Olbia’s events calendar follows the Mediterranean rhythm: religious festivals in spring, open-air concerts and food sagre in summer, and wine harvest celebrations in autumn. The city’s most important event is the Festa di San Simplicio in mid-May, which has anchored Olbia’s cultural calendar for centuries and draws thousands of visitors from across Sardinia. Most events are free to attend, with food and drink sold at reasonable local prices. For more detailed information, see the Olbia Weather by Month guide.
Olbia Events & Festivals: Spring (March to May)
Festa di San Simplicio (May 12-15)
Olbia’s patron saint festival is the city’s biggest annual event. The celebrations span four days with three distinct components: religious processions carrying the saint’s statue from the Basilica of San Simplicio through the streets of the historic centre (May 12 evening and May 15 morning), the Sagra delle Cozze (Mussel Festival) where local fishermen prepare thousands of kilograms of mussels in white wine and garlic along the waterfront (May 12-13, plates from 5 EUR), and the Palio della Stella, a traditional bareback horse race where riders compete to grab a hanging star (May 13 afternoon at the ippodromo outside town). Fireworks close the festival on May 15 at 22:30 over the Gulf of Olbia. Book accommodation 2-3 months ahead as the city fills up. Free entry to all events except food purchases. For more detailed information, see our Best Time to Visit Olbia guide.
Holy Week Processions (March/April, dates vary)
Sardinian Easter traditions are elaborate and Olbia’s are no exception. The Good Friday procession starts at the Church of San Paolo at 20:00 with hooded confraternities carrying 17th-century wooden statues through candlelit streets. On Easter Sunday, the S’Incontru ceremony at 11:00 in Piazza Regina Margherita reenacts the meeting of the risen Christ and the Virgin Mary. Both events are free and open to all. For more detailed information, see the Things to Do in Olbia guide.
Olbia Events & Festivals: Summer (June to August)
Olbia Summer Festival (July-August)
A series of open-air concerts, theatre performances, and film screenings held at the Anfiteatro di Olbia (Via Alessandro Nanni) and various piazzas across the city. The programme typically includes Italian pop and rock acts, Sardinian folk music (canto a tenore), and international jazz. Most events start at 21:00. Tickets range from free to 15-20 EUR for headline acts. The full programme is published in June on the Comune di Olbia website. The Anfiteatro has about 1,500 seats; arrive 30 minutes early for popular shows. For more detailed information, see the Olbia Neighborhoods guide.
Ferragosto (August 15)
Italy’s national summer holiday hits Olbia with full force. Expect beach parties at Pittulongu and Porto Istana, fireworks over the gulf at midnight, and every restaurant fully booked by August 10. The city organises a free concert in Piazza Matteotti. Most shops close for at least part of the day. If you’re visiting Olbia in mid-August, make restaurant reservations by August 10 and expect premium pricing everywhere. For more detailed information, see our Where to Stay in Olbia guide.
Sagra del Mirto (August, date varies)
A one-day festival in Telti (15 km southwest of Olbia) celebrating Sardinia’s iconic myrtle liqueur. Local producers offer tastings of mirto rosso (red, from ripe berries) and mirto bianco (white, from leaves and unripe berries) alongside local cheeses, cured meats, and live folk music. Free shuttle buses run from Olbia station during the event. Bottles of artisanal mirto sell for 10-15 EUR directly from producers. For more detailed information, see the Olbia Travel Tips & FAQ page.
Olbia Events & Festivals: Autumn (September to November)
Olbia Seafood Festival (September, dates vary)
Held on the Molo Brin waterfront, this weekend festival showcases the Gulf of Olbia’s seafood: grilled octopus, fritto misto, spaghetti alle vongole, and raw sea urchins when in season. Plates cost 6-12 EUR. Wine stalls pour Vermentino di Gallura DOCG, Sardinia’s only DOCG white wine, at 3-5 EUR per glass. Live music fills the harbour area from 19:00 to midnight. The festival usually runs the second or third weekend of September. A good chance to try bottarga (cured grey mullet roe) shaved over pasta, a Sardinian specialty. For more detailed information, see the main Olbia travel guide.
Autunno in Gallura (October-November)
A series of food and wine events across the Gallura region centred on the autumn harvest. In Olbia, the focus is on Vermentino wine tastings at local wineries like Cantina Sociale di Gallura (Via San Simplicio), with cellar tours costing 10-15 EUR including tastings. The town of Arzachena (25 km north) holds its Festa del Vino in early October. Chestnut festivals pop up in mountain villages. The Olbia tourist office publishes a schedule of participating wineries and restaurants each September.
Olbia Events & Festivals: Winter (December to February)
Christmas Markets and Presepe Vivente (December)
From early December to January 6, Corso Umberto hosts wooden hut Christmas markets selling Sardinian crafts, local honey, torrone (nougat), and mulled wine. The living nativity scene (presepe vivente) is staged in the streets around the Basilica of San Simplicio on December 24 and 26 evenings, with local residents in period costume. Much smaller scale than mainland Italian Christmas markets but authentic and uncrowded. Most stalls open 16:00-21:00.
Carnevale Olbiese (February, date varies)
Olbia’s Carnival parade runs along Corso Umberto and Viale Aldo Moro with decorated floats, costumed groups, and traditional Sardinian masks. Smaller than the famous carnivals of Tempio Pausania or Bosa but a lively local event. The parade typically runs on the Sunday before Shrove Tuesday, starting at 15:00. Free to watch. Bakeries sell traditional Carnival fritters (frati and zeppole) throughout February.
