5,500 PARTICIPANTS ◉ TRADITIONAL COSTUMES ◉ 8 SARDINIAN PROVINCES
The ethnographic heart of the festival: an entire Sardinia in costume walking through Cagliari on May 1st. 27 historic sub-regions, dozens of associations, an eight-hour procession.
◉ STABLE TRADITION SINCE 1657
The procession follows a codified sequence repeated unchanged every May 1st. Each element has its precise place, the result of three and a half centuries of tradition.
The opening is entrusted to the launeddas players — Sardinia's three-reed aerophone. The ancient notes of Cuncordia prelude the procession.
About 17–19 decorated ox-drawn carts (tracas) adorned with flowers, from the host municipalities of the route and the Campidano plain.
About 5,500 costumed participants. The groups from the host municipalities parade first (Cagliari, Sarroch, Villa San Pietro, Pula, Capoterra), then the others grouped by historical region.
Over 35 equestrian associations, 172 mounted figures. The Cavalieri del Campidano parade first. Representatives of every Sardinian province follow.
Four platoons of 14 horsemen each, one for every historic quarter of Cagliari: Stampace, Villanova, Marina, and Castello. 19th-century red jackets, arquebuses, rifle salvos at key points along the route.
Immediately precedes the carriage. Bears the 17th-century Gonfalone of the Madonna of the Ransom.
The statue of Sant'Efisio on the 18th-century baroque carriage, drawn by white oxen adorned with flower garlands. The religious and visual climax of the procession.
◉ FROM LOGUDORO TO SULCIS, FROM GALLURA TO SARRABUS
Every Sardinian town has its own traditional costume, with fabrics, jewellery, and cuts that tell centuries of history. Folk groups are organised by historic sub-region — geographical-cultural divisions older than modern provincial borders.
Editorial note. The composition of participating groups varies annually based on registrations. The list below is a summary of groups historically present per sub-region: when the City of Cagliari publishes the official list for the 370th edition, this page will be updated.
Assemini · Cagliari (Villanova, Giorgino, Pirri) · Elmas · Maracalagonis · Monastir · Monserrato · Quartu Sant'Elena · Quartucciu · Selargius · Serramanna · Serrenti · Sestu · Settimo San Pietro · Sinnai · Uta · Villasor
The most represented area, with over 20 active groups. Includes the backbone of the route.
Capoterra · Nuxis · Pula · Sant'Antioco · Sarroch · Teulada · Villa San Pietro
Hosts the second half of the route — from Sarroch to Nora.
Gonnesa · Iglesias · Siliqua
Guspini · Villacidro
Cabras · Mogoro · Oristano · Villaurbana
Dolianova · Serdiana
Gesico · Siurgus Donigala
Gesturi · Sanluri
Laconi
Escalaplano
Muravera
Perdasdefogu
Tortolì
Busachi · Fordongianus
Abbasanta · Ghilarza · Paulilatino
Atzara · Desulo · Samugheo · Sorgono · Tonara
Aritzo · Meana Sardo
Sadali · Seui
Gavoi · Lodine · Ollolai · Orgosolo
Dorgali · Fonni · Nuoro · Oliena · Orune
Macomer
Santu Lussurgiu
Bono · Bottidda
Galtellì
Ittiri · Osilo · Ossi · Ozieri · Ploaghe · Uri
Porto Torres · Sassari
Sennori · Sorso
Nulvi · Valledoria
Olbia · Tempio Pausania
◉ MAY 1—4, 2026
Below are the groups and choirs confirmed for the 2026 edition, as communicated by institutional channels. The complete list of participants will be published by the City shortly before the festival, and this page will be updated accordingly.
◉ HISTORIC GROUPS
Cagliari Folk Group — Villanova Quarter
Founded in 1976
Villaggio Pescatori Giorgino
Historic community founded in 1939, Viale Pula
◉ POLYPHONIC CHOIRS
Performances during the Festa della Tradizione and the collateral cultural evenings — see 2026 programme.
◉ LAUNEDDAS ◉ GÒCIUS ◉ ROSARIES
A three-reed instrument made of marsh cane, played with circular breathing. 3,000 years of history, intangible heritage of Sardinia. During the festival they accompany the carriage's exit and mark the key moments of the procession.
Sacred litanies in Sardinian language dedicated to Sant'Efisio. Passed down from generation to generation and chanted by the groups along the route. Most participating associations recite the gòcius or the rosary as they walk.
Sardinian pastoral flute in common reed. Less frequent than the launeddas, but present in specific Barbagia traditions. Its sharp timbre is recognisable during the passage of inland groups.
◉ TOURISM OFFICE ◉ DEADLINE JANUARY 31
Registration of folk associations for the procession is handled by the Tourism Office of the City of Cagliari. Participation is free and open to groups from all over Sardinia.
01
Deadline
January 31 each year
02
Channel
Official City form
03
Cost
Free
Dozens of cultural and folkloric associations from across the island, for a total of about 5,500 costumed participants. The 27 historic sub-regions represented cover all 8 Sardinian provinces.
Musicians → tracas → folk groups by sub-region (first the host municipalities, then the other historical regions) → horsemen → 4 platoons of Militiamen → Archconfraternity → carriage with the saint.
Through the official form of the City of Cagliari by January 31 of each year. Registration is free.
The Tourism Office of the City of Cagliari collects the requests and publishes the list and parade order shortly before the festival.
Gòcius (sacred litanies in Sardinian) and sung rosaries, accompanied by launeddas and sulittu. The launeddas are an intangible heritage of Sardinia.