The 65th Sardinian Artistic Crafts Fair posted truly impressive numbers, closing with a result that confirms the event's solidity and, above all, the growing quality of its audience.
From July 18th to September 13th, the Carpet Fair Center welcomed 10,863 visitors, generating a total turnover of €342,110 between artisans' sales, agri-food, bookshops, and ticket sales.
The most significant figure, however, concerns the average spending per visitor, which rose 19.4%: from €23.70 in 2025 to €28.30 in 2026, a sign of an increasingly attentive public willing to invest in artisanal products. Sales alone from the 113 artisans reached €268,637, while ticket sales generated €32,313. These figures confirm the Fair as one of Sardinia's leading cultural and economic events.
"The event has once again demonstrated its strength, despite a challenging summer marked by heat and rising costs," commented Francesco Serrenti, City Councilor for Crafts. "The increase in average spending is an important sign," he emphasized, "and the public recognizes the value of the products on display."
The visitor demographic confirms the event's regional and national scope: 36% come from outside Sardinia (28% from the rest of Italy, 8% from abroad), while Sardinians account for the highest percentages, with Oristano and Cagliari (18% each), followed by Southern Sardinia (12%), Sassari (10%), and Nuoro (6%). This year's theme, Intrecci (Weaves), guided the curatorial project of artistic director Violetta Scanu, who transcended the traditional division into sectors, crafting an exhibition itinerary capable of bringing together different techniques, materials, and languages. "The Fair," she states, "is one of the most comprehensive places to understand Sardinian artistic craftsmanship, from its traditional roots to contemporary interpretations," Scanu emphasizes. Mayor Luca Orrù emphasizes the quality of the exhibition.
"We've received many compliments," he explains, "and this year's experience allows us to plan the next edition well in advance, focusing even more on quality." Among the management's intentions is to entrust the selection of artisans to qualified external professionals, to ensure an independent process focused on excellence. Alongside the exhibition, the Fair offered a rich calendar of events: Pedras et Sonus, Arts, Sounds and Flavors, demonstration workshops, guided tours, food and wine initiatives, and musical events. A key role was played by the Mariposas Cooperative, responsible for operational coordination, from managing sales data to organizing the workshops and the InfoPoint.
