Feast of Maria Santissima dell'Udienza
The patronal feast of Sambuca di Sicilia, blending centuries-old faith, the Palio, and major concerts
About Feast of the Udienza
A devotion spanning nearly five centuries
The Feast of Maria Santissima dell'Udienza is the patronal festival of Sambuca di Sicilia, a village in the Belìce Valley in the province of Agrigento, named one of Italy's "Borghi più belli" in 2016. Tradition traces its origins to 1575, when the people of Sambuca invoked the Virgin during a plague epidemic that devastated western Sicily: from that moment, the Madonna has been venerated as the one who "granted an audience" to the people, hence the name "dell'Udienza". The heart of this devotion is the marble statue attributed to Antonello Gagini, a masterpiece of the early 16th century kept in the town.
The 'Scinnuta' and the nocturnal procession
The most intense moment arrives on the third Sunday of May. In the afternoon, the 'a Scinnuta takes place, the ritual where the statue is placed on the processional float amidst prayers, religious hymns, and ancient folk songs. As night falls, the centuries-old procession begins: the statue, carried on the shoulders of confreres in silk and gold-embroidered robes, travels through the streets of the historic center until Monday dawn, welcomed by the town band and thousands of faithful, culminating in a fireworks display.
The Palio dell'Udienza and traditions
Alongside the religious dimension, the festival is a grand popular re-enactment. The Palio dell'Udienza, with its knights, equestrian pageants, and over 180 participants in costume, brings the days from Friday to Sunday to life to preserve local historical traditions. There is no shortage of Venetian-style illuminations, parades of Sicilian carts, vintage cars, and concerts by musical bands, in a calendar that involves the entire community.
A week of events in the center of Sambuca
Over the years, the festival has been enriched with a rich civil program: talk shows, cabaret performances, video mapping on the village walls, DJ sets, and major concerts in Piazza della Vittoria. Marian celebrations and secular events coexist for over ten days, making Sambuca di Sicilia one of the most vibrant destinations in Sicily in May, blending faith, identity, and hospitality.
Feast of the Udienza — edition 2026
The 451st edition of the Feast of Maria Santissima dell'Udienza brought Sambuca di Sicilia to life for over ten days, weaving together popular devotion and major entertainment events in Piazza della Vittoria. The religious heart of the festival remained the nocturnal procession of the Gagini marble statue, preceded by the Scinnuta on Sunday, May 17, and accompanied by the town band, folk groups, and fireworks. On the civil side, the 451st edition offered a particularly rich program, featuring stars of Italian music and a tribute to the village's confectionery traditions, the famous "minni di virgini".
Programme Feast of the Udienza 2026
Thursday, May 14
- Stage of the Giro di Sicilia ASI-FIVA: parade of over 200 international vintage cars.
Friday, May 15 — Piazza della Vittoria
- 9:50 PM — Dado Show (cabaret)
- 11:00 PM — Cristiano Malgioglio in concert
Saturday, May 16 — Piazza della Vittoria
- 4:00 PM — Minna Fest, dedicated to "minni di virgini", the typical sweets of Sambuca
- 5:30 PM — Talk show "Le minni di virgini in Italian culture" with Raffaella Fico
- 10:30 PM — Video mapping "The cult of the Madonna dell'Udienza" with Salvo Piparo
- 11:30 PM — 90s Party Time (free admission)
Sunday, May 17 — Patronal Sunday
- Afternoon — 'A Scinnuta and religious rites
- Evening/night — solemn procession of the statue through the historic center, with band and folk groups, until Monday dawn and fireworks
Monday, May 18 — Piazza della Vittoria
- 10:00 PM — Official lottery (tickets €5)
- 10:00 PM — Al Bano in concert, grand finale of the festivities after the repositioning of the statue
Throughout the week: Palio dell'Udienza with knights and equestrian pageants, Venetian-style illuminations, and folk groups.
Highlights Feast of the Udienza 2026
Prices Feast of the Udienza 2026
Practical information — Feast of the Udienza
How to get there
Sambuca di Sicilia can be reached by car from the A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo motorway (Castelvetrano or Salemi exit) and from Agrigento along the SS115 and SS188 roads. The nearest train station is Sambuca-Giuliana-Caltabellotta, on the line connecting the Agrigento hinterland.
When
The celebrations traditionally take place in the second half of May, culminating on the third Sunday of the month.
Admission
Religious rites, the procession, and events in the square are free and open to all.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Feast of the Udienza
Centro storico e Chiesa Madre