Thousands of visitors flocked to Lismore on Sunday as the 2026 LisAmore! Italian Festival attracted its largest crowd on record, delivering a strong boost for the city and showcasing Lismore as a destination for major community events.
Early estimates suggest more than 8,000 people attended the festival at its new home, the Lismore Showgrounds, with visitors travelling from across the Northern Rivers and beyond to enjoy Italian food, live entertainment, market stalls and family activities.
Lismore Friendship Festival Inc President Gianpiero Battista said the community response had exceeded expectations.
“What we witnessed on Sunday was simply incredible. The atmosphere was fantastic from the moment the gates opened, and seeing thousands of people enjoying everything LisAmore has to offer was something our committee will never forget,” Battista said.
“The move to the Lismore Showgrounds has given the festival room to grow, and the community responded in the best possible way. Early attendance figures indicate this was our biggest festival ever.”
The record attendance reinforced Lismore’s capacity to host large-scale community events, with the expanded Showgrounds venue accommodating thousands of visitors throughout the day.
Festival-goers enjoyed authentic Italian cuisine, performances by Domenico and the Latin Mafia and Lisa Genovese, market stalls, family activities, salami wheel raffles and spaghetti-eating contests, creating a vibrant atmosphere across the precinct.
Battista said the festival’s success reflected the efforts of volunteers, sponsors and supporters who had worked behind the scenes.
“LisAmore is about sharing our culture through food, music and hospitality, but it’s also about bringing people together. Seeing families, friends and visitors enjoying the day together is exactly what this festival is all about.”
“I’d like to sincerely thank our volunteers, sponsors, stallholders, entertainers and everyone who came along to support the festival. Without them, an event like this simply wouldn’t happen.”
Advertising with North Coast Times is a cost effective and reliable way to reach locals who are interested and engaged. Find out more here.