The Cavalcata Sarda is a large annual festival in Sassari that showcases traditional Sardinian costumes, horses, music, and dance.
Held every May, it brings together groups from across the island in a large parade through the historic center. Unlike many Sardinian festivals, such as Sant’Efisio in Cagliari, that have strong religious ties, it has no religious meaning and is instead a celebration of local identity and heritage.
Often referred to as the “festival of beauty,” the Cavalcata Sarda is known for the richness of its costumes and the variety of traditions on display, with participants representing dozens of towns and villages.
I attended the latest edition in Sassari, and if you happen to be in northern Sardinia in late spring, it is well worth planning your trip around it.
In this guide, you will find everything you need to know to visit the Cavalcata Sarda, from timing and logistics to what to expect on the day.
I have written a guide on The Best Events And Festivals In Sardinia that highlights the ones you should not miss, with something in every season.
Cavalcata Sarda: Quick Guide
Here is all the essential information you need to have about the Cavalcata Sarda:
- Where: Sassari, northern Sardinia
- When: Second-last Sunday of May (2026: 17 May)
- What it is: A large secular festival showcasing traditional Sardinian costumes, horses, music, and dance
- Main event: Morning parade through Sassari + afternoon equestrian performances
- Tickets: The parade is free; some seating and shows may require tickets
- Time needed: 1 full day (better with 1 night stay)
- Best for: Culture, photography, traditional costumes
- Worth it? Yes — one of the most visually striking festivals in Sardinia
When Is The Cavalcata Sarda?
The Cavalcata Sarda takes place every year in Sassari on the second-last Sunday of May.
- In 2026: Sunday 17 May
While most people think of it as a one-day event, in reality, it’s a full weekend of celebrations, with Sunday as the main highlight.
What actually happens each day
Friday & Saturday (build-up events)
The festival atmosphere starts building across the city. The “Waiting for the Cavalcata Sarda” event takes place on Friday evening. You will see:
- folk music and dance performances in piazzas
- small concerts and cultural events
- local groups arriving from across Sardinia
These days are quieter and more relaxed — good if you want to experience the atmosphere without the crowds.
Sunday morning (the main parade)
This is the core of the Cavalcata Sarda. You will see:
- Hundreds of participants parade through central Sassari
- Traditional costumes of 60 different towns and villages in Sardinia. A total of 2,000 participants
- 20 groups of people riding horses
- Musicians, dancers, and ceremonial groups
This is the busiest part of the entire event — expect large crowds and arrive early if you want a good viewing spot.
Sunday afternoon (equestrian performances)
In the afternoon, the focus shifts to the hippodrome:
- Traditional Sardinian horse riding displays
- Acrobatic performances on horseback, not too different from those of Sa Sartiglia of Oristano, but the people riding horses don’t wear the same costumes) take place at the Pinna Hippodrome.
- Organized shows rather than a free-flowing parade
This part usually requires a separate ticket. It’s worth attending if you are specifically interested in Sardinian horse traditions. Otherwise, many people (locals and tourists alike) choose to stay in the city and skip this part.
Sunday evening (closing events)
The festival winds down in Piazza d’Italia, in the heart of Sassari, with:
- traditional Sardinian music and dancing
- a more relaxed atmosphere in the city center
Crowds are smaller compared to the morning, and it’s a good time to enjoy the event at a more relaxed pace.
Good to know: Exact schedules change each year slightly, so always check the official program closer to your visit.
How To Plan Your Day At The Cavalcata Sarda
The Cavalcata Sarda is easy to enjoy, but small decisions on logistics can make a big difference — especially on Sunday, when Sassari gets crowded and movement becomes slow. Here are some tips that will help you make the most of it.
Start early or stay central
The biggest mistake is arriving in Sassari on Sunday morning.
If you’re driving in, expect:
- traffic building from early morning
- limited parking near the center
- road closures as the parade approaches
Try to stay in Sassari the night before. If not, aim to arrive as early as possible and be prepared to park outside the center and walk in.
Plan to arrive at the parade no later than 8:30–9:00 am to get a decent viewing spot. By mid-morning, central Sassari is already crowded, especially near the main squares.
Expect:
- long stretches of standing people
- large crowds along the route
- slow-moving groups in traditional costume, often accompanied by musicians and dancers
This is not a quick event — the parade can last several hours, so be prepared to stay in one place for a while.
Pick your viewing strategy (not just a spot)
Instead of looking for the “best place,” decide what matters more to you:
- For good visibility: choose wider streets such as Via Roma and arrive early
- For better photos: stand near turns where groups slow down
- Piazza d’Italia: seated area, the best spot to watch the entire parade
- More space: stay away from narrow streets
Many will tell you that moving around during the parade is difficult and rarely worth it, but I did it last time I attended, and I found it to be a good strategy to get good views and good photos.
Last time I attended, I moved between Via Roma, Piazza d’Italia, and Viale Italia, and caught the parade from several spots.
Decide in advance whether to go to the hippodrome
After the parade, the event continues at the Pinna Hippodrome, but not everyone needs to go.
Go if:
- you want to see horse performances up close
- you enjoy a seated, structured event
Skip it if:
- you’ve already had your fill of the parade
- you prefer a more flexible afternoon
Deciding this ahead of time helps you avoid rushing or wasting time figuring it out on the day.
Use the evening to slow down
The evening is the easiest part of the day to manage. It’s the best time to enjoy the atmosphere at your own pace, especially after a long morning.
There’s no need to plan much, but if you are staying in Sassari, you may want to book a restaurant for dinner in advance.
Plan your stay around logistics, not just time
You can attend the Cavalcata Sarda as a day trip from Alghero or other places in northern Sardinia like Castelsardo, but that means an early start and some patience.
If you decide to stay overnight in Sassari (that’s what I did last time I went), the experience is overall smoother:
- no early-morning drive
- easier access to the center
- less stress around parking and traffic
If you’re already based in Alghero, the drive is manageable — just factor in extra time on the day.
How long should you plan to stay?
If you are short on time, you can visit just for the day and focus on the Sunday morning parade — this is the main event and the highlight of the festival.
That said, arriving in Sassari on Saturday afternoon gives you a much better experience. You’ll catch some of the build-up events, and you won’t have to deal with early-morning travel on the busiest day.
Ideally, stay overnight in Sassari and leave on Sunday evening or the following day. This makes it much easier to enjoy the parade without worrying about traffic, parking, or rushing back.
What this means for your trip
If you only show up for the parade, you’ll see the most iconic part — but you’ll miss the broader cultural side of the event.
Staying for the full weekend gives you a much better sense of what the Cavalcata Sarda is actually about.
Where To Stay For The Cavalcata Sarda
Where you stay will directly affect how easy your day is. Distances are not huge, but traffic, parking, and timing can make a real difference on the day of the event.
Sassari (best option for convenience)
If your main goal is to attend the Cavalcata Sarda, I recommend staying in Sassari. This is the most practical choice. It’s what I did last time I attended, and it was convenient. This way:
- You can reach the parade on foot
- No need to deal with parking or road closures
- You avoid early-morning travel on the busiest day
This is especially important if you want to arrive early and secure a good viewing spot without rushing.
In Sassari, I recommend staying at Hotel Carlo Felice (it’s where I always stay). It’s a well-rated 3-star hotel located just outside the center. It offers free parking and easy access to the main roads, which can be useful if you are driving. From there, it’ll take you about 30 minutes on foot, or 15 by public transport, to get to the historic center where the parade takes place.
Expert tip: While it is the second-largest city in Sardinia, Sassari isn’t touristy at all, and for this reason, there aren’t many good accommodation options. Furthermore, accommodation in Sassari is limited during the Cavalcata Sarda, and tends to fill up quickly for the event weekend, so you need to book in advance.
Alghero (best alternative)
Alghero is a good option to stay if you prefer a more pleasant base with a wider range of accommodation and restaurants. If you stay in Alghero:
- It takes around 40 minutes to drive to Sassari
- Easier to find hotels, especially for longer stays
- Well-connected and easy to combine with other parts of northern Sardinia
The trade-off is logistics. You will need to leave early on Sunday and allow extra time for traffic and parking once you arrive in Sassari.
A good place to stay in Alghero, just outside town, is Hotel Sa Cheya Relais & Spa, set in the countryside about 5 km from Alghero. It offers a quieter setting, a large pool, and easy parking, which makes it a comfortable base if you are driving.
This works well if you are already planning to stay in Alghero and do not want to change base just for the event.
Quick recommendation
- If the Cavalcata Sarda is a priority, stay in Sassari.
- If you prefer a more flexible itinerary, stay in Alghero and plan an early start.
Cavalcata Sarda Tickets
Attending the Cavalcata Sarda is free — you can watch the parade from anywhere along the route in the historic center of Sassari.
If you want a more comfortable experience, reserved seating is available. You can buy tickets either online on TicketOne or in person at the ticket office in Via Roma 144 in Sassari.
Tickets are usually released a few weeks before the event.
What To Expect At The Cavalcata Sarda
The Cavalcata Sarda is not a single performance, but a sequence of events that unfold throughout the day.
Traditional costumes
The Cavalcata Sarda brings together hundreds of participants from across the island. Groups from more than 60 villages and small towns of Sardinia parade through the historic center of Sassari, each wearing their own traditional dress.
Women’s outfits are particularly elaborate, with fine embroidery and jewelry made of gold filigree, coral, and pearls. According to local tradition, these intricate pieces were once believed to be crafted by the janas — the same mythical figures associated with the “Domus de Janas”.
Typical elements include long skirts with aprons, white blouses, corsets, and head coverings such as su muccadori (that’s the Sardinian language for a handkerchief). Covering the head was once common for Sardinian women — something older generations still remember.
Men wear more structured clothing: white shirts, waistcoats, jackets, and ragas (white linen trousers), often paired with the traditional berritta (a hat) and, in some cases, a cloak.
Sardinian Carnival masks
Some groups in the parade wear traditional carnival masks, first introduced in the 1950s.
You may see:
- the mamuthones and issohadores from Mamoiada
- the boes, merdules, and filonzana from Ottana
The parade itself
The parade stretches for more than 2 km (1.2 miles) and is continuous rather than staged.
Along the route, you will also see:
- horses following the groups, sometimes ridden by children
- baskets filled with traditional products such as bread, pastries and other Sardinian delicacies
- traccas, decorated wooden carts pulled by horses or oxen
It’s a dense, visual experience, with very little pause between groups.
Equestrian performances
Horse riding is a key part of the Cavalcata Sarda.
More than 200 horses take part in the procession, but the most technical displays happen later in the day at the Pinna Hippodrome.
Here, riders perform pariglie — acrobatic stunts on horseback that require precision, coordination, and years of practice.
Folk music and dance
Throughout the event, music and dance are constant.
You will hear:
- canto a tenore (recognized by UNESCO)
- launeddas (traditional Sardinian wind instruments)
Dance groups perform su ballu tundu, a circular dance that often draws in spectators. It may look simple, but it takes skill to follow the rhythm and steps correctly.
Traditional markets
Along the parade route — especially around Corso Cossiga, Via Enrico Costa, Via Asproni, Viale Mancini, Corso Berlinguer, Via Manno, Via Mazzini, and Piazza d’Armi— you will find stalls selling the best food and traditional products of Sardinia.
When I visited, the variety was impressive. You could try everything from grilled mullet to porceddu, along with different Sardinian cheeses and sweets like sebadas.
There is no shortage of drinks either, with local wine and beer widely available.
Additional events
Beyond the main parade and horse performances, there are smaller events throughout the weekend.
These typically include:
- concerts on the Saturday evening
- smaller performances and cultural activities around the historic center
They are not the main focus, but they add to the overall atmosphere.
Cavalcata Sarda Numbers
Here’s a quick overview of the scale of the Cavalcata Sarda:
- 75th edition (2026)
- Around 2,000 participants
- Over 200 horse riders
- More than 200 market stalls
- Dozens of folk groups from across Sardinia
Participants come from towns and villages all over the island, representing their communities through music, dance, and traditional dress.
History of The Cavalcata Sarda
The origins of the Cavalcata Sarda date back to 1711, when a parade was organized in Sassari to honor King Philip V of Spain. Local noble families took part, wearing their traditional costumes as a way to display both identity and wealth.
The modern version of the festival began in 1899, during the visit of King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Savoy. The event was held alongside the unveiling of the statue of Vittorio Emanuele II in Piazza d’Italia, marking an important moment for the newly unified Italian state.
Similar editions were organized in 1929 and 1939, again to coincide with royal visits.
Although originally created to celebrate monarchs, the Cavalcata Sarda developed in a city with a strong republican identity — a contrast that still defines part of its character.
After a pause during World War II, the event was revived in 1951 and gradually evolved into the festival seen today, focused on showcasing Sardinian traditions rather than honoring political figures.
FAQs on The Cavalcata Sarda
The Cavalcata Sarda is a large annual festival in Sassari showcasing traditional Sardinian costumes, horses, music, and dance. Held in May, it features a long parade with participants from villages across the island, celebrating Sardinian culture and identity.
The Cavalcata Sarda is held every year in Sassari on the second-last Sunday of May.
The Cavalcata Sarda takes place every May in Sassari, in northern Sardinia. You should travel there for a day or two if you want to see it. You can also see it on regional TV channels such as Videolina (channel 10 on Sardinian TV).
Yes, you can attend the Cavalcata Sarda for free. You can watch the parade from anywhere along the route, though reserved seating and some events require tickets.
No — you do not need tickets for the parade. You can watch it for free from anywhere along the route, though you can book a reserved seat if you want.
I recommend arriving by 8:30–9:00 am to get a good viewing spot. Crowds build quickly, and central Sassari becomes busy well before the parade starts.
I recommend staying in Sassari for easy access to the parade, or in Alghero if you prefer a better base and can drive in early (about 40 minutes away).
Yes, you can visit as a day trip from Alghero. It’s about a 40-minute drive, but you’ll need to leave early and plan for traffic and parking.
Yes, but expect large crowds and long periods of standing. It’s manageable with older children; younger kids may find the morning parade tiring.
The main events take place on Sunday and last most of the day, from the morning parade to evening performances, with additional activities over the weekend.
The official date of the main events for the Cavalcata Sarda in May 2026 is 17 May.
The Cavalcata Sarda is a secular festival in Sassari focused on traditional costumes, horses, and performances. Sant’Efisio, in Cagliari, is a religious procession honoring a saint, rooted in devotion and pilgrimage traditions. You will see traditional Sardinian costumes, singing, and music in both of them.
Is The Cavalcata Sarda Worth It?
If you are in northern Sardinia in mid-May, the Cavalcata Sarda is well worth attending.
It is one of the best ways to experience Sardinian culture in a single day, with dozens of villages represented through their costumes, music, and dance.
What makes it stand out is the atmosphere. Sassari is not a major tourist destination, and most of the people attending are locals. The event feels genuine rather than staged, and you get a clear sense of how strongly these traditions are still preserved.
If you are interested in culture rather than just beaches, this is one of the most rewarding events you can experience on the island.
Recommended Readings
Sa Sartiglia: The Best Guide To Sardinia’s Favorite Carnival
Canto a Tenore: Sardinia’s Ancient Polyphonic Singing (How It Sounds, Where to Hear It)
Further Readings
These other readings may be of interest if you are keen on festivals and cultural traditions:
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There always are spots that aren’t as busy, but if you think you may be uncomfortable with the crowds get a ticketed seat. I think what I mean by moving around is that you can look for a spot for better viewing. But the parade you’ll see is only one anyways… It follows a trail around the streets of the historic center.
Claudia, thank you for this wonderful information about the Cavalcada. I plan to come in May ‘26 from the US especially to see this. I worry about how to find a good viewing spot for the parade, because I imagine the streets are quite crowded with spectators. Perhaps a ticketed seat is the best solution? Can you explain why you suggested moving around to different viewing spots? Thank you!
Hello Melissa, there’s no real difference in the way to travel to Sardinia from the US this time of year, or the rest of the year. I explain the best options to travel to Sardinia in this post https://strictlysardinia.com/how-to-get-to-sardinia/ which I encourage you to read. It has recommendations on how to travel from the US too.
Hi, We are interested in the festival. What is the most economical way to get to Sardinia from US this time of year?
Hello Jack, tickets will go on sale tomorrow. The link to buy the tickets is clearly visible in this post 🙂
Hi Claudia,
I am looking for 2 tickets to the parade grandstand. Do you know when they will go on sale and where I can get them?
Thank you,
Jack
I dare say it’s 100% locals that attend. The key is to move every now and then to look for a different spot.
Great read about the Cavalcata Sarda! Can you tell if local Sardinians still actively participate or is it mostly tourists now? Also, any idea if there’s a good spot to watch the parade without too much crowd?
Hello Anja, the 2025 edition of the Cavalcata Sarda is taking place on 18 May. It’s an all-day event with the costumes parade in the morning, dances etc, then the horse show in the afternoon. If your flight to Rome can be changed, I recommend leaving later on in the evening on that day so that you can actually attend the Cavalcata. Reading about it online isn’t quite the same as seeing it. That’s when the city really comes to life and you can taste various traditional foods too. There may be some stands already on the Saturday but the big thing is always on the Sunday.
hi Claudia, thanks for your review, gives me right an impression. now, i was wondering. im sailing in sardinia and im supposed to leave on sun 18th may to rome. is there anything similar going on on saturday too? im not to bothered about the parade etc as i can look it up online, but i really wanna try the food from the differend regions. will there be any food stalls or festivities going on on saturday too? when does the program start on sunday? how long is it? i highly appreciate your help. thx anja from germany
Tickets are for seats to observe the Cavalcata Sarda parade.
Thank you for your insightful article.
You say “If you want a more comfortable experience, you can buy tickets either online on TicketOne or in person at the ticket office in Via Roma 144 in Sassari. ” What are the tickets for and where can i get a full description of the activities>
Thank you