Orticolario 2026: Lake Como’s Premier Autumn Garden Event

Orticolario is the autumn event where nature becomes the inspiration for one’s lifestyle. Held annually at Villa Erba since 2009, it takes place during the first weekend of October.

This experience combines design, art, themed gardens, rare and unusual plants, collectors’ items, and artistic craftsmanship, featuring over 250 exhibitors in the park and exhibition centre overlooking Lake Como.

The sixteenth edition will be held from 1 to 4 October 2026, at Villa Erba in Cernobbio.

The event will also feature gardens and installations throughout the park, each inspired by the year’s theme and selected through the prestigious International Creative Spaces Competition. The winner will be awarded the “La Foglia d’Oro del Lago di Como” special prize. Alongside these, art and design projects, expert talks, and performances will offer visitors the chance to explore the interplay between nature and human creativity.

Children will also find their own corner of magic within Orticolario, with activities designed to introduce them to the evolving world of gardening, sparking curiosity and encouraging hands-on learning.

Orticolario is more than an event; it is an ongoing journey into our profound relationship with the Earth and the natural world. It invites attention to the soil beneath our feet—not the abstract Earth that moves through space, but the living, fragile ground that nourishes, transforms, and sustains all forms of life. Through its vision, Orticolario celebrates the hidden universe below the surface, where silent yet powerful natural processes connect seed and sprout, growth and decay, renewal and balance.

At the heart of this exploration lies a deep respect for nature’s capacity to heal itself. Plants are presented not merely as ornamental elements, but as active guardians of the environment—capable of restoring soil and water, regenerating damaged landscapes, and re-establishing harmony between human activity and natural systems. Familiar species, often taken for granted, reveal their extraordinary role in protecting ecosystems and reminding us that caring for the Earth begins from the ground up.

A Journey Worth Taking

As autumn paints the shores of Lake Como in golden hues, Orticolario offers the perfect reason to visit this enchanting region. Visitors can enjoy a glamorous boat ride across Lake Como, arriving directly at Villa Erba’s pier from Como City, with a shuttle service included in the ticket price. Whether you stay in an exclusive lakeside villa or a charming B&B, Cernobbio and its surroundings offer a wealth of options for every traveller.

Tickets are available online and at the venue. For more information, visit Orticolario website.