As of 2 September 2026. This overview summarises the current situation in Sicily and the neighbouring island groups – covering travel and transport, the wildfire, Etna and weather situation, culture and events, and general tourism developments.
Travel & Transport
Train services in Sicily are currently running normally, with no major disruptions reported at present. For the rest of September, however, several announced strike days affecting rail, air and local public transport are expected, some already in the first half of the month. Anyone travelling during this period should check timetables again with the relevant transport operators shortly before departure, since individual dates can be confirmed, postponed or cancelled at short notice.
In Taormina and Castelmola, the through-road was temporarily closed yesterday because of the wildfire, with several access roads closed for safety reasons and to allow firefighting. The situation was reported under control by evening, with some buildings damaged. Anyone travelling to the area today should check the current road conditions and possible after-effects such as smoke or reduced visibility with the municipality or on site. There are currently no new disruption reports concerning ferries or airports.
Nature & Safety
Wildfires: situation by province
The responsible authorities today continue to classify the provinces of Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania and Enna at the highest wildfire warning level (Alert Level Red), and the remaining five provinces at the medium warning level (Alert Level Orange). Over the past weekend alone, the regional Corpo Forestale counted 198 fires on the island, supported by around twenty aerial operations with Canadair firefighting planes and helicopters, plus more than 800 fire service operations between Friday and Monday. The ongoing drought and wind continue to favour the rapid spread of individual fire outbreaks. The overview below sorts the known, specifically named fire incidents by province; where the sources reviewed provide no exact location for today, this is explicitly noted rather than implying a situation that cannot be substantiated.
Agrigento – Alert Level Red
The province was one of the focal points of the wildfire situation over the past weekend. Near Sciacca, in the Makauda district, around 500 people had to be brought to safety from a holiday complex via the beach, six of them – including an infant – received medical treatment for smoke inhalation. Near Menfi, a fire burned for several hours. These two municipalities remain the most recently named hotspots; for today, the sources reviewed report no newly named fire in the province, but the classification at Alert Level Red remains unchanged.
Caltanissetta – Alert Level Red
The province was among the fire service’s operational hotspots over the weekend and remains today at the highest warning level. The sources reviewed provide no further details on individual fires with an exact location or municipality, either for the weekend or for today.
Enna – Alert Level Red
This province also remains classified at the highest warning level today. Earlier reports mention recurring fire hotspots in the area around Agira and the Nicoletti reservoir, but these reports date from the summer and cannot be applied to the current situation. For today, the sources reviewed report no specifically named, current fire in the province.
Catania – Alert Level Red
The province was likewise raised to the highest warning level for today. The fire service personnel called in to reinforce firefighting near Taormina, Castelmola and Letojanni (province of Messina) came from, among others, the Catania and Enna commands, pointing to an overall strained personnel situation in the east of the island. No specifically named, standalone fire incident in the province of Catania itself has been reported in the sources reviewed for today.
Messina – Alert Level Orange: aftermath of the major fire near Taormina
Yesterday, a major fire broke out near Taormina in Contrada Sant’Antonio, below a residential care home for the elderly. The flames spread quickly to the Contrade Zappulla and Tirone and advanced towards the wooded area on the border with Castelmola as well as towards the Letojanni area. In the Ziretto zone, the fire front came so close to homes that the local police had to bring a resident, who initially refused to leave her house, to safety together with her dogs. A municipal water supply tank was damaged, several houses had to be evacuated, and some were reached by the flames. Three fire service crews were deployed, supported by two Canadair firefighting planes and two helicopters, an Erickson S-64 and a Falco; the navy was also involved. Around 4:30pm, the municipal administration reported the situation under control, after the town had been closed for around three hours. No new reports of a fresh flare-up have come in for today, but the current access situation should be checked locally before visiting the area.
Palermo, Trapani, Syracuse, Ragusa – Alert Level Orange
These four provinces are today at the medium warning level. In Palermo, Ciminna and Ventimiglia di Sicilia were among the areas affected over the weekend; the fire near Ciminna could only be extinguished after around 36 hours, and a 26-year-old man died from burns sustained while trying to protect his property. For Trapani, Syracuse and Ragusa, the sources reviewed report no newly named fire incidents for today.
For travellers, this means: in all the areas mentioned, check on the day with the responsible municipalities and the civil protection agency whether roads, hiking trails or tourist facilities are closed. Dense smoke can significantly affect local air quality; instructions from emergency responders and authorities on site must be followed at all times, even if your own destination does not appear directly affected. A technical note on our sources: direct access to the region’s official daily wildfire-risk dataset was not possible today, and the usually functioning browser workaround also failed. This assessment is therefore based on consistent press reports, which in turn refer to the official bulletins from the civil protection agency.
Etna
According to the responsible observatory, Etna has been in a continuous eruptive phase since 24 December 2025. A particularly intense episode occurred from 5 to 7 July 2026, when an eruptive fissure opened at the summit of the Voragine towards the southern rim of the Northeast Crater, producing lava fountains and substantial amounts of ash; the paroxysm of 5 July forced operators to temporarily close Catania Airport. As the summer went on, several vents at various altitudes – including around 2,750, 2,090 and 1,900 metres – fed a lava field in the Valle del Bove; in mid-August, a new vent also opened in the early morning hours at around 3,100 metres in the upper part of the valley.
The lava front fed by the vent at around 1,900 metres advanced further down the Valle del Bove over the course of August, at times reaching a height of around 1,300 to 1,500 metres near the Rocca Capra; according to the observatory’s weekly bulletin of 25 August, the entire lava field extended over a planimetric length of around 5.5 kilometres at that point. Between 6 and 14 August, a phase of stronger ash emission caused significant disruption at Catania Airport: around 630 to 700 flights were cancelled or diverted, flight operations were at times completely suspended until 2am, then limited to around ten arrivals per hour into the following week, before regular operations without restrictions were reported again on 18 August.
In the final weeks of August, explosive activity at the Voragine crater picked up again, with ash emissions dispersing mainly towards the volcano’s southern quadrant. On 1 September, the responsible observatory accordingly raised the aviation code (VONA) from Warning Level Yellow to Warning Level Orange, after weak ash emission was observed from the summit crater area – the third-highest of four levels. According to the responsible authorities, this emission has so far had no effect on flight operations at Catania Airport; further updates or a change in warning level would be published immediately if the phenomenon changes significantly. For the current day-to-day status, any access restrictions in the summit area, and the warning level in force, only the official communications of the responsible observatory and the civil protection agency are authoritative – we deliberately do not offer our own hazard assessment here.
Heat and earthquakes
For today, a heat warning level continues to apply in several cities, with peak values mostly above 30 degrees: Catania and Messina are at Warning Level Yellow (Level 1), Palermo at the somewhat higher Warning Level Orange (Level 2). Yesterday, an earthquake of magnitude 3.3 was also recorded in the Palermo hinterland, near Petralia Sottana. According to the responsible authorities, no damage was reported, and the event is considered part of the normal seismic activity for the region.
Events & Culture
Festa del Grano di Raddusa (11–13 September)
Raddusa, in the interior between Catania and Enna, carries the nickname “Città del Grano” (City of Wheat) and is celebrating the 30th edition of its harvest festival this year. The event stems from the town’s centuries-old connection to grain growing and aims to keep this tradition alive year after year. Over three days, the programme is shaped by processions of decorated Sicilian carts, brass bands and folk costume groups, plus tastings of local grain products; guided tours of the Museo del Grano, the Pinacoteca comunale and a historic mill are also offered. The highlight, on the afternoon of the final day, is the “Pisatura”, a historical re-enactment of threshing: horses traditionally tread the sheaves of grain on the threshing floor, accompanied by singing and dancing. Practically relevant for visitors: Raddusa lies off the main routes inland and is only partially accessible without your own vehicle; on festival days, expect noticeably more traffic and limited parking in the small town centre.
Sagra dell’Arancino di Ficarazzi and Fiera di Settembre (10–13 September, Aci Castello)
In the Ficarazzi district of Aci Castello, the Sagra dell’Arancino takes place once again; founded in 2001, it is, according to the organisers, the first official sagra anywhere dedicated to this dish. Over the years, a simple village festival has grown into an event that draws visitors from all over Sicily. On four evenings, each from 6pm to midnight, the Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII offers tasting stalls with different arancino varieties, alongside a music and entertainment programme ranging from Sicilian folklore to contemporary music, plus a funfair for families. As the event takes place mainly in the evening and at night, families with young children should plan the timing accordingly; expect tight parking in the town centre on event days. The proximity to Catania makes a short detour easy to fit into a longer trip.
In just a few days, on 7 and 8 September, the pilgrimage for the Festa della Madonna del Tindari near Patti also takes place – one of the most important religious festivals in northeastern Sicily, with large crowds expected and correspondingly heavier traffic around the sanctuary. Also in preparation is the international Cous Cous Fest in San Vito Lo Capo (18–27 September). Smaller, mainly locally significant dates in the coming days include several Marian festivals between 8 and 10 September in various municipalities across the island.
General & Tourism
The picture for the past summer season is overall positive: occupancy at accommodation businesses in Sicily stood at around 63 percent in summer 2026, noticeably above the previous year’s figure, and arrivals and overnight stays have grown significantly according to several assessments over recent weeks. This is a multi-week trend rather than a single day’s news. No further day-to-day reports on this topic are currently available.
Note: all information as of 2 September 2026. Before travelling, please check current timetables, opening hours, event dates, and weather and safety warnings again with the responsible authorities or the relevant municipalities and organisers.
