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If you're planning a vacation for 2026 and want to experience the authentic soul of Puglia, you're in the right place. Popular, food and wine, and religious traditions are concentrated in a packed calendar of events. Apulian and Salento festivals and celebrations in 2026From the sacred fire of Novoli to the rhythms of the Taranta, passing through the most spectacular patronal festivals, we've collected the events to mark for a year of discoveries, flavors, and fun.
Il Salento, in particular, is the beating heart of the popular celebrations, offering a total immersion in the peasant and maritime cultureAlthough many specific dates are confirmed close to the event by local committees, the annual traditions are faithfully repeated.
The year opens with an event of international appeal.
The Focara of Novoli (16-18 January 2026): Celebrated in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, it features the largest pyre of vine shoots in the Mediterranean. An unmissable experience combining faith, fireworks, and folklore.
Pestanaca Festival (Tiggiano): A unique opportunity to taste a rare local carrot variety on the feast of Saint Ippazio.
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With the arrival of spring, the patronal festivals in Puglia fill the villages, culminating in the solemn rites of Holy Week.
Gallipoli Historical Carnival: With parades of allegorical floats that liven up the city before Lent (variable date).
Tablets of St. Joseph (Giurdignano and Maglie): A culinary and devotional ritual that involves setting tables laden with typical dishes, including the inevitable Zeppole di San Giuseppe.
BIF&ST – Bari International Film&TV Festival (March 21-28, 2026): For film lovers, a must-see event in the Apulian capital.
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Summer is the golden time for Apulian festivals and celebrationsThe squares are transformed into open-air kitchens, offering the best of local gastronomy.
Feast of St. Nicholas (Bari, May 7-9, 2026): The most important celebration in the capital, with the evocative procession of the Saint at sea.
Locus Festival (Itria Valley): A high-quality music festival that enlivens the historic squares of Locorotondo and the surrounding area.
Feast of St. Peter and Paul (Galatina): Famous for the re-enactment of the tarantate ritual and the pizzica de “Lu Santu Paulu”.
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Taste Market (Maglie, early August): A showcase for the food and wine excellence of Puglia, a true paradise for food lover.
Feast of Santa Domenica (Scorrano, July): Known as the “World Capital of Illuminations,” it transforms the town into a spectacle of lights and pyrotechnic architecture.
Municeddha Festival (Cannole, 10-13 August): The most popular festival dedicated to typical Salento snails cooked according to tradition.
Feast of Sant'Oronzo (Lecce, August 17): The patronal festival of the Salento capital, accompanied by majestic lights, stalls, and fireworks.
The Night of the Taranta (Melpignano, late August): The highlight of the entire Southern Italy event. The final concert is the culmination of a traveling pizzica festival. Get ready to dance until dawn!
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Festa te lu Mieru (Carpignano Salentino, 6-8 September): A celebration dedicated to wine and conviviality, ideal for tasting the new harvest.
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Le Apulian and Salento festivals and celebrations in 2026 They represent a unique opportunity to discover the cultural and gastronomic heart of the region. From the frenetic pace of the pizzica to the simple flavors of peasant dishes, Puglia is ready to welcome you.
Date: TO BE UPDATED (January 5)
Destination: Novoli
Type: Popular Festival
Description: Traditional celebration with a large bonfire in honor of the Befana, accompanied by music and fireworks.
Location: novoli
Order date: Lighting January 16th (Festival January 16th-18th)
Topic: Religious festival and popular tradition
Description:
One of the most evocative celebrations in Salento, dedicated to Sant'Antonio Abate. The protagonist is a gigantic bonfire, the largest in the Mediterranean, made with thousands of bundles of intertwined vine shoots. Once lit, the fire illuminates the night and warms the hearts of the spectators
Location: Tiggiano
Order date: January 18 (To be updated)
Topic: Religious festival and popular tradition
Description:
The Pestanaca Festival is held in conjunction with the celebrations for Sant'Ippazio, the town's patron saint. Pestanaca is a local variety of yellow-purple carrot, grown exclusively in the Tiggiano area and included in the national list of traditional agri-food products (PAT) since 2004.
Location: Specchia
Order date: February 2 (To be updated)
Topic: Religious and mercantile tradition
Description: Traditional fair with exhibition and sale of fabrics, handicrafts, terracotta and various goods, on the occasion of the Candelora festival.
Date: February 3 (To be updated)
Destination: Calimera
Description: Traditional festival with a fair, stalls, and a religious celebration in honor of San Biagio, held at the chapel dedicated to the saint in the town's agricultural countryside.
Order date: Variable (peaks before Ash Wednesday - February 18)
Location: Gallipoli
Description: Historic event with parades of allegorical floats, masks and cultural events, which enlivens the city during the Carnival period.
DateFebruary 17 (To be updated)
Destination: Cutrofiano
Description: Celebration with fires, bonfires and food stands, in honor of Sant'Antonio Abate, deeply felt in the local community.
Order date: First Sunday of March
Location: Diso
Description: Religious celebration in honor of the Madonna of Constantinople, with processions, liturgical events and popular demonstrations involving the entire community
Location: Giurdignano
Order date: March 18-19 (To be updated)
Topic: Religious and culinary tradition
Description: Setting up tables set in honor of Saint Joseph, with typical dishes offered to visitors in an atmosphere of sharing and devotion.
Date: March 19 (To be updated)
Destination: Shirts
Description: Celebration of the saint with a fair in the square, tasting of “zeppole” (typical sweets) and musical shows.
Location: Giuggianello
Order date: March 19 (To be updated)
Topic: Religious and fair tradition
Description: Fair dedicated to San Giuseppe with exhibition of artisanal, gastronomic and agricultural products, accompanied by cultural and musical events.
Location: Leverano and Galatina
Order date: March 19 (To be updated)
Topic: Confectionery tradition
Description: Festival dedicated to the zeppola, a typical dessert of San Giuseppe, prepared according to traditional recipes and offered to visitors during the celebration.
Location: Bari
Order date: March 21 – 28
Topic: Film Festival
Location: All of Puglia (e.g. Gallipoli, Ginosa)
Order date: Variable (Easter 2026 is on April 5th)
Topic: Religious Holidays
Date: April 9 (Date to be confirmed)
Destination: Sternatia
Description: Traditional fair with stalls, typical products and local crafts.
Location: Santa Cesarea Terme
Order date: April 21 (Date to be confirmed)
Topic: Easter tradition
Description: Event dedicated to the “cuddura”, an Easter cake made of sweet bread with eggs, a symbol of rebirth and sharing.
Date: April 21-25 (Date to be confirmed)
Destination: Corigliano d'Otranto
Description: Large fair with displays of local products, crafts and musical events, celebrating the patron saint.
Date: April 24 – 27
DestinationAlberobello/Matera
DescriptionFolklore Festival
Date: April 25 (Date to be confirmed)
Destination: Caprarica of Lecce
Description: The folkloristic event is accompanied by the celebrations in honor of San Marco, celebrated since 1848.
There are many activities practiced during the course: craft exhibition, moments of valorization of the territory, exhibition of typical products of Salento, references to works of authors and much more.
Order date: May 1-3 (Date to be confirmed)
Location: Diso
Description: Religious celebrations with processions and cultural events in honor of the patron saints.
Date: 1st Saturday and Sunday in May (Date to be confirmed)
Destination: Lecce Aquarium
Description: Food festival dedicated to the “purpetta” (meatball), accompanied by traditional music and food stands.
Date: 7 – 9 May
Destination: Shepherd
Description: Religious celebration with procession, food stands and popular music, to celebrate the patron saint.
Date: May 9 (Date to be confirmed)
Destination: Shirts
Description: Religious celebration with procession, food stands and popular music, to celebrate the patron saint.
Location: Leven
Order date: May 24 (Date to be confirmed)
Topic: Agricultural tradition
Description: Fair dedicated to cherries, with exhibition and sale of local products, tastings and musical entertainment.
Order date: Date to be updated (First half of June)
Location: Leven
Description: Floral Festival
Order date: Variable (It takes place on the feast of Corpus Christi)
Location: Patù
Description: On the occasion of the Corpus Domini celebration, the streets of Patù are transformed into floral carpets depicting religious and traditional motifs, creating an evocative route for the procession.
Order date: Variable June 16 – 20
Location: Taranto
Description: Music Festival/Conference
Date: June 21-23 (To be confirmed)
Destination: Calimera
Descriptione: The ancient festival is dedicated to Saint Louis; it is the festival of street lamps, whose origins probably date back to the Byzantine period. With poor materials (canes, string, glue, tissue paper) street lamps of the most varied shapes are made: ships, airplanes, stars, bell towers, etc. The constructions, even five or six meters large, are then hung in the streets and lit from the inside. In a fairy-tale setting, the festival takes place with popular music and dances.
Date: June 28-30 (To be confirmed)
Destination: Galatina
Description: Big party with the famous “tarantellate rite”, a folkloristic event that celebrates the popular tradition of Salento.
Order date: June 29 (To be confirmed)
Location: Galatina
Description: Religious celebration with processions and cultural events, including the re-enactment of the tarantate.
Order date: June August
Location: locorotondo
Description: Music Festival
Date: July 1-2 (To be confirmed)
Destination: Zollino
Description: Food festival dedicated to “sceblasti”, a typical focaccia, with traditional music and food stands.
Order date: July 5-7 (To be confirmed)
Location: Slide
Description: Celebration combines religious tradition and artistic spectacle, with spectacular light installations that transform the streets of the village into a riot of lights and colors. The illuminations, created by local artisans, are accompanied by concerts, food stands with Apulian specialties, and a spectacular procession in honor of the patron saint.
Order date: July 19-21 (To be confirmed)
Location: Merine
Description: La Grain festival is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the roots of Salento, where the “ranu” (wheat) becomes the symbol of a centuries-old tradition. Every year, in the month of July, the small village of Merine comes alive with inebriating scents and lively sounds, hosting food stands where wheat finds a thousand declinations: from first courses of fresh pasta to peasant recipes handed down from generation to generation. The whole thing is made even more evocative by popular music, with dances and songs that resonate through the streets, attracting curious visitors and food and wine enthusiasts. It is a moment of celebration that pays homage to the peasant identity of the area and invites you to rediscover the authentic hospitality of Salento.
Order date: 23th - 27th July
Location: Itria Valley (Masseria Capece)
Description: Music Festival (Electronics)
Location: Cape Aquarium
Order date: August 1 (To be confirmed)
Topic: Agricultural and gastronomic tradition
Description: Celebration of wheat and its derivatives, with tastings of homemade pasta, bread and other typical products, accompanied by music and folk dances.
Order date: August 1-7 (To be confirmed)
Location: Sweathers
Description: Mercatino del Gusto celebrates the rich biodiversity and culinary traditions of Puglia, offering visitors a sensory journey through authentic flavors and high-quality typical products. The streets and squares of Maglie come alive with exhibition stands, tastings, taste workshops, literary meetings and musical performances, creating a festive and engaging atmosphere.
Location: Melendugno
Order date: August 2 (To be confirmed)
Topic: Marine gastronomy
Description: Culinary event centered on octopus, cooked in different variations, accompanied by local wine, live music and folk dances.
Location: Andrano
Order date: August 2-3 (To be confirmed)
Topic: Gastronomic tradition
Description: Festival dedicated to the “pitta culle ùlie”, a typical Salento focaccia with olives, accompanied by popular music and traditional dances.
Location: Ugento
Order date: August 6 (To be confirmed)
Topic: Gastronomic tradition
Description: Festival dedicated to the typical Salento dish made with homemade pasta and chickpeas, with musical entertainment and traditional dances.
Order date: August 10 (To be confirmed)
Location: Specchia
Description: Nighttime cultural event with extraordinary openings of museums, concerts and shows in various parts of the country.
Location: Cannole
Order date: August 10-13 (To be confirmed)
Topic: Local gastronomy
Description: Festival dedicated to the tasting of “municeddhe” (snails), prepared according to traditional recipes, with music and popular dances.
Order date: August 14-16 (To be confirmed)
Location: Paduli Tower (Ruffano)
Description: Traditional celebration with the “Sword Dance”, a choreography that celebrates popular devotion.
Date: August 17 (To be confirmed)
Destination: Lecce
Description: Religious celebration in honor of Santo Ronzo, patron saint of the city of Lecce, with a large procession, folkloristic events and popular demonstrations, rides and fireworks.
Date: Likely: August 22 or 29 (Last Saturday in August) (main date, but the event extends over several weeks)
Destination: Melpignano (LE) and other municipalities of Salento
Description: The Notte della Taranta is one of the most important musical events in Salento, dedicated to traditional Salento music, especially pizzica. The festival culminates in the great night of Melpignano, where thousands of people gather to dance to the rhythm of pizzica and other folk music genres. The event also involves internationally renowned artists who reinterpret the Salento tradition in a modern key. The initiative is a celebration of the cultural roots of the territory and an opportunity to attract tourists from all over the world
Order date: August 31st – September 1st (To be confirmed)
Location: Ruffano
Description: In Ruffano, chili peppers become the protagonist of a unique festival, embellished with lights and decorations that transform the historic center into a fairy-tale place. During the event, you can taste chili peppers in every form, even sweet ones, and admire a unique display of plants from all over the world. The streets and courtyards of the town, full of charm, come alive with musical and theatrical performances, while the market stands offer Salento specialties to complete a gastronomic experience that is worth living.
Order date: End of August
Location: saint seal
Description:
surfing in San Foca is the perfect event for those who want to immerse themselves in a dynamic and creative atmosphere, where music, surfing and outdoor sports blend together in an unforgettable day. Along the Salento coast, the waves provide the background to concerts and DJ sets, while skateboarding, yoga and other outdoor activity enthusiasts gather to share energy and passion. Between workshops, contests, artisan markets and collectible vinyls, every corner of Surfest exudes vitality and a desire for freedom, making it an unmissable event for lovers of adventure and good music.
Order date: September 6-8 (To be confirmed)
Location: Carpignano Salentino
Description: Food and wine festival dedicated to local wine, with tastings, music and folk dances.
Order date: Date to be updated (Traditionally mid-September)
Location: Bari
Description: international Fair
Order date: Date to be updated (Traditionally end of September)
Location: Saint Michael of Bari
Description: Food and Wine Festival
Date: End of October
Destination: Rutigliano, Apulia
Description: A festival dedicated to Apulian wine, with tastings, meetings with producers and insights into the world of wine.
Date: November 11
Destination: Salento
Description: The Feast of San Martino is a deeply felt tradition in Salento, celebrated with events that include processions, religious celebrations and folk festivals. The day is often associated with the end of the agricultural season, with the tradition of “celebrating the new wine”, a young wine produced with the first grapes harvested. In many places in Salento, the festival is also an opportunity to taste typical dishes of the local cuisine and to participate in folkloristic events, concerts and markets. The figure of San Martino, patron saint of farmers, is celebrated with moments of sociality and conviviality.
Order date: 8-31 December 2025
Location: Tricase
Description: Living nativity scene.
Location: Surat
Order date: December 23 (Date to be confirmed)
Topic: Christmas tradition
Description: Festival dedicated to “pittule”, typical Salento fritters, offered in different variations, with Christmas markets and popular music.
