Agrigento becomes 'Capital of Peace': all dates and complete program

The millennia-old roots of the Valley of the Temples are blooming again, but this year the white of the petals carries a message that goes far beyond the aesthetics of the Sicilian spring. From March 7 to 15, Agrigento reclaims its role as the "capital of the world" with the inauguration of the 78th edition of the Almond Blossom Festival, an event that will transform the city into an open-air stage where dance, music, and history merge into one great collective embrace.

Tradition of Peace: a necessary theme

The guiding thread of this 2026 edition, "Tradition of Peace", is not a random choice. In a historical moment marked by deep international tensions, Agrigento responds with the universal language of folklore. The goal is clear: to transform the festival into a bastion of cultural diplomacy, where differences are not barriers but wealth.

A program between folklore and innovation

The streets and squares will be animated by a dense schedule: from evening shows to morning parades, along with food and wine initiatives that celebrate the flavors of the territory and numerous collateral events. The Agrigento identity, made of history and traditions passed down through generations, is now opening up to new technologies: to not miss a single event, visitors can consult the "Agrigento" app (available for iOS and Android) or follow the official social channels, which will ensure real-time coverage of the event.

A synergy of territory

The organization of the event sees a powerful institutional synergy led by the Municipality of Agrigento. Alongside the administration, the Sicilian Region, the Archaeological Park of the Valley of the Temples, and the Luigi Pirandello Theater Foundation collaborate, along with the Chamber of Commerce and DMO. A complex machine aimed at transforming this edition into a springboard towards the city's next cultural milestones.

This is the complete official program:

Saturday, March 7, 2026

10:00 AM – Agrigento Pediatric Hospital

Show for the children in the ward

5:00 PM – Parade of bands

from P.zza Pirandello to Viale della Vittoria

Sunday, March 8, 2026

10:00 AM – Parade of International, Regional, and Children's Folk Groups

from P.zza Pirandello to Viale della Vittoria

4:00 PM – Performance Piazza Cavour Regional Folk Groups

4:30 PM – Peace Cake (Piazza Cavour)

5:30 PM – "The Festival is Woman" (Piazza Cavour – Musical performance in honor of women)

Monday, March 9, 2026

10:00 AM – Pirandello Theater

23rd International Festival "The Children of the World" – Show for schools

11:00 AM – Folk Groups Parade (from Piazza Pirandello to Piazza Cavour – Performance Piazza Cavour)

4:30 PM – Folk Groups Parade (from Piazza Pirandello to Piazza Cavour – Performance Piazza Cavour)

8:30 PM – Pirandello Theater – 23rd International Festival "The Children of the World" – Show

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

10:00 AM – Pirandello Theater – 23rd International Festival "The Children of the World" (Show for schools)

11:00 AM – Folk Groups Parade (from Piazza Pirandello to Piazza Cavour – Performance Piazza Cavour)

3:30 PM – Archaeological Museum "Griffo" – Conference "Scenarios of Peace" – The role of peoples and culture

5:30 PM – Decumano Itinerary – Lighting Ceremony Tripod of Friendship – Concordia Mundi

The harmony of the world – Light show of drones (Temple of Concordia – Valley of the Temples)

8:30 PM – Pirandello Theater – 23rd International Festival "The Children of the World" – Claudio Criscenzo Award

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

10:00 AM – Pirandello Theater – 23rd International Festival "The Children of the World" (Show for schools)

11:00 AM – Folk Groups Parade (from Piazza Pirandello to Piazza Cavour – Performance Piazza Cavour)

4:30 PM – Folk Groups Parade (from Piazza Pirandello to Piazza Cavour – Performance Piazza Cavour)

8:30 PM – Pirandello Theater – Evening "Latin America Folk"

Thursday, March 12, 2026

10:00 AM – Pirandello Theater – 23rd International Festival "The Children of the World" (Show for schools)

10:00 AM – Folk Groups Parade – "The Walk to Discover the World" (Guided tour in the Valley of the Temples with Folk groups and schools)

11:00 AM – Folk Groups Parade (from P.zza Pirandello to P.zza Cavour – Performance at P.zza Cavour)

4:30 PM – Folk Groups Parade (from P.zza Pirandello to P.zza Cavour – Performance at P.zza Cavour)

9:00 PM – Via Atenea – Petals of Fashion (Exhibition of international costumes)

10:00 PM – Via Atenea – Street Folk Fest (City festival with international folk groups)

Friday, March 13, 2026

9:30 AM – Prefecture – Ceremony for receiving international folk representatives. Gift exchange

11:00 AM – Folk Groups Parade (from P.zza Pirandello to P.zza Cavour – Performance at P.zza Cavour)

5:00 PM – P.zza Pirandello – Mayor's greeting and Friendship Torchlight Procession (Parade of international folk groups and children from P.zza Pirandello to Viale della Vittoria)

9:00 PM – Palacongressi – 68th International Folklore Festival. Hosted by: Clizia Fornasier and Carmelo Lazzaro.

Saturday, March 14, 2026

10:30 AM – Via Sacra – Archaeological and Landscape Park Valley of the Temples in Agrigento – "Walk of Peace and Brotherhood" (23rd Festival "The Children of the World")

11:00 AM – Folk Groups Parade (from P.zza Pirandello to P.zza Cavour – Performance)

4:00 PM – Palacongressi – 68th International Folklore Festival. Hosted by: Clizia Fornasier and Carmelo Lazzaro.

4:30 PM – Church of Madonna della Provvidenza – Interreligious prayer for peace among peoples

9:00 PM – Palacongressi – 68th International Folklore Festival. Hosted by: Clizia Fornasier and Carmelo Lazzaro.

Sunday, March 15, 2026

9:00 AM – Parade of International, Regional Folk Groups, Children, and Sicilian Carts (from P.zza Pirandello to Viale della Vittoria)

2:00 PM – Temple of Concordia – Valley of the Temples – Final ceremony and awarding of Golden Temple 2026. Hosted by: Clizia Fornasier and Carmelo Lazzaro.

COLLATERAL EVENTS 78th Almond Blossom Festival – Agrigento 2026

Contest "Photograph the Almond Tree"

Contest "Window in Bloom"

Competition "Agrigento Emotions" – Organized by the Dante Alighieri Association – Agrigento Committee

Sounds of the World

Tuesday, March 10 – 5:00 PM – Chiaramontane Factories – A sound journey between tradition and innovation

ART'INFIORE

Tuesday, March 10 and Wednesday, March 11 – From 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM – Municipal Palace Cloister. Promotion and enhancement of agri-food and artistic and traditional craftsmanship

Street Food Cultural Folk – Festival 2026

Wednesday, March 11 – 4:30 PM – Ponte Gate – Traditional foods – "Pacem in Terris"

Saturday, March 14 – 5:00 PM – Former San Pietro Church – Concert for Peace – Knight of the Valley

Sunday, March 15 – Carriage and Jesters for the city – I Tammura di Girgenti

Sunday, March 15 – Cultural event – "Ancient Values" – Almond Blossom Markets

Sunday, March 15 – Craft exhibitions in the city