Feast of Saint Rosalia 2026

From 10 to 15 July 2026, Palermo will celebrate the 402nd Feast of Saint Rosalia, the event most dear to the hearts of the people of Palermo and one of Sicily’s most important religious and cultural events. Dedicated to the city’s patron saint, the Festino renews the memory each year of the miracle attributed to Santuzza, who is said to have freed Palermo from the plague in 1624, transforming the historic centre into a vast open-air theatre of faith, tradition and spectacle.

The highlight of the celebrations will be the evening of 14 July, when the traditional Triumphal Chariot of Santa Rosalia will pass through the Cassaro, the city’s ancient monumental axis, accompanied by artistic performances, music, dance, video projections and theatrical interludes. The route will start at the Palazzo dei Normanni and end at Porta Felice, passing through the iconic sites of the historic centre and recounting the life and cult of the patron saint through four narrative stages. Among the most moving moments of the evening is the traditional collective cry of “Viva Palermo e Santa Rosalia!”, which resounds at the Quattro Canti, drawing citizens and visitors into a great popular celebration. The procession will culminate on the seafront with the customary fireworks display that will light up the city sky.

The celebrations will continue on 15 July with religious rites dedicated to the patron saint, whilst in the days leading up to the Festino there will be a programme of cultural, artistic and institutional events in anticipation of the European Year of the Normans 2027, in which Palermo will play a leading role.

Awarded in recent years as one of Italy’s best cultural events and recognised internationally, the Feast of Saint Rosalia offers a unique experience that blends spirituality, civic identity and entertainment, drawing thousands of people to the heart of the Sicilian capital every year.