A folding apparatus for folding absorbent sanitary articles (14) having an absorbent central body (24) and two wings (38) projecting from opposite side edges (30) of said absorbent central body (24), comprising: - a vacuum conveyor (42) comprising a conveyor belt (44) which holds the absorbent central bodies (24) of said absorbent sanitary articles (14) and moves said absorbent sanitary articles in a longitudinal direction (MD), and - a pair of stationary folding elements (54) that engage respective wings (38) of said absorbent sanitary articles (14) while these are moved in said longitudinal direction (MD) by said vacuum conveyor (42), wherein said conveyor belt (44) comprises a plurality of recessed seats (48) which receive the absorbent central bodies (24) of said absorbent sanitary articles (12), with said wings (38) extending laterally outwards from said recessed seats (48) on an outer surface (50) of said conveyor belt (44).
