Historical Tournament of the Villages of Susa

From 17 to 19 July 2026, the town of Susa, the gateway to the Susa Valley and ancient capital of the county of the same name, will once again be steeped in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages with the 38th edition of the Historical Tournament of the Villages of Susa, one of the most important historical re-enactment events in Piedmont.

For three days, the historic centre and the picturesque Roman Arena will become the stage for processions, performances, medieval contests and ceremonies, featuring the town’s six historic districts as they compete to win the coveted Palio.

The event, organised by the Pro Loco di Susa APS, celebrates the town’s history through period costumes, traditions and competitions involving the whole community, offering visitors an immersive experience bridging the past and the present.

The six town districts will be competing for the banner:

• Borgo Nuovo, detentore del Palio;
• Borgo Storico;
• Borgo dei Franchi;
• Borgo dei Nobili;
• Borgo di Traduerivi;
• Borgo dei Cappuccini.

The programme

The tournament will kick off on Friday 17 July at 8.30 pm in Piazza San Giusto, with a performance by the Tamburini, whose rhythm will mark the official start of the event.

On Saturday 18 July, at 8.30 pm, the traditional Historical Procession will wind its way through the streets of the town centre with hundreds of participants in medieval costume. At 9.30 pm, in the Roman Arena, the medieval spectacle and the evocative Oath of the Borough Leaders will take place – a symbolic moment that officially opens the competition.

The final day, Sunday 19 July, will begin at 10.00 with another historical procession, followed at 11.00 by Holy Mass and the Blessing of the Palio at the Cathedral of San Giusto.

At 3.30 pm, the Roman Arena will host the most eagerly awaited moment of the entire event: the medieval games that will determine the winning village of the 2026 Palio. The trials, inspired by ancient folk competitions, will test skill, strength, strategy and team spirit, providing a spectacular and thrilling spectacle right up until the winner is announced.

The Historic Tournament of the Villages is one of the flagship events of the Valsusa summer and an ideal opportunity to visit Susa, a town rich in Roman and medieval heritage, whilst experiencing first-hand one of the region’s most immersive historical re-enactments.

With parades, drums, period costumes and competitions between the villages, the Historic Tournament continues to uphold a tradition that, for almost forty years, has celebrated the identity and history of one of the most fascinating towns in the Piedmontese Alps.