The Taranto events calendar month by month: Holy Week, San Cataldo, summer festivals, autumn sagre and Christmas. When to visit the city.
History
The Tarantine year has a rhythm of its own, marked by appointments that return faithfully season after season. This page gathers the calendar of the main recurring events, useful for choosing when to visit the city based on what you want to experience.
The exact dates of individual events change every year: for the updated programme, always check the official channels of the City of Taranto and the organising bodies.
Upcoming dates
Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games
📍 Iacovone Stadium and venues across the city and province
The XX Mediterranean Games: 26 nations, over 4,000 athletes, 33 disciplines. The biggest event in the city's recent history.
The Art of Victory — exhibition at MArTA
📍 National Archaeological Museum of Taranto
An exhibition dedicated to sport in the ancient world, built around the famous Athlete of Taranto, in dialogue with the Mediterranean Games.
XXXIII 'Mediterraneo' Contemporary Ceramics Competition
📍 Episcopio Castle, Grottaglie
Works from dozens of countries on show in the heart of the Ceramics District, in the town that symbolises Apulian craftsmanship.
Avetrana Meatball Festival
📍 Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Avetrana
24th edition of the food festival dedicated to meatballs, in the town's historic centre.
Feast of San Rocco
📍 Palagiano
A patronal feast with a religious rite from the Chiesa Matrice and a procession through the streets of the town.
Dates may change: always check official channels before planning your visit.
What to see
Winter (December-February). The festive season brings luminarie, markets and living nativity scenes in the villages. It's the ideal season to visit museums and historic centres without the crowds, and to enjoy the mussels, at their best in the months with an "r".
Spring (March-May). The high point: Holy Week (moveable dates between March and April) with the processions of the Mysteries and of the Addolorata, among the oldest rites in Italy. On 10 May the city celebrates San Cataldo, its patron saint, with the sea procession. Spring is also the best season for trekking in the ravines and for the orchid bloom.
Summer (June-September). The season of the sea and open-air events: the Taranto Summer programme, the concerts on the seafront, the prestigious Itria Valley Festival in Martina Franca (July-August) and the many village sagre.
Autumn (October-November). Harvest time and food festivals, with feasts devoted to wine, new oil and the produce of the land. The mild climate makes it an ideal period to explore the territory without the summer heat.
Did you know…
- Holy Week has moveable dates between March and April, following the Easter calendar.
- San Cataldo, Taranto's patron saint, is celebrated on 10 May with the sea procession.
- The Itria Valley Festival is held every summer in Martina Franca.
- Autumn is the season of the sagre devoted to wine and new oil.
Practical information
| Hours | The exact dates of individual events vary from year to year. |
|---|---|
| Ticket | Many events and rites are free; festivals and concerts may be ticketed. |
| Accessibility | Varies by event and venue. |
| Getting there | Events take place in Taranto city and the province's villages. |
Tips for your visit
- For exact dates, always check the official channels of the City and the organisers.
- Book well in advance if visiting during Holy Week or in August.
- Spring and autumn offer mild weather and fewer crowds: ideal for the territory.
- For the sea, the season runs from May to September.