Santa Rosa da Viterbo Nurri 2026: what to expect
From 1 to 6 September 2026, Nurri celebrates the Festivities in honour of Santa Rosa da Viterbo, one of the most heartfelt feasts in the Sarcidano sub-region, organised by the Comitato Leva ’76. Devotion to the saint of Viterbo runs deep in the village and finds expression in a wandering novena that starts on 26 August, carrying the statue from square to square — from the church of Santa Rosa to the park on Via Berlinguer, from the Industrial Zone to the “Casa Pio XII” care home, from the school square to the cemetery — building up to the solemn feast of 4 September.
The most evocative moment of the cycle is the solemn procession on 3 September, the eve of the feast: the cortege winds through the historic centre with Riccardo Sirigu on the launeddas and Michele Usai on the organetto, accompanied by the historic Cossu-Brunetti Band — celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 — and the Gruppo Folk ’78 Nurri.
The civil programme (1–6 September) offers evenings for all tastes: children’s entertainment with face painting and games, music with Andrea Puddu on accordion and Giampaolo Piredda on organetto, the Sardinian poetry competition on 3 September featuring the Choir of Orgosolo, fireworks and the headline concert by Bianca Atzei in the square on 4 September, the treasure hunt and the Band’s anniversary concert on 5 September, and the dialect comedy “Su scramentu de Srebestu” by the theatre group Su Framentu of Nurri to close the festivities on 6 September. Free admission to all events.
Santa Rosa da Viterbo Nurri 2026 — Programme
The festivities are built around a rich religious and civil programme. Below is the complete calendar organised by the Comitato Leva ’76.
Religious Programme
The novena opens on Wednesday 26 August: at 5:30 pm the Holy Rosary and Mass are celebrated in the church of Santa Rosa, with the procession of the statue through the village and the start of the novena. Thursday 27 August (“Close to Youth”) moves to the park on Via Berlinguer (5:30 pm). Friday 28 August (“Close to Workers”) sees a morning Mass at 10:30 am in the Industrial Zone and the afternoon celebration at 5:30 pm in Piazza San Giorgio. Saturday 29 August (“Close to Memory and History”) adds the blessing and inauguration of the mural “Festa Santa Rosa” by the “Leva ’74” Committee to the 5:30 pm Mass in Piazza Caduti sul lavoro. Sunday 30 August (“Close to the Elderly and the Sick”) holds Mass at the “Casa Pio XII” care home (5:30 pm). Monday 31 August (“Close to Schools”) celebrates at the school square on Via Mazzini (5:30 pm).
Tuesday 1 September (“Children’s Day”): decoration of the statue at 5:30 pm, then the Mass of the “buds” and novena at 6:00 pm. Wednesday 2 September (“Family Day”): Mass with the blessing of couples celebrating anniversaries at 6:00 pm. Thursday 3 September — Eve of the Feast: novena at 5:30 pm, Solemn Mass at 6:00 pm, then at 7:00 pm the solemn procession through Via Convento, Corso Italia, Via Gramsci, Via Fontana Campo, Via Gronchi, Via Pertini, Via Berlinguer, Via Santa Maria, Via Togliatti and Via San Michele, with Riccardo Sirigu on launeddas and Michele Usai on organetto, the Cossu-Brunetti Band and the Gruppo Folk ’78 Nurri, closing with the Solemn Eucharistic Blessing. Friday 4 September — Feast of Santa Rosa: Masses at 9:00 am and 10:30 am, Solemn Mass at 6:00 pm. Saturday 5 September (“Close to the Bereaved”): procession to the cemetery at 5:00 pm and Mass for the deceased at 5:30 pm. Saturday 12 September — Octave of the Feast: procession with Maria Bambina (Via Convento, Corso Italia, Via Vittorio Veneto) at 5:30 pm and Mass of the Octave at 6:00 pm.
Civic Programme
Tuesday 1 September, Piazza Santa Rosa: children’s games, face painting and slides from the morning; at 9:00 pm an evening with Andrea Puddu on accordion, family games and cabaret, closing with DJs Lucente and Giacomino. Wednesday 2 September: at 9:00 pm Andrea Puddu on accordion; at 10:00 pm dancing in the square with A Ballare; closing DJ Etien.
Thursday 3 September is the richest evening: in Piazza Santa Rosa at 9:00 pm Giampaolo Piredda on organetto; at 10:30 pm a musical show with Trial Band and comedian Uccio De Santis; closing DJ Poddie. Simultaneously, at 9:30 pm in Piazza San Giorgio, the Sardinian poetry competition features Diego Porcu, Nicola Farina, Bruno Agus and the Choir of Orgosolo.
Friday 4 September is the headline evening: at 9:00 pm Andrea Puddu and Giampaolo Piredda share the stage; at 10:00 pm a fireworks display; at 10:30 pm the Bianca Atzei concert in Piazza Santa Rosa; closing DJ Perro. Saturday 5 September: team treasure hunt through the village streets from the morning; at 7:00 pm the concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Cossu-Brunetti Band of Nurri; at 9:00 pm Andrea Puddu on accordion; at 10:00 pm a musical show with I love Formentera and special guest Jay Santos; closing DJ Bessio.
Sunday 6 September: at 9:00 pm Sardinian folk dances in the square; at 10:00 pm the Sardinian dialect comedy “Su scramentu de Srebestu” by Giancarlo Carboni, performed by the Su Framentu theatre group of Nurri; at 11:30 pm lottery draw; closing DJ Rest. A tombola session closes each evening.
Getting to Nurri
Distances from main cities
Cagliari
70 km · 1h
Olbia
200 km · 2h 30min
Alghero
210 km · 2h 40min
Location
Nurri
Province of Cagliari (CA) — Sarcidano
🚗 By car
From Cagliari: take the SS128 towards Mandas then Nurri (approx. 70 km, 1h). From Nuoro: SS128 towards Laconi and Mandas (approx. 100 km, 1h 30min). Nurri lies in the heart of the Sarcidano, among scenic roads and stone-built villages.
🚌 Bus
ARST connects Nurri with Cagliari and the main Sarcidano villages. Check timetables at arstspa.info.
✈️ Nearest airport
Cagliari Elmas (approx. 70 km). Car hire is recommended to reach the village.
🚗 Compare prices and hire a car at the best rate Open in Google Maps ↗Find nearby accommodation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Santa Rosa da Viterbo festivities take place in Nurri?
The civil programme runs from 1 to 6 September 2026. The religious novena begins on 26 August with the procession of the statue and continues each day until 4 September, the solemn feast day. The octave is celebrated on 12 September.
Where do the Santa Rosa festivities take place in Nurri?
Civil events are held mainly in Piazza Santa Rosa and the squares of the historic centre of Nurri (CA), Sarcidano. The religious novena moves to different locations around the village: the church of Santa Rosa, Piazza San Giorgio, the Industrial Zone, the “Casa Pio XII” care home, the school square and the cemetery.
Is admission to the Santa Rosa festivities in Nurri free?
Yes, all festival events are free of charge: Masses, novena, procession, open-air concerts (including Bianca Atzei), poetry competition, Sardinian dances and dialect comedy.
How do I get to Nurri for the Santa Rosa festivities?
From Cagliari take the SS128 towards Mandas then Nurri (approx. 70 km, 1 hour). From Nuoro follow the SS128 towards Laconi and Mandas (approx. 100 km, 1h 30min). A car is recommended: ARST connects Nurri with Cagliari but evening services are limited.
History and Traditions
The Festivities in honour of Santa Rosa da Viterbo are one of the most cherished events in Nurri (Nùrri in Sardinian), a village in the Sarcidano sub-region of the Province of Cagliari. The community’s devotion to the saint of Viterbo is celebrated each year with a novena opening on 26 August and culminating on 4 September — the Feast of Santa Rosa — preceded by the solemn evening procession of the statue through the village streets.
The Eve procession on 3 September is the most evocative moment of the week: Riccardo Sirigu plays the launeddas, Michele Usai the organetto, accompanied by the historic Cossu-Brunetti Band — celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 — and the Gruppo Folk ’78 Nurri. The evening programme brings notable performers to the square, including a concert by Bianca Atzei on 4 September, folk music nights and a Sardinian dialect comedy closing the festivities on 6 September.