Notte di San Giovanni
The Town Festival in the historic center of the White City
About Notte di San Giovanni
The Notte di San Giovanni in Ostuni
In the heart of Puglia, perched on the hills of the Province of Brindisi and overlooking the sea of the olive plain, the White City of Ostuni celebrates the Notte di San Giovanni every year, one of the most iconic and beloved festivals in its calendar. Linked to the summer solstice and the cult of Saint John the Baptist, the event is now also known as La Festa del Paese (The Town Festival): a large-scale event that spills into the alleys, squares, and stairways of the ancient village's white labyrinth.
An urban journey between ritual and spectacle
The strength of the Notte di San Giovanni lies in its format: not a single stage, but an entire historic center that becomes the stage itself. The village streets come alive with local artisans and artists, circus and street performances, and light and sound installations. The Municipality of Ostuni, which organizes the event together with Puglia Culture, creates a route each year that traverses the city's most evocative spots: from Via Gaspare Petrarolo, the heart of craftsmanship, to the Diocesan Museum Garden, from Piazza Cattedrale to Largo Stella, all the way to the grand Piazza della Libertà where the final concert takes place.
Solstice rituals
The festival is rooted in folk traditions tied to the most magical night of the year. According to rural belief, on the night between June 23rd and 24th, the dew of Saint John and herbs gathered in the dark take on beneficial and protective powers. Ostuni recovers and reinterprets this ancient knowledge through workshops, storytelling, and moments of reflection, returning an intangible heritage that belongs to the entire community to new generations.
For families and the community
The Notte di San Giovanni is an intergenerational festival. Alongside the evening shows, a space dedicated to children — San Giovanni dei piccoli — offers creative workshops, herb-based activities, and sensory paths in the greenery of the Diocesan Museum Garden. It is the hallmark of an event that combines popular entertainment, the enhancement of Ostuni's historical-archaeological heritage, and collective participation in one of the most photographed urban settings in Puglia.
Notte di San Giovanni — edition 2026
For its 31st edition, the Notte di San Giovanni — La Festa del Paese brought the entire historic center of Ostuni to life on Saturday, June 27, 2026, with a widespread urban route dedicated to the tangible and intangible heritage of the White City. The event, organized by the Municipality of Ostuni with Puglia Culture, wove together folk tradition, performing arts, installations, workshops, and live music from the afternoon until night.
Programme Notte di San Giovanni 2026
Saturday, June 27, 2026
The festival kicks off from 6:00 PM and unfolds as a widespread route through the most evocative spots of Ostuni's historic center.
- From 6:00 PM — Via Gaspare Petrarolo: The axis of local artisans and artists, featuring exhibitions, live performances, and installations that showcase the region's creativity.
- 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM — Diocesan Museum Garden: "San Giovanni dei piccoli", a space for children and families with creative workshops (lantern making), activities with traditional herbs, games using natural materials, sensory paths, and storytelling about solstice legends, curated by La luna nel pozzo and Orthia.
- 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM — Piazza Cattedrale and Largo Stella: Circus arts performances by the Pachamama company, amidst artistic installations and music.
- Until 10:00 PM — Civic Museum: Special opening (reduced admission €3) with storytelling by actress Delia De Marco dedicated to the archaeological history of "Ostuni 1".
- 10:00 PM — Piazza della Libertà: Grand finale with a concert by Roy Paci and Aretuska, the concluding collective moment of the entire urban route.
Highlights Notte di San Giovanni 2026
Prices Notte di San Giovanni 2026
Practical information — Notte di San Giovanni
Where
The event takes place in the historic center of Ostuni (Province of Brindisi, Puglia), spanning Via Gaspare Petrarolo, the Diocesan Museum Garden, Piazza Cattedrale, Largo Stella, and Piazza della Libertà.
How to get there
Ostuni can be reached by car via the SS379 (Ostuni exit) and by train via the Adriatic line, with shuttle services connecting the station to the historic center. The nearest airport is Brindisi-Papola Casale.
Access and entry
The event throughout the historic center is free to attend. The Civic Museum remains open during the festival with reduced-price admission. As this is an evening event in the ancient village, comfortable footwear is recommended for the stone streets.
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Where does it take place — Notte di San Giovanni
Centro storico di Ostuni
Centro storico, 72017 Ostuni