Sea Festival
Procida's maritime celebration featuring the election of Graziella
About Sea Festival
The festival that captures the maritime soul of Procida
The Sea Festival is the most iconic event on the island of Procida, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania. Established in 1939 by Mimì Ferrara and Vittorio Parascandola, the festival was created to celebrate the profound connection between the Procidan community and the sea, which for centuries has been the island's primary resource: fishing, shipyards, merchant shipping, and one of the most robust nautical traditions in Southern Italy.
This is not a gastronomic festival in the common sense, but a true popular maritime feast: for about ten days, the island's three marinas — Marina Grande, Marina Corricella, and Marina Chiaiolella — become the natural stage for sea games, presentations, concerts, and collective rituals that involve the entire population.
Graziella, Lamartine's heroine
The symbolic heart of the festival is the election of Graziella. The name comes from the autobiographical novel Graziella by Alphonse de Lamartine, who in the 19th century recounted his stay in the Gulf of Naples and his love for a young Procidan girl, the daughter of fishermen, who passed away while waiting for his return. From that story, the island drew a literary figure who has become the emblem of local identity.
Every year, a group of local girls competes for the title while wearing the traditional Procidan costume: a pleated linen shirt, a bodice, a scarlet cloth, gold-embroidered silk skirts in shades of red, white, and blue, and a satin jacket with lace and gold buttons. The outfit, often passed down through families, is a textile heritage in its own right. The elected Graziella then represents Procida for an entire year at institutional and cultural events.
Sea games and traditional rituals
The daytime part of the event is dedicated to challenges that once tested the skills of young sailors:
- Greasy pole and tug-of-war in the waters of Marina Grande;
- Swimming races, kayaking, and the choreographic barrel race in the Ciraccio-Ciracciello area;
- Sports tournaments and volleyball exhibitions at the Sports Hall;
- The memorial mass for those lost at sea, the most solemn and heartfelt moment of the entire festival;
- The fireworks display over the harbor, which lights up the busiest evening of the Procidan summer.
Music and evenings in Piazza Marina Grande
For several years, the festival has complemented its traditional aspects with a free musical program hosted in Piazza Marina Grande, facing the harbor. The lineup features the “Isola di Procida” Marching Band, local choirs, nationally renowned pop and rock concerts, and dance parties with DJ sets until late at night. Recent years have seen artists like The Kolors and Le Vibrazioni take the stage, without ever overshadowing the festival's popular character.
When to go and what to expect
The Sea Festival takes place between the end of July and the beginning of August, during the peak tourist season on the island. The atmosphere is that of a village festival experienced by the entire community: decorated boats, the colorful houses of Corricella acting as a natural backdrop, the scent of Procidan lemons, and a level of local participation that feels completely authentic.
A useful note: this event should not be confused with the Flegrean Sea Festival in Monte di Procida, which takes place on the mainland in the bay of Acquamorta and is a completely separate event.
Procida, Italian Capital of Culture 2022
Procida was the Italian Capital of Culture in 2022, the first island municipality to receive the recognition. The Sea Festival, with over seventy years of history, remains the appointment where the island tells its own story before anything else, and it is today one of the longest-running identity-focused festivals in Campania.
Sea Festival — edition 2026
Eleven days of celebration on the island
The 76th Sea Festival occupies the Procidan calendar from July 27 to August 6, 2026, distributing events between Marina Grande, Marina Corricella, Marina Chiaiolella, the Sports Hall, the “Mario Spinetti” sports field, and Palazzo d'Avalos.
The first part of the program is dedicated to the territorial presentations of the Grazielle, a journey that crosses the symbolic places of the island's maritime life before the election evening. This is followed by traditional sea games — greasy pole, tug-of-war, swimming races, kayaking, and barrels — and sports exhibitions.
The election of Graziella 2026
There are ten candidates for the title of Graziella 2026, Procidan girls aged between 15 and 21: Noemi Buono, Miriam Costagliola, Letizia Franco, Nora Coscione, Iris d'Orio, Carolina Staropoli, Letizia Maria Germinario, Serena dell'Amura, Desideria Terzo, and Graziella Marigliano. The final evening is scheduled for August 3, 2026, and is the most attended moment of the entire event.
Music and fireworks
The 2026 musical lineup alternates between local events and national guests: the “Procida InCanto” concert, the “Isola di Procida” Marching Band, the Zurawski Band, the Le Vibrazioni concert followed by the fireworks display, the “Italia Show” by Gino Finelli, and the closing dance party with guest DJ Prezioso. All events are held in Piazza Marina Grande and are free to attend.
Programme Sea Festival 2026
July 27
- 8:30 PM — Presentation of the Grazielle of Marina Chiaiolella (Marina Chiaiolella)
July 28
- 6:00 PM — Volleyball exhibition by Volley Gabbiano Procida (Sports Hall, via Salette)
- 8:30 PM — Presentation of the Grazielle of Marina Corricella (Piazzetta Massimo Troisi)
July 29
- 7:00 PM — Island Tournament Final (“Mario Spinetti” Sports Field)
- 8:30 PM — Presentation of the Grazielle of Marina Grande (Palazzo Merlato)
July 30
- 9:00 AM — Sea games: greasy pole and tug-of-war (“Grotte Blu” area, Marina Grande)
- 6:00 PM — Volleyball exhibition (Sports Hall)
- 9:00 PM — Presentation of the Grazielle with Jolanda De Rienzo and the Quartetto Calace (Palazzo d'Avalos)
July 31
- 9:00 AM — Swimming, kayak, and barrel races (Ciraccio-Ciracciello area)
- 9:00 PM — “Procida InCanto” concert (Piazza Marina Grande)
August 1
- 8:00 PM — Memorial mass for those lost at sea (Piazza Marina Grande)
- 9:30 PM — Concert by the “Isola di Procida” Marching Band (Piazza Marina Grande)
August 2
- 8:30 PM — Sea Festival Games Award Ceremony (Piazza Marina Grande)
- 9:30 PM — Concert by the Zurawski Band (Piazza Marina Grande)
August 3
- Election evening: election of Graziella 2026 from the ten candidates
August 4
- 9:00 PM — Concert by Le Vibrazioni (Piazza Marina Grande)
- Following — Fireworks display
August 5
- 9:00 PM — “Italia Show”, concert by Gino Finelli (Piazza Marina Grande)
August 6
- 9:00 PM — Open-air dance party with DJ Tizzano and guest DJ Prezioso (Piazza Marina Grande)
Program released by the organizers: times and locations may change due to weather or organizational reasons.
Highlights Sea Festival 2026
- Election of Graziella 2026 on August 3, with ten candidates in traditional Procidan costume
- Le Vibrazioni concert on August 4 in Piazza Marina Grande, followed by the fireworks display
- Sea games on July 30 and 31: greasy pole, tug-of-war, swimming, kayak, and barrel races
- Memorial mass for those lost at sea on August 1, the festival's most heartfelt ritual
- Presentations of the Grazielle in the three Marinas and at Palazzo d'Avalos with the Quartetto Calace
- Closing dance party on August 6 with DJ Prezioso
Prices Sea Festival 2026
Practical information — Sea Festival
How to get there
Procida can only be reached by sea. Ferries and hydrofoils depart from Naples (Molo Beverello and Calata Porta di Massa) and from Pozzuoli, with connections also from Ischia. In high season, departures are frequent, but it is advisable to book in advance. Those arriving by car must leave their vehicle at the departure ports: during the summer months, there is a ban on the circulation of non-resident vehicles on the island.
Getting around the island
Procida is small and can be easily explored on foot or by the local microbuses that connect Marina Grande, Chiaiolella, and Terra Murata. Scooters and taxi-microbuses are also very common.
Admission and hours
The Sea Festival events take place in public squares and spaces and are free to attend. Evenings in Piazza Marina Grande usually start around 9:00 PM, while the sea games are held in the morning, starting at 9:00 AM.
Practical tips
- Book your accommodation well in advance: late July and early August are the busiest times on the island.
- On peak evenings, special night maritime connections are often activated to Monte di Procida (Acquamorta) and Ischia: check the schedules with the shipping companies.
- Bring comfortable shoes: the alleys and ramps leading up to Terra Murata and Corricella are steep and cobbled.
- For the morning sea games, it is useful to arrive early: the docks of Marina Grande fill up quickly.
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Where does it take place — Sea Festival
Piazza Marina Grande e le tre Marine dell'isola