- Little Italy Festival bringing authentic Italian culture, food, and entertainment to Stadium Park from 5-9 August
- Free multi-day festival part of Australia-exclusive Italian Football Festival
- Blockbuster matches begin tonight, with Milan Derby between AC Milan and Interat Optus Stadium
- Major events part of the Cook Labor Government’s economic diversification strategy, boosting the tourism sector and supporting local jobs and businesses
A taste of Italy has arrived in Perth, with Little Italy transforming Stadium Park into a vibrant celebration of Italian culture, food, entertainment, and football.
The Little Italy Festival is a free, multi-day community carnival bringing together authentic Italian cuisine, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities, creating a festival atmosphere during the Calcio Italiano Football Festival match schedule.
Four giants of Italian football will go head-to-head in Perth over the coming days in three world-exclusive games beginning with a Milan Derby between AC Milan and Inter at Optus Stadium tonight.
The derby action continues Saturday when Juventus face Inter in a blockbuster match at Optus Stadium before Juventus go up against Palermo on Tuesday at HBF Park.
The Little Italy Festival is running from 4pm until late from today until Saturday, and from 12pm on Sunday.
Little Italy will give locals and visitors the chance to soak up the excitement of the Italian Football Festival, whether they are heading to a match or simply looking for a great day out.
The festival is part of Beyond the Game, a program of fan activations and experiences designed around the Italian Football Festival to give locals and visitors more opportunities to experience Perth, support local businesses and boost the economy.
The program also includes open training sessions, giving fans the chance to watch AC Milan, Inter, Juventus, and Palermo prepare for their matches, and official match day supporter parties before kick-off.
The Little Italy Festival will feature authentic Italian food, live music, cultural entertainment, and activities for all ages, creating a welcoming festival atmosphere outside Optus Stadium.
The Italian Football Festival is one of several major events making up WA’s Winter of Unmissable Sport, following the Wallabies’ clash against Italy, and the record-breaking Perth Super 440.
This weekend’s calendar also features the Melbourne Storm v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles NRL match, Backroads Gravel and the Avon Descent.
Western Australia continues to strengthen its reputation as a leading destination for major events, supporting the visitor economy, creating local jobs, and driving economic diversification.
Find out more about the Winter of Unmissable Sport at WesternAustralia.com/UnmissableSports and Calcio Italiano at calcioperth.com .
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
“The Little Italy Festival will bring a fantastic festival atmosphere to Perth, celebrating the rich culture, food, and passion that Italy is known for and creating a vibrant atmosphere for the thousands of football fans attending the matches at Optus Stadium.
“This free event gives everyone the opportunity to be part of the excitement, whether they’re heading to the matches or simply looking to enjoy a great evening out.
“Events like the Italian Football Festival and Little Italy are exactly why we’ve built our Winter of Unmissable Sport calendar, creating more reasons for people to visit Western Australia, extend their stay, and deliver lasting economic benefits for our State.”
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
“Football fever has well and truly taken over Perth, and the Little Italy Festival will be the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere and connect with Western Australia’s vibrant Italian community.
“There will be so much on offer at Stadium Park, with families encouraged to come down and enjoy some great food and entertainment, support our local businesses, and join the festivities.
“The Cook Labor Government is proud to be bringing the Italian Football Festival to life, with Perth the only city in Australia where you’ll be able to see AC Milan, Inter, Juventus, and Palermo face off.
“These blockbuster sporting events continue to put Western Australia on the global map, fuel our local economy, and deliver unforgettable experiences for the next generation of young players and our community clubs.”
