Events in Puglia 2026: A Seasonal Guide to Festivals, Food & Culture in Southern Italy
Spring Events (March – May 2026)
When wild blossoms colour the countryside, towns stir to life and ancient rites blend with bright seasonal energy.
International Folklore Festival “La Primavera in Apulia” – Alberobello & Matera (24–27 April 2026)
In late April, UNESCO-listed Alberobello, with its fairytale trulli, comes alive with dancing, music and traditional costumes from around Europe and beyond. This international folklore festival celebrates cultural exchange through performance and parade in picturesque streets.
Festa di San Nicola – Bari (7–9 May 2026)
Every spring, Bari pays homage to its patron saint, San Nicola, with three days of processions, historical reenactments and a flotilla along the sea. The old town fills with pilgrims and visitors alike, and at sunset, fireworks over the Adriatic add a shimmering close to each day’s celebrations.
Festa di San Cataldo – Taranto (8–10 May 2026)
A lesser known but deeply local celebration, Taranto honours San Cataldo with rowing races, street food and firework displays that illuminate the city’s ancient waterfront.
Summer Events (June – August 2026)
Golden light, outdoor concerts and centuries-old rites beneath wide skies.
Festa della Ciliegia – Conversano (June 2026)
Early summer brings the Cherry Festival to Conversano’s medieval streets: tastings, artisan stalls and live music celebrate this joyful fruit of the season.
Locus Festival – Locorotondo (June – July 2026)
Across June and early July, Locorotondo’s Locus Festival mixes jazz, soul, electronic and world music in vineyard-dappled countryside. It’s lively, eclectic and deeply rooted in local ambience, perfect for warm summer nights.
Festival della Valle d’Itria – Martina Franca (June – August 2026)
Set in a baroque hilltop town, the Festival della Valle d’Itria is one of Puglia’s cultural jewels: an opera and classical music festival that fills palaces and piazzas with world-class performances across weeks of summer evenings.
La Notte della Taranta – Salento (July – August 2026)
This is Puglia’s most iconic summer event: La Notte della Taranta celebrates the pizzica, a traditional folk dance, with concerts, workshops and gatherings across Grecia Salentina, building to a spectacular final performance in Melpignano in August.
Festival del Cinema Europeo – Lecce (August 2026)
Baroque Lecce becomes a cinema town in August, celebrating European film under open skies with screenings, Q&A sessions and creative buzz.
Festa dei Martiri Idruntini & Ferragosto Traditions (13–15 Aug 2026)
Otranto and other Salento towns balance piety and festivity for Ferragosto, mid-August’s beloved Italian holiday. Expect processions, fireworks, music and shared feasts marking the peak of summer.
Autumn Events (September – November 2026)
Harvest, wine, truffles and the harvest’s golden glow.
Locorotondo Grape & Wine Festival – Locorotondo (Early Sept 2026)
With the harvest underway, whitewashed Locorotondo hosts tastings, folk music and convivial gatherings under vine-hung arches.
Taranto Music Festival – Taranto (Mid-Sept 2026)
Deep history meets refined culture in this seaside festival of classical, jazz and contemporary music, staged in striking historic venues.
Festa della Madonna della Nova – Ostuni (Late Sept 2026)
The luminous “White City” of Ostuni pays tribute to its patron with processions, fireworks and markets filling its enchanting alleys.
Chestnut & Mushroom Festivals (Oct 2026)
In autumn’s heartbeat, from Cisternino’s Chestnut Festival to Gravina’s Cardoncello Mushroom Festival, local produce and slow-food traditions take centre stage, with tastings and community gatherings in rustic hill towns.
Olive Oil Festival – Monopoli (Nov 2026)
The olive harvest is central to Puglian identity, and in Monopoli locals share their “liquid gold” with tastings, mill visits and stories from olive-press families.
Winter & Year-Round Celebrations (Dec 2026 – Feb 2027)
The olive harvest is central to Puglian identity, and in Monopoli locals share their “liquid gold” with tastings, mill visits and stories from olive-press families.
Alberobello Light & Christmas Markets (Dec 2026)
During December, the trulli of Alberobello sparkle with light installations and festive markets, while living nativity scenes knit tradition with magic.
Putignano Carnival – Putignano (Dec 26– Feb 17, 2027)
Though it begins in late December, Puglia’s world-famous Putignano Carnival carries well into early 2026, culminating on Shrove Tuesday (17 February). One of Europe’s oldest carnivals, it unwinds across weeks of parades featuring giant papier-mâché floats, lively music and joyful satire, a uniquely Puglian prelude to spring.
Illuminandia – Monopoli (Dec 2026 – Feb 2027)
Across winter, Monopoli’s historic centre becomes a luminous wonderland with light displays, artisan stalls and family-friendly festivities.
Why Plan Your Puglia Trip Around These 2026 Events?
Puglia’s calendar is a living expression of place, from baroque cities and olive groves to starlit squares and harvest fields. Travel in tune with these events and you’ll encounter not just sights, but stories, flavours and rhythms that linger long after you return home.
Whether it’s La Notte della Taranta’s hypnotic beats, or autumn evenings over a glass of local wine, these are the experiences that make a villa stay in Puglia feel unforgettable.
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