Popoli in Festa

**POPOLI IN FESTA 2026**
"Many cultures, one peace"
May 30th and 31th, 2026 – San Cesario di Lecce
**For two days, San Cesario di Lecce will transform into a vibrant square of sounds, scents, languages, and encounters**. On May 30th and 31th, “Popoli in Festa 2026” returns, the large free multicultural event that will enliven Largo “Amedeo Forcignanò” with live music, cuisines from around the world, workshops, shows, sports, and activities open to all ages.
Promoted by the Parish of Saint Anthony of Padua, the Missionary Center, and the Migrant Office of the Diocese of Lecce, the Pro Loco “I Tre Casali,” and the Association TempoPresente APS, the event will involve associations, artists, and communities present in the Salento area in a collective experience of cultural exchange, participation, and conviviality.
Among the most anticipated moments of the 2026 edition will be **“The World on the Table,”** a culinary journey featuring authentic dishes prepared directly by the foreign communities in the area, alongside the **evening concerts** of the Gambling Band and the Orchestra Popolare di Via Leuca, creating a musical journey through pizzica, African rhythms, Balkan sounds, and Mediterranean fusions.
The program will also include **intercultural workshops**, Afro dance with live percussion, film forums, activities for children and families, exhibitions, **public meetings**, and moments of spirituality and tradition, such as the **Congolese Zaïrese rite celebration**.
**Admission is free and open to all.**
Complete program, bookings, and updates:
https://popolinfesta.taplink.bio

Below is the full program for the event.

**PROGRAM**
TUESDAY, MAY 26 — “PEOPLE IN PLAY”
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Volleyball tournament for kids aged 9 to 14
Sports Hall – via Tevere
Organized by Evò Pallavolo San Cesario
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Mini-soccer tournament for children aged 8 to 10
San Salvatore Oratory – via Ferrovia
Organized by Polisportiva San Cesario

SATURDAY, MAY 30
From 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Intercultural Workshop and Film Forum
Saponaro School – via Saponaro
- Traditional Afro Dance Workshop with Live Percussion
With Keba Seck and Meissa Ndiaye
Saponaro School – via Saponaro
- “Bridges of Words”
Workshop inspired by Nonviolent Communication by Danilo Dolci
Saponaro House – Largo Forcignanò
- “Tales from the World”
Creative workshop for children and families
Parish Hall of Saint Anthony – via N. Sauro
5:00 PM
Historical-photographic exhibition “One More Day” with a kinderheim area and educational animation for children
Largo “Amedeo Forcignanò”
6:00 PM
Inauguration of the exhibition “UJI – Fluids in Motion” by Ermelinda Bircaj
Parish Hall of Saint Anthony
6:00 PM
“Food, hospitality, and inclusion: a menu that nourishes peace”
Presentation of the project “AliMentiAmo la Pace”
7:00 PM
“Many cultures, one peace”
Institutional greetings, interventions, and testimonies
From 8:30 PM
“The World on the Table”
International food stands, tastings, and crafts from around the world
9:00 PM
Live concert by the Gambling Band
Between Salento pizzica, Balkan sounds, and Mediterranean energy

SUNDAY, MAY 31
4:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Meditation Workshop for Planetary Peace
Parish Halls – via Nazario Sauro
From 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Open visits to Saponaro House
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Exhibition “UJI – Fluids in Motion”
5:00 PM
Historical-photographic exhibition “One More Day” with a kinderheim area
7:00 PM
Eucharistic celebration in the Congolese Zaïrese rite
Presided by Father Jean Claude Kobo
From 8:30 PM
Grand finale of “The World on the Table”
9:00 PM
Concert by the Orchestra Popolare di Via Leuca
A musical journey through pizzica, African drums, Eastern melodies, and sounds from around the world
#PopoliInFesta
Web: popolinfesta.taplink.bio