Cavalcata Sarda – Sardinia Parade in Sassari 2025: What to See

Cavalcata sarda di Sassari: the feast of beauty

The Cavalcata Sarda in Sassari – along with the Descent of the Candlesticks and the Feast of Sant’ Efisio in Cagliari – is one of the most important events in Sardinia. If you decided to visit Sardinia in May, this is the perfect month to experience this wonderful island and not to miss unique events full of charm and colour that take place in the beautiful month of May ➡️ What to do in May in Sardinia: 6 unmissable events

When is the Sardinian Cavalcade in 2025?

The Cavalcata Sarda of Sassari – the only secular festival in Sardinia – is celebrated every year on the penultimate Sunday of May. This year, it will take place on Sunday, May 18.

The festivities begin on Friday, May 16, with the show “Waiting for the Cavalcata Sarda”, featuring local musical groups. On Saturday, May 17, there will be traditional songs and dances, while the grand parade will take place on Sunday morning.

A beautiful festival, with a parade of 2000 people representing the traditions of Sardinia, 200 horsemen and many folk groups.
Nothing is left to chance, the whole town prepares to create a welcoming and colourful event.

Sardinia’s costumes are unavoidable. A parade of hand-sewn clothes from all over the island. Costumes enriched by handmade, antique and refined jewellery. Folk songs and dances. Horses and chariots parade through the city, while the spectacular cavalcade with acrobatic gestures and pariglie traditionally held in the Hippodrome.

A festival for the people, with historical origins. It was created in 1899 to pay homage to King Victor Emmanuel I during his visit to Sassari. Since then it has continued its tradition and is now held for the 74th time.

The Sardinian Cavalcade in numbers

---

• 74° edition
• Folk groups from all over Sardinia
• 2000 participants
• 200 knights and amazons
• 120 women in traditional dress
• Pairs on horseback
• 230 stalls

Brief Program of the Cavalcata Sarda 2025 in Sassari

Main Dates

Friday, May 16, 2025:
Evening event “Waiting for the Cavalcata Sarda” with performances by local music groups.

Saturday, May 17, 2025:
Showcase of traditional Sardinian songs and dances.

Sunday, May 18, 2025:
Morning: Parade of traditional costume groups through the historic city center, featuring over 2,000 participants, about 60 folk groups, and 20 groups of horse riders.
Afternoon: Pariglie show (horseback acrobatics) at the Pinna Hippodrome.
From 6:00 PM: Traditional song and dance performance in Piazza d’Italia, with covered seating area (ticket: €30).

Additional Information

• The event is organized by the Municipality of Sassari.
• The Cavalcata Sarda is the largest secular festival in Sardinia and takes place every year on the penultimate Sunday of May.
• The parade route winds through the historic city center, culminating in Piazza d’Italia.

Why attend the Cavalcata Sarda in Sassari?

Attending the Cavalcata Sarda means experiencing one of the most powerful cultural expressions of Sardinia. Over two thousand participants in traditional costumes from across the island and hundreds of horse riders parade through the streets of Sassari, offering a unique spectacle of color, music, and tradition.

This event, combining parades, horseback acrobatics (pariglie), and showcases of traditional songs and dances, allows visitors to immerse themselves in a vibrant and authentic cultural heritage. The entire city becomes an open-air museum, full of life and history.

The celebration begins in the morning from Corso Francesco Cossiga, with a procession led by the marching band, the mounted Carabinieri, the Gremio dei Massai, and traditional drummers. The parade features over two hundred riders and amazons on horseback.

Sardinian costumes take center stage, with 120 women wearing traditional dresses that vary from village to village. Each costume is distinguished by its own unique features, details, and colors—just like the Sardinian dialects, each with their own distinct tone and richness.

The afternoon at the racecourse of Pinna is dedicated to the Pariglie, where the bravest Sardinian riders perform spectacular acrobatics on running horses.

In the evening, from 6 pm in Piazza d’Italia, the sounds of launeddas, tenores and accordion songs will close the festival.

All the folk groups at the Parade (*2024 edition)

---

Book your stay in Sassari and experience the Sardinian ride

Unique experiences to do in Sassari