Castel del Piano: on 28 and 30 August, the first events leading up to the Palio on 8 September. The Flag Ceremony and the unveiling of the Baccile kick off the programme. On Sunday 30 August, the Palio painted by Silvia Gasparrini will be unveiled, whilst the Procession of the Candles returns in the evening.

Friday 28 August at 6.00 pm – Town Hall – Flag Ceremony
At 6.30 pm, the 2026 Baccile, painted by the skilled hands of Cristina Pellegrini, will be presented, and the exhibition organised by the Consulta delle Contrade will be inaugurated. Once again dedicated to the ‘Nuova veste’ project, it will showcase the costumes created this year by Valentina Priori.

Sunday 30 August at 11.30 am – Official presentation of the 2026 Palio
created by Silvia Gasparrini, a Sienese artist with over twenty years’ experience in traditional iconographic painting and a career linked to sacred art, ancient pictorial styles and the imagery of the Contrade. From her youth, Gasparrini has also devoted herself to creating ‘barberi’, coats of arms, drums and banners, developing a body of work that engages directly with the world of the Palio.

The day of 30 August will conclude at 9.00 pm with the Procession of the Candles, setting off from the church of the Madonna delle Grazie – one of the most cherished events in the calendar leading up to the Palio.