The Tempio Folklore Festival reaches its 40th edition, from July 31st to August 3rd. Piazza Gallura, the heart of the town, will be the backdrop for a spectacle of the world's colors. The event is organized by the "Città di Tempio" Academy of Popular Traditions, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary. The 40th edition of the International Folklore Meeting will feature a group composed entirely of children from Turkey. Another major new feature is the first-time performance on Tempio's stage of the Maori from New Zealand, a visually striking group. It will be a particularly rich festival: Taiwan, the Czech Republic, Peru, and Calabria representing Italy. Sardinia will be represented by groups from Olbia and Oristano. The Oristano group recently celebrated 65 years of activity.

During the Youth Folk Festival, a special award will be presented, named after Gaia Costa and intended for the youngest participant in the Meeting. A statement from the Academy states: "The Gaia Costa Award is an honor dedicated to young people, conceived as an invitation to preserve and carry on tradition with the same love as Gaia. It is a sincere encouragement for the new generations, so that they may continue to experience the culture of their region with passion, perseverance, determination, and awareness: values that have always distinguished Gaia and that, along with her natural elegance, we wish to pass on to those who are growing up."

The program also includes the fifth edition of the "Don Baignu" Poetry Prize, dedicated to the best of Sardinian poetry. The awards ceremony will be held Sunday morning at Palazzo Pes Villamarina. The winning poem is "Li mè bandèri" by poet Giuseppe Tirotto of Castelsardo. The guest of honor will be singer Beppe Dettori.

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