Savona’s event calendar follows the rhythms of a Ligurian port city: religious feast days rooted in centuries of tradition, a lively Carnevale that takes over the streets in February, a summer season of open-air concerts at the Priamar Fortress, and a late-summer music festival that turns the city centre into one big stage. Food sagre (festivals) celebrating local specialities like focaccia, farinata, and pigato wine pop up in the surrounding hillside villages throughout the year. Here are the major annual events worth planning around. For more detail, see our Savona weather by month guide.
Savona Events and Festivals: Winter and Spring
Carnevale di Savona (February, dates vary)
Savona’s Carnevale is one of the liveliest in Liguria, with a parade of elaborate floats, costumed performers, and street performers winding through the city centre over two weekends. The main parade follows Via Paleocapa from the station area to Piazza Sisto IV. Children (and adults) throw coriandoli (confetti) and stelle filanti (streamers) in a riot of colour. Local pastry shops sell bugie and frittelle di Carnevale (fried dough fritters dusted with sugar), the traditional Carnevale sweets. The 2026 edition runs from roughly February 7 to February 17, with the biggest events on the two Sundays. Arrive early to grab a spot along the parade route, or book a table at a cafe on Via Paleocapa for a raised view. For more detail, see our best time to visit Savona guide.
Festa di Nostra Signora della Misericordia (March 18)
This is Savona’s most important religious festival, commemorating the 1536 apparition of the Virgin Mary to a shepherd on the hillside where the sanctuary now stands. On March 18, a solemn procession carries a statue of the Madonna from the city cathedral up to the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Misericordia, 6km away. Thousands of faithful walk the route, many barefoot as an act of devotion. Even if you’re not religious, the sight of the candlelit basilica and the sea of pilgrims filling the grand piazza is powerful. The sanctuary opens all day with special masses. Bus service is suspended along the route during the procession, so plan to walk or arrive before 08:00 if you want to drive up. Local restaurants serve a traditional meal of baccala (salt cod) and panissa (chickpea fritters) on this day. For more detail, see our things to do in Savona guide.
Settimana Santa (Holy Week, March or April)
Savona’s Holy Week processions are among the most elaborate in Liguria. On Good Friday, the city’s confraternities carry massive wooden processional casse (cases) depicting scenes from the Passion through the old town. These casse, some dating to the 17th century and weighing over 300kg, are housed in the city’s oratories year-round and only emerge for these processions. The route runs from the Oratorio del Cristo Risorto on Via Pia through the caruggi to the cathedral. The processions happen after dark, lit by torches, to the sound of funeral marches played by brass bands. Dates shift with Easter; check the cathedral or tourist office for exact times. Arrive by 20:30 and position yourself along Via Pia for the best views. For more detail, see our best neighborhoods in Savona guide.
Savona Events and Festivals: Summer
Estate al Priamar (July and August)
The Priamar Fortress becomes an open-air cultural venue throughout the summer. The programme, called Estate al Priamar, includes live music (jazz, classical, contemporary Italian artists), open-air cinema screenings, theatre performances, and dance shows. Events are held in the fortress courtyards and on the bastion terraces with the sea as a backdrop. Most events start around 21:00. Tickets are typically EUR 10-20 for concerts, EUR 5 for cinema. The cinema screens a mix of Italian classics and recent releases in original language with subtitles. The full programme is published in June on the Comune di Savona website. Buy tickets at the fortress box office or through the comune’s online portal. Bring a cushion; the stone seating gets hard after an hour. For more detail, see our where to stay in Savona guide.
Palio di Savona (late July, date varies)
This historical regatta pits Savona’s historic neighbourhoods against each other in a rowing competition off the Lungomare. Teams race traditional wooden gozzi (Ligurian fishing boats) in a series of heats with colourful banners flying. The city’s districts (rioni) parade through the streets beforehand in medieval costume. The event celebrates Savona’s maritime history and the rivalry between quarters that dates back centuries. The best viewing is from the Lungomare degli Artisti or the Molo Vecchio pier. Free to watch; arrive by 15:00 for the parade, races start around 16:00. Beer and food stalls set up along the promenade. For more detail, see our Savona travel tips guide.
Savona Events and Festivals: Autumn
Savona Downtown Music Festival (early September)
For one weekend in early September, the entire historic centre becomes a free music festival. Multiple stages are set up in piazzas across the old town, featuring everything from indie rock and jazz to electronic and traditional Ligurian folk. Bars and restaurants extend their hours and set up outdoor food stalls. The atmosphere is relaxed and multigenerational: families with kids in the early evening, a younger crowd later on. All performances are free. The 2026 dates are expected to be September 4-6 (unconfirmed; check visitsavona.com closer to the date). Arrive in the late afternoon, wander between stages, grab a cone of fried seafood (fritto misto) from a street vendor, and settle in for the evening. Accommodation books up quickly for this weekend; reserve at least a month ahead if you’re planning to attend. For more detail, see our Savona travel guide guide.
Sagre and Food Festivals in the Province (various dates, spring to autumn)
The province of Savona hosts dozens of sagre throughout the year. Key ones: Sagra della Focaccia in Albisola (June), Sagra del Fungo in Murialdo (September), Festa dell’Olio Nuovo (new olive oil) across the hillside villages in November and December, and Sagra della Farinata at multiple locations in summer. These are local community events, not slick tourist productions: long communal tables, paper plates, wine in carafes, and dishes made from recipes passed down through generations. Check the sagr.it website for updated dates, as they shift year to year. Most sagre are in the evening from about 19:00. Prices are low: EUR 8-12 for a full plate. These are some of the best-value meals you’ll find on the Riviera.
Savona Events and Festivals: Christmas Season
Mercatini di Natale (December)
Savona’s Christmas market fills Piazza Sisto IV and the adjacent streets from the first weekend of December through Christmas Eve (December 24). Wooden stalls sell handmade crafts, Ligurian food products (pesto, olive oil, wines, panettone), and seasonal decorations. It’s modest compared to northern European markets; the appeal is the local character rather than scale. Mulled wine (vin brule) and roasted chestnuts (caldarroste) are sold from street stands. The lights strung across the caruggi create a cosy atmosphere. The market is open daily from about 10:00 to 20:00, with extended hours to 22:00 on weekends. Free entry, very family-friendly. Combine with an evening passeggiata and dinner at a trattoria in the old town.
