Drums, colours, chants and a historic centre completely taken over by celebrations. The 2026 Faradda dei Candelieri once again transformed Sassari on the most important day in the city's calendar.
According to estimates reported by La Nuova Sardegna, over 100,000 people took part in the Festha Manna on 14 August, filling Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Piazza Castello, Corso Vico and the surrounding streets until late in the evening.
Thirteen Candelieri make their way through the city
The day began in the morning with the traditional Dressing of the Candelieri at the headquarters of the Gremi.
From 5:00 pm, the thirteen enormous wooden votive candles began gathering in Piazza Castello. Shortly after 6:00 pm, the Faradda officially got underway, traditionally led by the Braccianti's Candeliere.
From that moment, the procession made its way through the heart of the city, with the eight bearers carrying each Candeliere dancing to the rhythm of the drums as the crowd repeatedly called out: “Fallu baddà!”.
A total of 104 bearers carried the thirteen Candelieri, accompanied by the leaders of each Candeliere, drummers and dozens of Gremi members.
The new Viandanti Candeliere makes its debut
The 2026 Faradda was particularly significant for the Gremio dei Viandanti.
Their new Candeliere, built by Falegnameria Bussu with the support of the Fondazione di Sardegna, made its debut in Piazza Castello.
Before the procession began, all thirteen drummers played together in front of the new Candeliere as a tribute.
Its debut was then accompanied by the traditional Viandanti fife during the procession.
The Intregu and the traditional “a zent’anni”
One of the most eagerly awaited moments took place outside Palazzo di Città.
With the arrival of the Massai, the traditional Intregu ceremony was renewed, featuring the exchange of insignia between the Gremio and the Municipality, followed by the customary “a zent'anni” toast.
Shortly before 9:30 pm, Mayor Giuseppe Mascia left Palazzo di Città together with the Massai to continue towards Santa Maria di Betlem.
As the procession moved away from the lively celebrations along the Corso, the atmosphere gradually began to change.
The Vow is renewed at Santa Maria
Around midnight, the Candelieri completed their journey at Santa Maria di Betlem.
Here, the chants and drums gave way to the final religious ceremony, as Sassari once again renewed its Vow to the Virgin of the Assumption, rooted in the memory of the plague of 1652.
It is a moment that serves as a reminder that the Faradda is much more than a major popular celebration.
Behind the T-shirts, the dancing, the grabiglie, the drums and a crowd of more than 100,000 people lies the deeper meaning of the Candelieri: a ritual that Sassari continues to uphold, generation after generation.
And in 2026, once again, the celebration ended in the same way it has for centuries.
A zent'anni.