Tomorrow evening, the Dinner of the Thousand returns, having already sold over 80 tickets abroad.

Parma will once again transform into a single, 400-meter-long table. Everything is ready tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8th, for the seventh edition of the Cena dei Mille (Dinner of the Thousand), organized by the Parma UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy Foundation together with the City of Parma. A thousand diners will sit between Piazza Garibaldi and Strada della Repubblica, in the heart of the historic center, for an evening featuring guest chef Gennaro Esposito , two-Michelin-starred chef, owner of La Torre del Saracino. This is an increasingly international event, as evidenced by the record-breaking sellout achieved in just six minutes on July 8th, with over 80 tickets purchased from abroad: from Australia to the USA, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Poland, for a region that continues to grow in international markets.

In 2025, exports from the six Parma Food Valley supply chains reached €5.78 billion, up 12.7% from €5.13 billion in 2024. Specifically, pasta with Barilla is worth €2.5 billion, while the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium reached €2 billion. The Parma Ham Consortium follows with €700 million, followed by Mutti and Rodolfi Mansueto tomatoes with €534 million, Parmalat milk with €26 million, and Delicius, Rizzoli Emanuelli, and Zarotti anchovies with €20 million.

This international vocation fits into an overall healthy picture: in 2025, the six supply chains achieved a consumer turnover of €12.5 billion, an 8.7% increase compared to €11.5 billion in 2024 and a 33% increase compared to the pre-Covid period, with an export share exceeding 46% of the total. This figure includes pasta, led by Barilla (€4.88 billion), Parmigiano Reggiano (€3.96 billion), Parma Ham (€1.6 billion), milk (Parmalat, €1.05 billion), tomatoes (Mutti and Rodolfi Mansueto, €912 million), and anchovies (€150 million), with Delicius, Rizzoli Emanuelli, and Zarotti (€150 million).

The Cena dei Mille will open, as per tradition, with an aperitif, featuring 18 stations. Twelve will be dedicated to food: six will represent the aforementioned Parma Food Valley supply chains. The other six will feature the Consortiums for the Protection of Culatello di Zibello, Coppa di Parma and Salame Felino, Piacenza DOP Salumi, and Borgotaro Mushrooms, along with Coppini Arte Olearia and Destinazione Turistica Emilia with its Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Reggio Emilia. The remaining six will be dedicated to beverages, equally divided between wines, non-alcoholic beverages, and mixology.

The event's longtime partners round out the experience: Bormioli Luigi is designing the 1,000 collectible opal glass placemats, while Coccinelle is creating the 1,000 leather bracelets reserved for diners. Among the 2026 partners is Audi Eurocar Parma, which is supporting the event and its protagonists: for the occasion, the Audi RS5 will be on display in Piazza Garibaldi. Finally, the provincial group Panificatori Artigiani Parma is also returning.

This year, the Cena dei Mille will once again have an important social impact: part of the proceeds will be donated to charitable causes. Last year, €20,000 was donated to Emporio Market Solidale Parma—an organization that supports approximately 1,900 families serving over 6,000 people—to fund the purchase of an electric vehicle to deliver products to over 200 families unable to reach the Emporio. The proceeds from the 2026 edition will fully cover the cost of the vehicle. In case of inclement weather, the dinner will be held under the porticoes of Via Mazzini.