Autumn in Barbagia turns 25
32 events are scheduled to relaunch the inland villages
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Thirty-one municipalities, 32 events, and a double anniversary to celebrate. From September to December, Autunno in Barbagia returns, the event dedicated to showcasing villages, food and wine, and crafts. This year, it celebrates its 25th edition and 30 years of Cortes Apertas, the original format created to open the traditional cortes of the Barbagia villages to the public.
New for 2026 will be spaces at each stop for live demonstrations of traditional local craftsmanship. "It's increasingly difficult to offer these demonstrations because, unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer artisans," explains Agostino Cicalò, President of the Nuoro Chamber of Commerce. This initiative will also be supported by the Einstein Telescope: in each municipality, experts will be present to explain the project to visitors.
The event's format will remain the same as in previous years, as will the numbers that accompany it. "Every year we count between 450,000 and 500,000 attendees. It's the largest regional entertainment event in Italy," Cicalò emphasizes. The event involves approximately 2,500 businesses and generates an estimated turnover of between 11 and 12 million euros, resources that, as the president of the Chamber of Commerce emphasizes, "impact directly on the businesses involved in the Autunno in Barbagia process."
To support the initiative, the Sardinia Region has allocated €2 million to the three Chambers of Commerce, with the aim of promoting tourism in the inland areas and encouraging the deseasonalization of tourist flows. "Autumn in Barbagia is one of those events that allows us to enhance inland tourism," says Regional Councilor for Tourism, Franco Cuccureddu. "We are investing heavily and are achieving particularly encouraging results: in the shoulder season, we are seeing a 40% increase in visitor numbers on the island compared to 2023, while in the winter, the growth is 32%. Thanks to products like this, we can concretely pursue the goal of deseasonalization, which is a priority for tourism policies throughout Italy."
