Event Details
The Pirot Peglana Kobasica Fair – Serbia's Most Important Sausage Festival
Every year on the last weekend of January, the southern Serbian city of Pirot hosts the Sajam Pirotske Peglane Kobasice, Serbia's biggest gastronomic fair dedicated to the legendary Pirotska Peglana Kobasica. The 13th edition took place on 31 January and 1 February 2026; dates for 2027 are expected to be announced from November onwards and will follow the established pattern of the last January weekend.
What is Peglana Kobasica?
The Pirotska Peglana Kobasica is far more than a sausage. It is a culinary symbol of the Pirot region and has been officially registered under Serbia's protected geographical indication system since 2022, becoming the third protected product from Pirot alongside Pirotski Kačkavalj cheese and the Pirotski Ćilim carpet.
It is made exclusively from carefully selected cuts of goat, sheep and beef, with no pork and no preservatives or additives. The spiced meat is stuffed into natural casings, shaped into a U-form and left to dry at cool temperatures for several weeks. What sets it apart is the daily hand-pressing with a glass bottle — the "peglanje" (ironing) technique that squeezes out excess liquid and keeps the meat firm. This process is repeated every day for around 40 days, giving the sausage its distinctive dense texture and deep, complex flavour.
Highlights
- Over 40 producers competing and offering tastings
- Specialist jury awards the best producers
- Around 100 exhibitor stands inside the fair hall; plus around 30 stalls with handicrafts and souvenirs outside
- Local dairies, wineries and distilleries from Pirot and across Serbia
- Pirotski Kačkavalj cheese, white cheese and Stara Planina specialities
- Cultural programme with Pirot folklore ensembles, choirs and live music
- Official opening ceremony on the first day at 12:00 noon
- Gates open from 10:00 AM on both days
Programme and Schedule
The fair opens at 10:00 AM on both days. The official opening ceremony takes place on the first day at noon. A rich cultural programme runs throughout both days, featuring folklore groups, singing ensembles and a live music band from Pirot. The fair closes daily at 6:00 PM. The event is organised by the Tourism Organisation of Pirot and the Association of Peglana Kobasica Producers, with support from the City of Pirot.
Tickets
Entry is affordable and available at the gate. At the 12th edition in 2025, tickets cost 250 Serbian Dinars (approximately €2). Prices for 2027 will be announced on the website of the Tourism Organisation Pirot in advance. Tickets are purchased directly at the entrance of the Sajamski prostor Pirot fairground.
Getting There
The fairground is located at Stevana Sremca 33a, close to the centre of Pirot. The city lies in southern Serbia, around 50 kilometres west of the Bulgarian border, at the foot of the Stara Planina mountain range.
- By car via motorway E80 (Belgrade–Sofia), exit Pirot: approximately 3 hours from Belgrade
- By train from Belgrade Central Station via Niš towards Pirot
- By bus from Belgrade, Niš or Sofia; regular connections available
Visitor Tips
- Arrive early: the most popular sausage stands often sell out by midday.
- Glass bottles and large containers are not permitted on the fairground.
- Peglana Kobasica is a winter product, available exclusively in the cold season.
- Book accommodation well in advance; hotels in Pirot fill up quickly during the festival.
- The Stara Planina mountains are just a short drive away and perfect for a day trip after the festival.
- For confirmed 2027 dates and updates, check the official website at topirot.com.
