March/April

Holy Week

Corsica is a strongly Catholic island and, as such, there are a number of religious festivals throughout the year, but Easter is the most celebrated with processions in many towns and villages. Some of the better known Good Friday celebrations include:

Bonifacio: The Procession of the Five Orders

Calvi: A Passione

Sartène: U Catenacciu

Erbalunga: La Cerca

Each marks the crucifixion of Christ in quite different ways, ranging from the traditional A Passione accompanied by Corsican polyphonic singing, to the more sombre U Cateracciu which re-enacts the walk to Calvary by Christ and hooded penitents.

April

Early April - BD à Bastia (Festival of Comic Strips & Cartoons), Bastia

This annual festival held in Bastia brings together cartoonists and illustrators from around Europe to exhibit their latest works.

Late April - Art’ è Gustu (Art and Taste), Aléria

A demonstration by top French chefs in collaboration with local talent to illustrate of how Corsica can produce truly excellent cuisine. 

May

Early May - A Fiera di u Casgiu (Celebration of Corsican Cheese), Venaco 

Following the age-old farming tradition, on the first weekend in May, many of Corsica’s inhabitants descend on this small village south of Corte to exhibit, buy and sell a wide array of cheeses produced on the island.

End May / Beginning June - Fête Photographique, Ghisonaccia

Numerous exhibitions and workshops will held demonstrating a wide range of photography subjects including studio photgraphy, sports photography, stage lighting, macro, technical and material matters, strobist and pinhole techniques, light painting, image processing software etc.

End May - I Pescadori in Festa (Fish and Seafood Festival), Ajaccio & Festimare, L’Ile Rousse 

The thanksgiving to Saint Erasme, the patron saint of fishermen, involves parades through the streets of the town and exhibitions and stalls selling fresh fish and seafood.

June

Early June - Corsica Raid Adventure, Lecci

A 5 day Iron Man challenge involving mountain biking, canyoning, sea kayaking and snow running, centred around the Alta Rocca mountains and the village of Lecci.

Mid June - Fête de la Musique (Festival of Music), La Balagne

Bastia, Calvi, L’Ile Rousse, Lucciana, Pigna & Prunelli di Fiumorbu all hold events with musicians young and old simply to celebrate the joy of music.

Mid June - Cavall’ in Festa (Horse Fair), Corte

This annual fair is held to celebrate the importance of equine involvement in many elements of Corsican life for thousands of years.

July

Early July - Calvi on the Rocks, Calvi

The ‘love-it-or-hate-it’ annual gathering of techno-pop aficionados performing late into the night around Calvi and on the beach.

Early / Mid July - Fiera di u Vinu, Luri

Wine producers from every region of Corsica assemble to compare their wines and invite the public to taste their produce and celebrate the continuing improvement in the quality of Corsica’s wines.

14th July - Bastille Day, throughout the island

The French National Day holiday, celebrated across the island, with street parties and extravagant firework displays.

Mid July - Fiera di l’Alivu (Festival of the Olive), Montegrosso

This annual festival has around sixty exhibitors demonstrating the art of producing olive oil to a standard that has now achieved AOC status in Corsica. In 2013 over 10,000 people visited this festival!

Mid July - Les Nuits de la Guitare (Corsica’s Guitar Festival), Patrimonio

Attracting big music names from around the world that have included Robert Plant, Joe Cocker, Patti Smith, Jeff Beck, Christophe Mae and Tom Jones. Groups such as TOTO, Deep Purple, ZAZ, Status Quo, Vanessa Paradis, Jean-Baptiste Guegan, Rodrigo Y Gabriela. and Simple Minds have also performed.

Mid July - Festival Padul’Ella (Modern Music Festival), Moriani Plage

This free, open-air festival - which features only female performers - is growing in its reputation and is beginning to attract some well known names.

End July / Early August - Nuits du Piano (Piano Festival), Bastia & Erbalunga

A classical music festival, centred around concertos for the piano, and attracting renowned pianists from around the world.

End July / Beginning August - Festival de Film, Lama

This tiny village hosts a week-long festival showing both mainstream and niche films in a multitude of languages and attracts many visitors who come to Corsica especially for the event.

August

Early August - Fiera di l’Amandulu (Festival of the Almond), Aregno

Celebrating a, hopefully, bountiful almond harvest and has demonstrations of the various ways in which the nut is used in Corsican recipes.

Early August - Porto Latino (Latin-American Music Festival), St Florent

This popular merengue/salsa/samba influenced music festival takes place in and around the town’s tiny citadel, which has attracted the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & the Gang and Charlie Winston

15th August - Assomption de Marie, throughout the island

The religious festival marking the passage of the Virgin Mary into heaven. It is a major feast day in the Corsican calendar with many church masses and street processions.

15th August - Fete Napoleoniennes (Napoleons Birthday), Ajaccio

With military themed parades, steet performances and fireworks.

Mid August - Fiera di U Nuciola (Festival of the Hazelnut), Cervione

Taking place in the church square of the village, locals gather to exhibit, taste and buy/sell hazelnuts grown in the Castagniccia and Casinca regions of the island.

September

Early September - Fiera A Santa di U Niolu, Casamaccioli

Held in this small village in the Niolu region for over 5 centuries, this is one of the island’s oldest celebrations, held in honour of the Virgin Mary, with masses, traditional chants, performances and a 3 day rural fair

Mid September - Rencontres de Chants Polyphoniques de Calvi (Polyphonique Singing Festival), Calvi

This international 5 day music festival brings together groups and soloists from both Corsica and further afield. Protagonists of polyphonique singing meet in the heart of Calvi’s citadel to perform and illustrate the diversity of this genre of music.

Mid September - Festa di u Ficu (Festival of the Fig), Peri

A local festival celebrating the harvest of the fig from the trees in the Gravona region of the island, north east of Ajaccio.

Late September - U Mele in Festa (Festival of Honey), Murzu

Over 70 stalls set up in the streets of the village where you can taste and buy honey made by many different species of bees and see numerous exhibitions by beekeepers.

Please note: event details can change.