85+ GROUPS ◉ 27 SUB-REGIONS

5,500 PARTICIPANTS ◉ TRADITIONAL COSTUMES ◉ 8 SARDINIAN PROVINCES

The Folk
Groups

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.

Folk groups in traditional costume during the Sant'Efisio procession

◉ STABLE TRADITION SINCE 1657

The Traditional Parade Order

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.

  1. 1

    Opening Musicians

    The opening is entrusted to the launeddas players — Sardinia's three-reed aerophone. The ancient notes of Cuncordia prelude the procession.

  2. 2

    The Tracas

    About 17–19 decorated ox-drawn carts (tracas) adorned with flowers, from the host municipalities of the route and the Campidano plain.

  3. 3

    Folk Groups by Sub-region

    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.

  4. 4

    Horsemen from Across Sardinia

    Over 35 equestrian associations, 172 mounted figures. The Cavalieri del Campidano parade first. Representatives of every Sardinian province follow.

  5. 5

    The Four Militiamen Platoons

    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.

  6. 6

    Archconfraternity of the Gonfalone

    Immediately precedes the carriage. Bears the 17th-century Gonfalone of the Madonna of the Ransom.

  7. 7

    The Golden Carriage

    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

The 29 Sub-regions of Sardinia

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.

Campidano of Cagliari

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.

Sulcis

Capoterra · Nuxis · Pula · Sant'Antioco · Sarroch · Teulada · Villa San Pietro

Hosts the second half of the route — from Sarroch to Nora.

Iglesiente

Gonnesa · Iglesias · Siliqua

Arburense

Guspini · Villacidro

Campidano of Oristano

Cabras · Mogoro · Oristano · Villaurbana

Parteolla

Dolianova · Serdiana

Trexenta

Gesico · Siurgus Donigala

Marmilla

Gesturi · Sanluri

Sarcidano

Laconi

Gerrei

Escalaplano

Sarrabus

Muravera

Quirra

Perdasdefogu

Ogliastra

Tortolì

Barigadu

Busachi · Fordongianus

Guilcier

Abbasanta · Ghilarza · Paulilatino

Mandrolisai

Atzara · Desulo · Samugheo · Sorgono · Tonara

Barbagia di Belvì

Aritzo · Meana Sardo

Barbagia di Seulo

Sadali · Seui

Barbagia di Ollolai

Gavoi · Lodine · Ollolai · Orgosolo

Barbagia di Nuoro

Dorgali · Fonni · Nuoro · Oliena · Orune

Marghine

Macomer

Montiferru

Santu Lussurgiu

Goceano

Bono · Bottidda

Baronie

Galtellì

Logudoro

Ittiri · Osilo · Ossi · Ozieri · Ploaghe · Uri

Nurra / Turritano

Porto Torres · Sassari

Romangia

Sennori · Sorso

Anglona

Nulvi · Valledoria

Gallura

Olbia · Tempio Pausania

◉ MAY 1—4, 2026

The 370th Edition

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

Confirmed 2026

  • Cagliari Folk Group — Villanova Quarter

    Founded in 1976

  • Villaggio Pescatori Giorgino

    Historic community founded in 1939, Viale Pula

◉ POLYPHONIC CHOIRS

Collateral Events

  • Coro Polifonico Cantos de Jara — Gesturi
  • Coro Kellarious — Selargius
  • Coro Terra Mea — Cagliari
  • Coro S'Arrodia — Sinnai
  • Coro Carrales — Cagliari
  • Coro di Cagliari — Cagliari

Performances during the Festa della Tradizione and the collateral cultural evenings — see 2026 programme.

◉ LAUNEDDAS ◉ GÒCIUS ◉ ROSARIES

The Music of the Procession

Launeddas player during the procession

The Launeddas

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.

The Gòcius

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.

The Sulittu

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

Registering a Group

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

OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FORM ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

How many folk groups take part? +

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.

What is the parade order? +

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.

How does a group register? +

Through the official form of the City of Cagliari by January 31 of each year. Registration is free.

Who decides which groups take part? +

The Tourism Office of the City of Cagliari collects the requests and publishes the list and parade order shortly before the festival.

What music accompanies the groups? +

Gòcius (sacred litanies in Sardinian) and sung rosaries, accompanied by launeddas and sulittu. The launeddas are an intangible heritage of Sardinia.

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