Pantelleria Asinabile Festival: the island celebrates its donkey from 2 to 4 October
Three days of excursions, talks and conviviality at the Bukkuram Bunker area for the second edition dedicated to the Pantelleria donkey, a symbol of the island's identity
There is one inhabitant of Pantelleria who needs no introduction: patient, tireless and deeply bound to the island's agricultural history. It is the Pantelleria donkey, for centuries a working companion among the terraces and dry-stone walls, and today the undisputed star of one of autumn's most eagerly awaited events.
From 2 to 4 October 2026, the Pantelleria Asinabile Festival returns for its second edition, taking place at the evocative Bukkuram Bunker area, coinciding with the fourteenth edition of Earth Planet Week.
A festival for everyone, in the name of sustainability
Organised by the Pantelleria Island National Park Authority together with the Municipality, the Sicilian Region and numerous local associations, the festival offers three days packed with activities designed for all ages:
- Walks and excursions in the company of donkeys, discovering the island's most authentic landscapes;
- Talks and moments of reflection on the environment, protection of the territory and animal welfare;
- Activities for children and families, including the involvement of the Park's Little Rangers;
- Conviviality and camping under the stars, for those who wish to enjoy the experience to the full with a tent and sleeping bag.
The festival will conclude on the afternoon of Sunday 4 October, making way for the celebrations of Saint Francis in Khamma: a handover that unites nature, tradition and spirituality.
Why the Pantelleria donkey is so special
The Pantelleria donkey is no ordinary animal: it is a symbol of the island's identity, saved from the risk of extinction thanks to painstaking work to recover the breed. Sturdy, docile and sure-footed, today it is at the heart of pack-donkey trekking projects, educational activities and pet therapy programmes that show how tradition can become a resource for the future.
October: the perfect time to visit Pantelleria
This festival is also the ideal opportunity to discover the island in its autumn guise: mild temperatures, golden light on the terraces, the scent of the newly completed grape harvest and a slower, more authentic pace. Those who choose Pantelleria in October will find an intimate island, far from the summer bustle, where every dammuso tells a story.
If you are considering an off-season stay, the first weekend of October is the right time: between a walk with the donkeys and a sunset at Bukkuram, you will understand why those who visit Pantelleria in autumn fall in love with it forever.
