Programme 2026
Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September 2026 it is Bitti’s turn for the opening stop of Autunno in Barbagia: the village once again opens its cortes, the traditional stone courtyards, welcoming visitors with tastings of local products, local crafts, music, traditional dress displays and tenore polyphonic singing.
Saturday 5 September
From 9:00 am – Opening of the Cortes
Tastings of local products, exhibition of crafts and handmade goods, food stalls. Streets of the village.
From 9:30 to 11:00 am – «A Sea of Beer»
A sensory journey through craft beer paired with Bitti’s traditional dishes. Visit to the Santu Jorgi microbrewery run by Andrea Chirra, with an explanation of the brewing process. Departure from Corso Vittorio Veneto 94.
From 10:00 am – The Magic of the Earth
Demonstration of pottery-making using the wheel-throwing technique, by Terrapintada. Via Brigata Sassari 74.
11:00 am – Concert by Tenore Romanzesu
Concert by the Tenore Romanzesu polyphonic singing group, at the Museum of Tenore Singing and Pastoral and Farming Culture, P.zza Pittalis.
From 4:00 pm – Traditional Dress Display
Re-enactment of the dressing of the traditional men’s, women’s and children’s costume, by the Associazione Culturale e Folcloristica Sa Bitha. Via Nino Bixio, beside the Church of the Grazie.
From 4:30 pm – Sand Creek in concert
Musical entertainment. P.zza Asproni.
5:00 pm – Concert by Tenore Remunnu ’e Locu
Concert by the Tenore Remunnu ’e Locu polyphonic singing group, at the Museum of Tenore Singing and Pastoral and Farming Culture, P.zza Pittalis.
6:00 pm – «Unu Sero Festende»
Entertainment with the ethnic group Unu Sero Festende, by the Associazione Culturale e Folcloristica Sa Bitha. Via Nino Bixio, beside the Church of the Grazie.
6:30 pm – Cantonne Contos, caffeanne
«In unu sero de ine istiu», Ammentos de Vitzi e non solu, by the Associazione Culturale Bittart. Piazzetta di Su Cantaru, via Cavallotti opposite n. 32.
From 8:30 pm – Concert with Hunky Dory
P.zza Asproni.
From 9:00 pm – «A Bratzos Tentos»
Musical entertainment with the ethnic group «A Bratzos Tentos», by the Associazione Culturale e Folcloristica Sa Bitha. Via Nino Bixio, beside the Church of the Grazie.
Sunday 6 September
From 9:00 am – Opening of the Cortes
Tastings of local products, exhibition of crafts and handmade goods, food stalls. Streets of the village.
From 9:30 to 11:00 am – «A Sea of Beer»
A sensory journey through craft beer paired with Bitti’s traditional dishes. Visit to the Santu Jorgi microbrewery run by Andrea Chirra, with an explanation of the brewing process. Departure from Corso Vittorio Veneto 94.
From 10:00 am – The Magic of the Earth
Demonstration of pottery-making using the wheel-throwing technique, by Terrapintada. Via Brigata Sassari 74.
From 10:00 am – Bridal Dress Display
Re-enactment of the dressing of the traditional women’s bridal costume, by the Gruppo Folk Sa Bitha. Museum of Farming and Pastoral Culture, via G. Mameli.
From 11:00 am – «S’Isposu Vitzichesu»
Re-enactment of a traditional Bitti wedding, by the Gruppo Folk Sa Bitha: departure from via Nino Bixio (beside the Church of the Grazie), along via Nino Bixio, the Museum of Tenore Singing and the Museum of Pastoral and Farming Culture, Corso Vittorio Veneto, Piazza Asproni, accompanied by an accordionist and a performance by the Tenore Romanzesu singing group. Return to «Sa Corte de Banninu» for the wedding celebrations.
From 3:15 to 4:15 pm – Concert by Tenore Romanzesu
Church of San Michele Arcangelo, via Sardegna.
5:30 pm – Rock Awake in concert
Musical entertainment. P.zza Asproni.
6:00 pm – Ballade Ballade Bois in concert
Musical entertainment by the Gruppo Folk Sa Bitha. Via Nino Bixio, beside the Church of the Grazie.
From 8:00 pm – Nottambuli in concert
Musical evening. P.zza Asproni.
Throughout the festival, stands run by the Azienda Speciale ASPEN will showcase the local crafts and food industry, with live demonstrations by local artisans and producers. An information stand will also be dedicated to Sos Enattos’ bid to host the Einstein Telescope, a major international project closely involving the area and looking to Sardinia’s future.
Over the Saturday and Sunday, performances by tenore singing groups and folk groups with traditional dances are planned, along with entertainment for children. Food is available at the stalls set up along the village streets.
Exhibitions, Museums and Guided Tours
Throughout the festival, visitors can also explore the Multimedia Museum of Tenore Singing and the Museum of Farming and Pastoral Culture (Via Mameli / P.zza Pittalis), the Romanzesu nuragic complex with guided tours and a shuttle bus to and from the village, and the Bittirex park, with an open-air dinosaur exhibition (Località Sae Leone, shuttle bus available). Numerous exhibitions of traditional costumes, jewellery and Bitti pottery are set up along the streets of the historic centre. Quad and mountain bike excursions are also available, departing from Piazza Asproni.
Where to Eat and Sleep
- Su Lithu Hotel Ristorante — Loc. Sa Pineta · T. 0784 413012 · sulithu.it
- Sa Zodia Affittacamere — Via Brescia, 25 · T. 333 7282644 · sazodia.it
- B&B Roseddu (bike rental) — Via Brigata Reggio, 6 · T. 346 9484410
- Oasi Tepilora B&B — Via Arborea, 95 · T. 328 1924274
- Sa Domo de Diosa B&B — Via Sardegna, 4 · T. 329 4487455 · diosa.it
- Santu Tomas B&B — Via S. Tommaso, 2 · T. 328 6908945
- Birrificio Brew Pub Santu Jorgi — Corso Vittorio Veneto, 94 · T. 329 1177808
- Azienda Agricola Sae Leone, run by Satta Maurizia — Loc. Sae Leone · T. 392 6210280
- Calavrina, farmhouse and dairy — Loc. Calavrina · T. 328 9597872 · calavrina.com
- Dogolai Agriturismo — Loc. Dogolai · T. 0784 414285 · 320 8336118
- Ertila Agriturismo — Loc. Ertila · T. 348 5267955 · agriturismoertila.it
- Il Pomodoro, restaurant & pizzeria — Via Brescia, 3 · T. 0784 414426
- Nautilus Pizzeria — Via A. Deffenu · T. 324 8213404
- Su Cantaru, pizzeria & sandwich shop — Via Brigata Sassari · T. 0784 414328
Info
- Comune di Bitti — Culture Office · T. 0784 418035 · lucia.palmas@comune.bitti.nu.it
- Press Office · T. 347 4091114
How to Get to Bitti
Distances from main cities
Cagliari
~200 km · ~2h 20min
Olbia
~90 km · ~1h 20min
Alghero
~145 km · ~1h 50min
Event venue
Historic centre of Bitti
Bitti (NU) · Barbagia di Nuoro
🚗 By car
From Nuoro take the SS389 towards Siniscola, then the Bitti exit (about 20 km). Parking in the areas near the historic centre, signposted during the event.
🚌 Bus
ARST bus lines from Nuoro to Bitti; extra services are often added on Autunno in Barbagia weekends.
✈️ Nearest airport
Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (~90 km) or Cagliari-Elmas (~200 km).
🚗 Compare prices and rent a car at the best priceFind accommodation nearby.
History and Traditions
Autunno in Barbagia is the travelling festival that, since 1996, has brought dozens of villages in the Barbagia and surrounding areas to life between September and December: every weekend a different town opens its cortes, the stone courtyards of the traditional houses, turning them into open-air workshops of flavours, crafts and music.
Bitti, which opens the festival on the first weekend of September, is known worldwide for its tenore polyphonic singing, recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity and kept alive by the groups Tenores di Bitti “Remunnu ’e Locu” and Tenore di Bitti “Mialinu Pira”. Its territory is also home to the Romanzesu nuragic complex, a Bronze Age village spanning over seven hectares, with sacred wells and temples.