
The event takes place across three symbolic locations on the island, each with a specific role.
20 September — Charity Dinner
The event opens with the Charity Dinner at Albergo della Regina Isabella, the five-star resort perched between sky and sea. It's an exclusive evening with limited seats and an extremely refined menu devised by the chefs to tell the story of the territory's flavours through a sequence of elaborate dishes. It's the moment when cuisine becomes an art form and food engages in dialogue with the setting.
Price: €270 | Limited seats | Booking mandatory
21 September — Festa al Negombo
The second day moves to Parco Negombo, one of the most extraordinary botanical gardens in the Mediterranean. Here the celebration becomes more open: 30 food items, 5 beverages, a more informal but equally curated atmosphere. It's the moment when the territory speaks to the community, not just to paying guests. Parco Negombo, with its gardens, thermal pools and volcanic rock, is the perfect setting for a festival that unites nature and flavours.
Price: €100 | 30 food items included
22 September — Un dolce per Ischia by Mulino Caputo
Closing the event is Un dolce per Ischia at Lisola Restaurant, where pastry chef Ivano Vecchia and Mulino Caputo have devised a pastry competition in which visitors become the jury. It's a chance to discover the island's sweeter side, to listen to the artisans' stories and to be on the side of those who choose, not those who passively consume.
Price: Free | Participation as jury
Why three days, not one
Ischia Safari doesn't concentrate everything into one evening. Three days means that those visiting the island for the event stay, sleep, get to know the villages, discover beaches between one day and the next. It means food isn't an exception but the thread that ties the experiences together: the Charity Dinner is the solemn moment, Negombo is the moment of community, Ivano's dessert is the moment of discovering those who produce it.
The locations
Albergo della Regina Isabella is a five-star hotel opened in the 1950s, where the natural setting and Ischia tradition still live on. The view from the terrace sweeps across the sea to the Gulf of Naples.
Parco Negombo is a 12-hectare botanical garden occupying the bay of San Montano: thermal pools, sea pools, woodland, gardens irrigated by Duke Camerini in 1947. It's the place where Ischia's nature shows itself in its most aristocratic form.
Lisola Restaurant is the pizzeria and restaurant where artisan pastry chef Ivano Vecchia works, a figure who represents the excellence of southern Italian pastry at a national level.
How to book
Bookings open on the official Ischia Safari website. Seats are limited, especially for the Charity Dinner, and tend to fill up quickly.
Direct contacts:
Tel: +39 081.986152
Email: info@ischiasafari.it
Instagram | Facebook
Where to stay
The ideal setting for Ischia Safari is staying in Forio or near Negombo: from there the three locations are reachable without hassle. Late September is the period with the best rates and maximum availability. The offers with stays in September are updated with the real rate cards: it's worth booking early, so you have your stay secured while you wait for confirmation of the event tickets.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ischia Safari?
It's a three-day gastronomic festival (20-22 September) devised by chefs Nino di Costanzo and Pasquale Palamaro to celebrate Ischia's authentic flavours. It's not just a dinner, but an experience that ties together chefs, territory and community.
What's included in the €270 Charity Dinner?
An extremely refined menu devised by the chefs, served at Albergo della Regina Isabella. Seats are limited and advance booking is required.
How does the Festa al Negombo work?
It's a more open and informal event than the Charity Dinner, in the Negombo botanical garden. It includes 30 food items and 5 beverages, at €100 per person.
Do I need to book for all three days?
No. The three days are separate events and you can take part in one, two or all three. The Charity Dinner and Un dolce per Ischia have limited seats, while the Festa al Negombo has more availability.
Where does the money raised go?
Proceeds fund Ischia Saperi e Sapori, the non-profit association that supports the local restaurant industry and promotes Ischia as a culinary destination of excellence.
What's the dress code?
The Charity Dinner calls for elegant attire. The Festa al Negombo is more informal. Un dolce per Ischia is casual.
