Sagra te lu Purpu Octopus Festival

The Octopus Festival in Salento

The Sagra te lu Purpu — literally the octopus festival in the Salento dialect — is one of the most beloved and popular culinary events of the summer in the town of Melendugno, in the province of Lecce, in the heart of the Salento region of Puglia. Every year, in the first days of August, the town fills with a festive crowd of residents and tourists ready to be won over by the flavor of this mollusk, prepared in every way according to local tradition.

Octopus as the Star

The true star is, of course, the octopus, served at the stalls set up for the occasion according to the most typical Salento recipes:

• fried and crispy octopus;
• octopus 'alla pignata', cooked in the traditional terracotta pot with tomatoes, onions, and chili pepper;
• octopus with potatoes;
• octopus meatballs;
• the essential octopus salad.

Alongside the octopus, there is no shortage of other Salento culinary specialties, such as fried pittule, bruschetta, and typical local products, all accompanied by mieru, the genuine wine of these lands.

Music, Pizzica, and Tradition

The festival evenings are enlivened by live music, concerts, and performances ranging from local to national artists. The most iconic moment, however, remains the Salento pizzica, the traditional dance that sweeps up squares and visitors until late at night, in a blend of tambourines, songs, and steps that represent the most authentic soul of Salento.

An Event in the Heart of the Coast

Melendugno is an inland village a short distance from the famous Adriatic seaside resorts of San Foca, Roca Vecchia, and Torre dell'Orso, iconic destinations on the Salento coast. The festival thus fits into a lively tourist context, where days spent on the beach are followed by evenings dedicated to taste and conviviality. Admission to the event is free: you only pay for what you taste at the stalls.

Information on the 2026 Edition

The 2026 edition of the Sagra te lu Purpu is scheduled from August 5th to 8th at the sports field area in Melendugno. The detailed program of the evenings, including guest artists, will be published by the organizers in the weeks leading up to the event.