Tourism is booming in Northern Sardinia, and politicians are returning to Gallura. Villasimius is sold out, with a limited number of places planned.

From the Italian prime minister to the former Canadian prime minister, including celebrities and starlets, everyone is on the Costa Smeralda (or thereabouts) in the run-up to mid-August 2026. This year, politics is taking center stage in Gallura. First, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who took a dip in La Maddalena last weekend with her daughter Ginevra, and then former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, leader of Italia Viva, who, with his children and wife, attended a gala night in Porto Cervo for a select few, including former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, immortalized in an Instagram selfie. Also in Gallura is Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who made headlines for his (controversial) participation in the Time in Jazz festival in L'Agnata.

Between yachts and concerts

And then there are the usual celebrities and social media figures. "In terms of attendance, August in Gallura is no benchmark; attendance is a given," said Fiavet national president Gian Mario Pileri. Not only is there a high concentration of VIPs and political leaders, Pileri explains, "now in the bay in front of Cala di Volpe there is the highest concentration of mega yachts in the world." Around two hundred are anchored at anchor this week of August 15th, with significant numbers recorded starting on July 20th.

The busiest music destination remains Olbia, which, in addition to August tourists, including cruise passengers—six thousand in the last two days alone—adds the bracelet-wearing crowds to the Red Valley Festival, which began yesterday and ends tonight. It also competes for stage and attendance with Arzachena, which adds Lebonski Park to the Emerald Coast's tourism. For the capital of Gallura, August is very close to being sold out.

The Coral Riviera

From 43,000 residents to over 200,000 visitors in high season, Alghero remains the leading tourist destination in Northern Sardinia, generating an estimated €370 million in tourism revenue. It's popular with foreign visitors (+72%) and those from neighboring towns, who always flock to the traditional Ferragosto fireworks display, part of the Sant Miguel Festival today. A Night of Fires will also be held tonight in nearby Castelsardo, which has seen a boom in visitors in May and June and an exponential growth curve that stabilized in July.

Villasimius

Even a pin would struggle to find a place to stay in Villasimius these days. Mayor Gianluca Dessì knows this well, having (in vain) rung up hotel rooms for some friends who wanted to spend Ferragosto between Punta Molentis and Porto Giunco.

"These days, it's a bit like going to a big shopping mall on December 24th—it's chaotic," explains the mayor, who then launches a provocative pose: "It would be appropriate to have a limited number of visitors in our area. Through the new coastal use plan currently being finalized, we're studying how to proceed. It's not easy, but it would be nice to find a solution." As for the numbers, "it's likely one of the best seasons in terms of visitor numbers. At least the tourist tax flow recorded between June and July is pointing us in that direction."