Feast of Saint Agatha (Sant’Agata) 2026

Feast of Saint Agatha (Sant’Agata) 2026 in Sicily takes place in Catania with its three core days on February 3, 4, and 5, 2026, while the wider official festive cycle runs from January 30 to February 12, 2026. It’s one of Sicily’s most intense city festivals, blending faith, folklore, historic processions, and fireworks into a powerful winter travel experience on the island.

Feast of Saint Agatha 2026 Sicily: what it is

The Feast of Saint Agatha is the patron saint festival of Catania, Sicily’s second-largest city, and it is described as one of the most intense and spectacular religious events in the world. Visit Sicily also frames it as an experience that goes beyond ritual, describing it as a collective expression of identity, devotion, community, and cultural heritage in the heart of Catania. For travelers, that means the event is not limited to churchgoers, because the city itself becomes a stage, with streets lit, crowds moving through historic routes, and a rhythm of ceremonies that lasts from morning until late at night.

If you’re searching “Feast of Saint Agatha 2026 Sicily,” the key thing to know is that it’s not a single parade. It’s a multi-day festival cycle with preparatory rites and post-festival celebrations that extend well beyond the three main days.

Confirmed 2026 dates and festival cycle

Visit Sicily’s dedicated 2026 listing confirms that the “heart of the celebrations” happens over three main days: 3, 4 and 5 February 2026, and it also confirms the broader festive cycle from 30 January to 12 February 2026. The same page provides a structured “start” and “end” window, listing START 30/01/2026 07:30 and END 12/02/2026 20:00.

For trip planning, these confirmed dates are extremely useful:

• If you want the core spectacle, plan to be in Catania from February 3 to 5.
• If you want a deeper cultural immersion with special Masses and public displays, consider arriving earlier or staying later within the Jan 30 to Feb 12 cycle.

Key moments and procession highlights (verified)

Visit Sicily’s 2026 listing provides a day-by-day outline that helps visitors understand what happens and when.

February 3, 2026: Offering of the Wax and Candelora procession

On February 3, the “Offering of the Wax” procession begins at 12:00 p.m., departing from the Church of Sant’Agata alla Fornace and proceeding to the Cathedral. The listing notes that religious, civil, and military authorities participate, accompanied by votive candles, and it references the Candelora procession as part of the day’s key moments.

February 4, 2026: Dawn Mass and Grand Procession

On February 4, the faithful gather before dawn for the Rosary and the Dawn Mass at 6:00 a.m., followed by the procession of the relics. Visit Sicily lists symbolic places along the route including Porta Uzeda, Piazza Stesicoro, Sant’Agata la Vetere, Piazza Palestro, and Via Garibaldi, and it notes the silver fercolo returns to Piazza Duomo in the evening.

February 5, 2026: Pontifical Mass and final procession

On February 5, Visit Sicily confirms the Solemn Pontifical Mass at 10:15 a.m. in the Cathedral, followed by the final procession in the afternoon. The listed route includes Via Etnea, Piazza Cavour, Via Caronda, Via Crociferi, and Piazza San Francesco d’Assisi, returning to the Cathedral, followed by thanksgiving and blessing presided over by the Archbishop.

These confirmed times and city landmarks are what make the Feast of Sant’Agata so travel-friendly. Even first-time visitors can map out a day: start at Piazza Duomo, walk Via Etnea, then move toward the Cathedral area to catch key moments.

Traditions, symbols, and the flavors of Catania

Visit Sicily describes the festival’s structure as a blend of faith and folklore, with grand processions, ceremonies, and historic elements that wind through Catania’s streets. It also highlights traditional sweets tied to the celebration, including olivette di Sant’Agata and cassateddi di Sant’Aita (minnuzzi), linking festival days to local culinary culture.

For a winter Sicily trip, this matters because food becomes part of the storytelling. You’re not only watching history. You’re tasting it, in the same streets where processions pass and families gather.

Travel tips for visiting Sicily during Sant’Agata 2026

Because the festival cycle is confirmed to span January 30 to February 12, it’s smart to book accommodation early if you want to stay near Catania’s historic center, especially close to the Cathedral and Piazza Duomo. The main days include early morning gatherings and long processions, so plan for walking, layers for cool evenings, and flexible meal times.

Practical visitor advice based on the confirmed schedule:

• For the Dawn Mass day (Feb 4), plan an early night before and aim to be near the Cathedral before 6:00 a.m.
• For Feb 3, arrive early around the Church of Sant’Agata alla Fornace or position yourself near the Cathedral before the 12:00 p.m. procession arrives.
• For Feb 5, use Via Etnea as your “spine” for moving between viewing points, since it’s part of the confirmed route.

Pricing and admission (what’s confirmed)

Visit Sicily presents the Feast of Sant’Agata as a city-wide religious and cultural festival with public processions and does not list ticketed admission pricing for attendance. Because the key moments are processions through public streets and major squares like Piazza Duomo, visitors should generally expect free public access to street viewing areas, while budgeting for travel, lodging, and food.

Attend Sant’Agata 2026 in Catania

Feast of Saint Agatha 2026 is Sicily at its most unforgettable: three core days of devotion and spectacle from February 3 to 5, wrapped inside a longer festival cycle from January 30 to February 12 that fills Catania with ceremonies, processions, and unmistakable city energy. Plan your route around Piazza Duomo and Via Etnea, arrive early for the Dawn Mass experience on February 4, and stay long enough to absorb the festival’s deeper rhythm beyond the headline moments. If you want to feel Sicily as locals do, step into Catania during Sant’Agata and explore the streets when the city’s history, faith, and winter light come together in one extraordinary celebration.

Verified Information at glance

Event Name: Feast of Sant’Agata (Feast of Saint Agatha)

Event Category (as listed): Folklore and traditional festivals; Major Events; Spirituality

Island/Region: Sicily, Italy

City: Catania

Core Festival Days (2026): February 3, 4, and 5, 2026

Full Festive Cycle (2026): January 30 to February 12, 2026

Official Start/End time window (listed): Start 30/01/2026 07:30; End 12/02/2026 20:00

Key Times (confirmed): Feb 3 procession at 12:00; Feb 4 Dawn Mass at 6:00; Feb 5 Pontifical Mass at 10:15

Key Places on routes (confirmed): Piazza Duomo, Via Etnea, Piazza Stesicoro, Porta Uzeda, Via Garibaldi, Piazza Cavour, Via Crociferi

Pricing: No admission price listed in official tourism listing (public processions)