Infiorata di Castelbuono flower festival

The Infiorata di Castelbuono turns Via Sant’Anna, in the old town of Castelbuono, into a carpet of designs made from petals, seeds and grains. It lasts three or four days between late May and mid June, with stalls, historical parades, shows and fireworks, and it’s all free. The 2026 edition, the eighteenth, ran from 30 May to 2 June and was dedicated to the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis.

When is the Infiorata?

The dates change every year and are announced by the Associazione Promo Madonie in spring. The most recent documented editions:

Year	Edition	Dates	Theme
2026	18th	30 May-2 June	800 years since the death of Saint Francis
2024	16th	7-9 June	The Sicily of the Florio family
2023	15th	1-4 June	Our Mother Earth

How the carpets are made

On the first afternoon “La lunga notte dell’Infiorata” (the long night of the Infiorata) begins: along Via Sant’Anna the artists draw the outlines and fill them with colour while the public watches. The following day, from 9 am, the finished carpets open to visitors and stay until the last evening.

The materials are natural. In 2024 the organisers listed carnations, gerberas, roses, daisies, wild fennel, thistle flowers and seeds gathered in the Parco delle Madonie, plus carob powder, wheat, barley, bran, ground coffee, rice and salt for the backgrounds.

The works are signed by the Maestri Infioratori of Castelbuono with those of Noto and San Pier Niceto, whose craft is well known in the flower-carpet world, together with students from schools in Castelbuono and Cefalù. Each edition has a theme, and the groups taking part are awarded prizes at the opening ceremony.

A typical programme, from the 2026 edition

The programme of the 18th edition, published by Madonie Press, shows how the days are organised.

Day	What happens
Saturday 30 May	Stalls in Corso Umberto, Piazza Margherita and Via Sant’Anna from 10 am to midnight; from 3 pm “La lunga notte dell’Infiorata”
Sunday 31 May	Carpets open from 9 am; folk parade at 10:30; opening and blessing at 6 pm with the Bishop of Cefalù; procession to Piazza Parrocchia and arrival of the relic of Saint Francis; contemporary circus and cabaret in Piazza Castello
Monday 1 June	Carpets and stalls open; circus in the centre at 6:30 pm; music and DJ set in Piazza Castello at 10:30 pm
Tuesday 2 June	Bersaglieri brass band at 4 pm; historical parades and flag-wavers from 4:30 pm; “Gran Premio del Mediterraneo” trophy at 6:30 pm in Piazza Castello; fireworks at 8 pm

In 2026 the relic of Saint Francis, brought from the Papal Basilica in Assisi, was displayed until 3 June in the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli at the Poor Clares’ monastery.

What to see and eat nearby

The stalls along Corso Umberto and Piazza Margherita sell local produce and crafts. Between carpets, walk up to the Castello dei Ventimiglia in Piazza Castello, where the evening shows also take place. For the rest of the town there’s the Castelbuono page, and for food where to eat in Castelbuono.

Practical tips

• When to go: the first afternoon to watch the artists at work; the next day, from 9 am, for the freshly finished carpets; the last day for the historical parades and fireworks.
• Getting there: Castelbuono is about 90 km from Palermo, Pollina-Castelbuono exit on the A20, then the SS286; from Cefalù it’s 23 km. Distances are in our guide to getting to the Madonie by car. Official sources don’t list dedicated car parks.
• Where to stay: if the Infiorata falls on the 2 June holiday weekend, book early; see where to stay in Castelbuono.
• Weather: the carpets are outdoors, so check the Castelbuono forecast before you set off.

Other local events are under events in Castelbuono, similar festivals on the Madonie cultural events page. In autumn, also run by Promo Madonie, there’s the Funghi Fest.