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“I do not want to belong to the generation that lets this tradition die.”
The words of one of Foglianise’s young float makers express the most authentic meaning of the Festa del Grano. From 16 to 23 August 2026, the village will renew its bond with Saint Roch through a celebration in which devotion, art and collective identity intertwine like the stalks used to create its remarkable floats.
The most eagerly awaited moment will arrive on the morning of 16 August. The monumental works of wheat and straw will leave Piazza Santa Maria and travel through the village, revealing rose windows, towers, façades and mosaics assembled grain by grain. Behind their beauty lie months of work, tired hands, sleepless nights and young people who return early from the cities where they study or work to take part.
Each float is the result of a collective commitment. Wheat stalks are selected, cleaned and transformed into plaits, ribbons and intricate decorations. Children, adults and older residents work side by side, passing on skills learned through active participation. Some works are completed only a few hours before the parade, when exhaustion gives way to the emotion of watching them move through the village.
The 2026 theme, “Community Grows from Its Roots”, captures this bond. The Festa del Grano is not a motionless tradition to be observed: it is a legacy that survives because each generation consciously chooses to embrace it.
The floats will remain on display until 23 August, allowing visitors to admire their complexity at close range. The concluding day, featuring “Along the Wheat Route” and traditional weaving demonstrations, will bring every creation back to its original gesture: two hands transforming a strand of straw into memory, beauty and a shared future.
Practical information
Wheat Float Parade: Sunday, 16 August from 9:00 am
Float exhibition: from 16 to 23 August
2026 theme: “Community Grows from Its Roots”
Admission: free admission to public events unless otherwise indicated by the organisers
Organised by: Municipality of Foglianise, Parish of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, Pro Loco Foglianise, local confraternities and community organisations
Main events:
- 16 August at 9:00 am: Wheat Float Parade from Piazza Santa Maria and blessing at the Chapel of Saint Roch
- 16 August at 9:00 pm: Evening of Honour and recognition of the Wheat Masters
- 17 August: religious celebrations, visits to the floats and procession of Saint Roch
- 18 August at 9:00 pm: Ricchi e Poveri concert, followed by a fireworks display at midnight
- From 16 to 23 August: exhibition of the Wheat Floats
- 23 August: “Along the Wheat Route”, traditional weaving demonstrations, return procession of Saint Roch and conclusion of the festival
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Traditions do not live only in the past.
They live in the hands of those who choose to carry them into the future.
In the hands of little Giacomo and his sisters, who have been learning the art of wheat weaving since they were children. And in those of Gioacchino, Mattia and their friends, who devote their time, patience and passion to creating floats that are true works of art.
They remind us that the Sannio’s most precious heritage is not only what we have inherited, but also what we choose not to let disappear.
As Gioacchino told us, new generations should never have to watch the traditions that make our land authentic fade away.
And perhaps this is the most beautiful part of all: seeing an ancient tradition continue to live on through the hands of a new generation.
