Next: 2 Jul 2027
Palio di Siena
A bareback horse race around the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, run for the contrade of Siena on 2 July and 16 August.
When is Palio di Siena in 2027?
Palio di Siena 2027 is on Friday, 2 July 2027. Other years: 2026, Sunday, 16 August 2026; 2028, Sunday, 2 July 2028.
About Palio di Siena
The Palio is Siena's famous horse race, held on 2 July, in honour of the Madonna of Provenzano, and 16 August, for the Assumption. Ten of the seventeen contrade, the city's historic neighbourhoods, each with its own flag, colours and animal emblem, take part, with a horse drawn by lot and a rider, the fantino, who rides bareback. The days beforehand are filled with trial races, blessings of the horses in the contrada churches, and communal dinners in the streets. On the day, a historical procession of costumed flag-bearers and drummers enters the Piazza del Campo, filled with thousands of spectators. The race itself of three laps takes about 90 seconds, and the winner receives a banner, the palio, and celebrations in the contrada last for days.
Palio di Siena dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Palio di Siena date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday, 16 August 2026 |
| 2027 | Friday, 2 July 2027 |
| 2028 | Sunday, 2 July 2028 |
What is eaten
- ribollita
- panforte
- ricciarelli
Also part of it, and being written: Contrada (The neighbourhood of Siena.), Piazza del Campo (The square of the race.), Flag throwing (The sbandierata of the procession.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Palio di Siena" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.