- Jan
Sant'Antonio bonfires
16-17 January · Mamoiada, Orosei, Ottana and many villages
Huge bonfires in the squares; in Mamoiada the Mamuthones and Issohadores appear for the first time each year.
- Feb
Mamuthones and Issohadores
Carnival · Mamoiada
Black wooden masks and cowbells: Sardinia's oldest and most famous carnival.
- Feb
Boes and Merdules
Carnival · Ottana
Ox and human masks acting out the bond between farmer and animal.
- Feb
Sartiglia
Last Sunday and Tuesday of Carnival · Oristano
A costumed horse joust: the Componidori must spear a star at full gallop.
- Feb
Karrasegare osincu
Shrove Tuesday · Bosa
Bosa's satirical carnival, with the night-time hunt for Giolzi.
- Mar
Lunissanti
Holy Week · Castelsardo
The Holy Monday procession with the polyphonic chants of the brotherhoods.
- Apr
Passion rites
Holy Week · Cagliari, Iglesias, Alghero, Sassari
Spanish-style processions with hooded brotherhoods.
- Apr
Nougat festival
Easter Monday · Tonara
The nougat village celebrates in the heart of the Mandrolisai.
- Apr
Citrus festival
Spring · Muravera
Floats and costumed groups among the oranges and lemons of the Sarrabus.
- May
Sant'Efisio
1-4 May · Cagliari, Pula, Nora
The island's biggest pilgrimage: ox carts, costumes, horsemen and launeddas from Cagliari to Nora.
- May
San Simplicio
Mid-May · Olbia
Olbia's patron saint festival, with processions and a horse race.
- May
Cavalcata Sarda
Second-to-last Sunday of May · Sassari
Costumed groups from all over Sardinia and acrobatic horsemen.
- Jun
Girotonno
Late May or early June · Carloforte
A festival of bluefin tuna and Tabarchino cooking.
- Jul
S'Ardia
6-7 July · Sedilo
A wild horse race around the sanctuary of San Costantino.
- Jul
Isola delle Storie
Early July · Gavoi
A literary festival in the squares and courtyards of a Barbagia village.
- Aug
Santa Maria del Mare
Early August · Bosa
A procession of boats on the Temo river.
- Aug
Time in Jazz
August · Berchidda
A jazz festival founded by Paolo Fresu, with concerts in churches and woods.
- Aug
Candelieri
14 August · Sassari
The Faradda: the guilds carry giant wooden candles on their shoulders.
- Aug
Redentore
Late August · Nuoro
Costume parade and procession up Monte Ortobene.
- Sep
Corsa degli Scalzi
First weekend of September · Cabras
Hundreds of young men in white run barefoot to San Salvatore di Sinis.
- Sep
Autumn in Barbagia
September-December · Barbagia villages
Each weekend a village opens its courtyards, cellars and workshops: the Cortes Apertas.
- Oct
Chestnut festival
Late October · Aritzo
Chestnuts, hazelnuts and crafts in a Gennargentu village.
- Nov
New wine and new olive oil
November · Inland villages
Many wineries and olive mills open for tastings and festivals.
- Dec
Christmas markets and nativity scenes
December · Cagliari, Sassari and the villages
Christmas markets, living nativity scenes and festive sweets.
Dates follow tradition but can change from year to year: always check the town and organisers' websites.