Cantamaggio Ternano
Terni's spring festival, with allegorical floats and dialect songs
About Cantamaggio
Terni's Identity Festival
Cantamaggio Ternano is the most emblematic and cherished event in the city of Terni, in Umbria. A spring festival with 19th-century roots, it celebrates the awakening of nature and the arrival of May through songs, parades, and an explosion of popular creativity. It's an event that involves the entire Terni community, from the 'maggiaioli' groups who build the floats to the authors of the dialect songs.
The Parade of Allegorical Floats
The heart of the festival is the night parade of allegorical floats on April 30th: true giants of papier-mâché, iron, and aluminum, illuminated with LEDs and accompanied by music and choreography. At 9 PM, the creations of the 'maggiaioli' groups start from the station parking lot and cross Viale della Stazione, Piazza Tacito, Corso Tacito, and Piazza della Repubblica, arriving in Piazza Europa, where the event stage is set up. It is considered a spectacle unique in Europe for its grandeur and tradition.
The Dialect Song Competition
Another historic element is the competition of songs in the Terni dialect, named after Giuseppe Capiato, which keeps the local language and popular culture alive. The program is completed by concerts, exhibitions, competitions, mini-floats made by schools, events for young people, and a final lottery, spread over two weeks of festivities. Cantamaggio is organized by the Ente Cantamaggio Ternano.
Cantamaggio — edition 2026
The 2026 edition celebrated the 130 years of Cantamaggio Ternano, an event presented at Palazzo Spada. The festival ran from April 24 to May 9 with concerts, exhibitions, competitions, and events for young people.
The highlight was the float parade on April 30th: seven floats, five in competition. Two highly anticipated floats ran out of competition: the historic "Penne all'Arrabbiata" float by the Riacciu group and "Discoteca," a new entry by the Ponga group. The awards ceremony on May 1st crowned the float "A World to Save" by Maggiaioli AICS Terni. The XIV "Giuseppe Capiato" Dialect Song Competition was won by the Papigno group with "Le onde de lu Nera," a historic return after fifty years. The final lottery was held on May 23rd.
Programme Cantamaggio 2026
Thursday, April 30 - Parade of Allegorical Floats
- 9:00 PM - Departure of the 'maggiaioli' groups' floats from the station parking lot
- Route: Viale della Stazione → Piazza Tacito → Corso Tacito → Piazza della Repubblica → Piazza Europa (event stage)
- 7 floats in the parade, 5 of which are in competition; out of competition: the "Penne all'Arrabbiata" float (Riacciu group) and "Discoteca" (Ponga group)
Friday, May 1st
- 9:00 PM - Piazza Europa: Award ceremony for the floats, followed by a musical show dedicated to the 90s and 2000s
April 24 to May 9
- Concerts, exhibitions, competitions, mini-floats made by schools, and events for young people in the city
- XIV "Giuseppe Capiato" Dialect Song Competition
- May 23 - Drawing of the Cantamaggio lottery
Highlights Cantamaggio 2026
- Night parade of allegorical floats (April 30th)
- Winning float "A World to Save" (Maggiaioli AICS Terni)
- Dialect song competition won by the Papigno group with "Le onde de lu Nera"
- 130 years of tradition
Practical information — Cantamaggio
How to get there
Terni is well-connected by train (Rome-Ancona and Rome-Terni-Sulmona lines) and by car via the E45 or SS Flaminia. The float parade takes place along the axis Viale della Stazione - Piazza Tacito - Corso Tacito - Piazza della Repubblica - Piazza Europa.
Admission
The parade and the events in the square are free to enter. Dedicated tickets may be required for some shows and the lottery.
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Where does it take place — Cantamaggio
Centro storico di Terni (corso Tacito, piazza della Repubblica, piazza Europa)
Piazza Europa, 05100 Terni