The Mandorlo in Fiore is Agrigento's spring festival. In the city's own words, it celebrates the awakening of spring and the meeting of peoples, with a message of peace and friendship carried by music, dance and folklore. It takes place in the historic center and in the Valley of the Temples. The 78th edition ran from March 7 to 15, 2026. For 2027 the days have been announced as March 2 to 7; the program and times are still to come.
The international folklore festival
Its main part is an international folklore festival: groups from Sicily and abroad bring the dances, music and costumes of their home countries to the stage and the streets. On the closing evening the festival presents its award, the "Tempio d'Oro," or Golden Temple. That evening is planned at the Temple of Concordia; outdoor events can move depending on the weather.
The Tripod of Friendship at the Temple of Concordia
In the Valley of the Temples the groups walk the Via Sacra with torches to the Temple of Concordia, where the Tripode dell'Amicizia, the Tripod of Friendship, is lit. The program shows which day this happens in 2027.
The torch procession and the parades in town
The Fiaccolata dell'Amicizia is a ceremony of its own, usually an evening torch procession through town; in 2026 it went from Piazza Pirandello to Viale della Vittoria. The parades of the folk groups also started at Piazza Pirandello in 2026 and went on to Viale della Vittoria and Piazza Cavour.
The children's festival, I Bambini del Mondo
An international children's festival, "I Bambini del Mondo," is part of the event. In 2026 it held shows for schools at the Teatro Pirandello and a peace walk along the Via Sacra in the Valley of the Temples. For 2027 the organizers give the same days as for the main festival.
When the almond trees bloom
The bloom depends on the winter. Around Agrigento it often starts in February, so frequently before the festival. If you mainly want to see the trees in bloom, plan an earlier trip; the page on March in Sicily describes the weather that month.
The Valley of the Temples
The Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, lies below the city. A visit to the temples combines well with the festival, and the valley has a page of its own.
Planning your stay
The city of Agrigento publishes the program with venues and times before the festival. Only then is it clear which ceremony falls on which day and whether any events charge admission. The nearest vacation homes are on the southwest coast near Sciacca, in the same province.
