Cerreto Carnival
Masks, allegorical floats, and the 'Giostra dei dodici mesi' in the heart of the Valle Telesina
About Cerreto Carnival
The Cerreto Carnival, a tradition of the Valle Telesina
Every winter, Cerreto Sannita, an 18th-century village in the province of Benevento famous throughout Campania for its artistic ceramics, transforms into a grand open-air stage. The Cerreto Carnival is a long-standing tradition that began in the 1980s and continues to this day, curated by the Pro Loco Cominium with the patronage of the Municipality of Cerreto Sannita and the collaboration of the Youth Forum. It is not an event manufactured for tourism; it is the town itself taking center stage, with its master papier-mâché artists, masked groups, and historic squares.
Three events, three ways to experience the Carnival
The well-established format features three distinct days, each with its own identity. The Giostra dei dodici mesi opens the celebrations: an ironic show performed in the Cerretese dialect, built on the allegorical personification of the months of the year. The procession of the months parades on horseback, starting from Piazza Luigi Sodo and reaching Piazza San Martino, where the theatrical performance takes place. It is the most iconic and ancient moment of the calendar, linking the Carnival to the agricultural cycle and the rural memory of the Sannio region.
The second Sunday is dedicated to the grand parade of allegorical floats. The impressive papier-mâché works created by local masters leave Piazza Luigi Sodo and travel along Corso Marzio Carafa, touching the entire village and its most beautiful squares until they reach Piazza San Martino. The parade also features floats from the neighboring towns of San Lorenzello, Guardia Sanframondi, and Solopaca: a network of towns that makes this Sunday the most important carnival event in the Valle Telesina.
The closing, on Shrove Tuesday, is reserved for the little ones: the floats remain on display in Piazza San Martino without parading, while the square fills with games, sweets, mascots, music, and entertainment. It is the children's carnival, designed for families and those who want to admire the work of the papier-mâché artists up close.
Traditional games and food stalls
One of the most beloved elements is the return of traditional games, which take place in Piazza San Martino after the procession: tug-of-war, pot smashing, and sack races, with prizes for participants. To complete the day, there is the food stall of the Pro Loco, open from lunchtime, where you can sample traditional Carnival sweets and local Sannio specialties. Music accompanies the afternoon with DJ sets and dancing for all ages.
Why it's worth the trip
- Authenticity: the Giostra dei dodici mesi is a unique performance in dialect, not a tourist re-enactment.
- Quality floats: large-scale papier-mâché works created by local masters and those from neighboring towns.
- Free admission: all days are free and outdoors; you only pay for what you consume at the stalls.
- A village to discover: Cerreto Sannita is known for its artistic ceramics, with workshops and a civic museum that can be visited the same weekend.
- Family-friendly: the final day is entirely dedicated to children.
Cerreto Sannita, the setting
Rebuilt from scratch after the 1688 earthquake according to a regular urban plan, Cerreto Sannita is one of the most interesting villages in the Benevento Sannio. Its wide squares and straight avenues are perfectly suited for the passage of floats, and the Carnival is the best opportunity to see the historic center animated by the local population. The town is located a few kilometers from Telese Terme and the Titerno river, in an area of inland Campania that combines wine (Aglianico and Falanghina del Sannio), thermal waters, and ceramic craftsmanship.
Cerreto Carnival — edition 2026
Cerreto Carnival 2026: the trilogy of the Sannio carnival
The three-day format that defines the Cerreto Carnival was confirmed for 2026. The opening, on Sunday, February 8, was entrusted to the Giostra dei dodici mesi, the ironic show performed in the Cerretese dialect with the procession of the months on horseback. On Sunday, February 15, the parade of allegorical floats took place, confirmed by the organizers after checking favorable weather forecasts. Tuesday, February 17, marked the closing with the floats on display in Piazza San Martino and the afternoon dedicated to families.
As per tradition, each day was accompanied by traditional games (tug-of-war, pot smashing, sack races) with prizes, the Pro Loco food stall with typical Carnival sweets, and music and dancing in the square.
Programme Cerreto Carnival 2026
Sunday, February 8 — Giostra dei dodici mesi
- 2:00 PM — Departure of the procession of the months on horseback from Piazza Luigi Sodo towards Piazza San Martino
- 2:30 PM — Opening of the food stall
- 3:00 PM — Performance in the Cerretese dialect in Piazza San Martino: the allegorical personification of the twelve months of the year
- 4:00 PM — Traditional games in Piazza San Martino: tug-of-war, pot smashing, and sack races, with prizes for participants
Sunday, February 15 — Allegorical Float Parade
- 12:30 PM — Opening of the food stall with traditional Carnival sweets and local specialties
- 2:00 PM — Departure of the parade from Piazza Luigi Sodo along Corso Marzio Carafa, through the village squares, arriving at Piazza San Martino
- Featuring floats from the master papier-mâché artists of Cerreto Sannita along with those from San Lorenzello, Guardia Sanframondi, and Solopaca
- 3:00 PM — Traditional games, music, and dancing in the square
- 5:00 PM — Closing moment with awards and DJ sets: LERAF, Danny L., and Luigi Di Domenico
Tuesday, February 17 — Children's Carnival
- Static display of allegorical floats in Piazza San Martino (no parade)
- From 3:00 PM — Games, sweets, mascots, music, and entertainment for children and families by DM Animazione
Highlights Cerreto Carnival 2026
- Giostra dei dodici mesi: the procession on horseback and the satirical show in the Cerretese dialect, the heart of the festival
- Parade on February 15: large-scale papier-mâché floats, with the participation of San Lorenzello, Guardia Sanframondi, and Solopaca
- Traditional games: tug-of-war, pot smashing, and sack races with prizes
- Food stall of the Pro Loco Cominium with typical Sannio Carnival sweets
- Children's Carnival on February 17, with floats on display in the square and family entertainment
Prices Cerreto Carnival 2026
Practical information — Cerreto Carnival
How to get there
By car: from the A1 motorway, take the Caianello exit, or from the A16, take the Benevento exit, then the SS372 Telesina road until the Telese Terme/Cerreto Sannita exit, followed by the SP road to Cerreto (about 8 km). From Naples, it is about 80 km.
By train: Telese-Cerreto station on the Caserta-Benevento line, then bus or taxi to the center of Cerreto Sannita.
By plane: Naples-Capodichino airport, about 1 hour and 20 minutes by car.
Admission and costs
All events take place on the streets and in the squares with free admission. Only food and drinks at the Pro Loco stall are paid.
Useful tips
- Arrive early on parade days: the historic center is closed to traffic and nearby parking fills up quickly.
- Dress in layers: in February, in the hills, the afternoon can be cold and windy.
- The Giostra dei dodici mesi is performed in dialect: asking for some explanation from the Pro Loco volunteers helps to grasp the irony of the show.
- Take advantage of the day to visit the ceramic workshops and the Civic Museum of Cerreto Ceramics.
Information
Pro Loco Cominium Cerreto Sannita — phone +39 328 1511086, e-mail [email protected], website prolococerretosannita.it.
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Where does it take place — Cerreto Carnival
Piazza San Martino e Piazza Luigi Sodo
Piazza San Martino, 82032 Cerreto Sannita