Italian festivals

If you spend any time in Italy in summer, you’ll quickly hear one word over and over again: Ferragosto.

July sits at the heart of the Italian summer and is traditionally the month packed with open-air events: fireworks over the lagoon, opera under the stars, jazz concerts in medieval alleyways, and a horse race that lasts less than ninety seconds but carries a year’s worth of passion. The journey stretches across the country, taking in Venice, Rome, Naples, Siena, Perugia and Genoa. Here’s what to do in Italy in July 2026.

The world-famous Palio di Siena 2026 will take place on Thursday, 2 July 2026 (Palio della Madonna di Provenzano) and Sunday, 16 August 2026 (Palio dell’Assunta). As always, both races are held in the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo in the heart of Siena, Tuscany.

From the I-Days in Milan to open-air gigs in Puglia’s parks, and on to the international buzz of Florence and Lucca, summer in Italy is once again one of the best times of year to catch live music.So which music festivals are taking place in Italy in summer 2026?

If you’re planning a trip or living in the country this year, Italy Pride 2026 will once again light up cities right across the peninsula.

Milan Pride 2026 runs from Saturday 21 June to Saturday 28 June 2026, with the main parade taking place on Saturday 27 June 2026.Milano Pride is the city’s annual late‑June celebration of LGBTQ+ communities and allies.

There’s nowhere quite like Italy when it comes to family-friendly festivals. Towns and cities fill with music, food stalls, street performers and local traditions that draw in everyone.If you're looking for the best festivals in Italy with kids in 2026, you’ll find options all year round.

Each June, just outside Rome in the Castelli Romani, Genzano di Roma turns into an open-air artwork for the Infiorata di Genzano 2026.

June in Rome always carries a certain energy, but Pride month adds something extra.

If you’re in Italy in late June, chances are you’ll hear about Festa di San Giovanni 2026.

June 2026 in Italy is looking wonderfully full on, in the best possible way.

Italy’s Republic Day, Festa della Repubblica, is celebrated every year on 2 June.

The Nemi Strawberry Festival is one of the most eagerly awaited events in the Castelli Romani area near Rome. Nemi’s strawberries are renowned throughout Italy for their vibrant colour and rich flavour. But what should you know about the 93rd edition of the Nemi Strawberry Festival?

The May Day long weekend is one of the best times to travel: the days are longer, the temperatures are pleasant, and you can get a taste of summer without too much traffic and crowds. This year, with the holiday falling on a Friday, you can take full advantage of a long weekend. But even if you only have one day away, here's where to go for the May Day long weekend in Italy.

On April 25th, Rome becomes a veritable open-air workshop: historical memory intertwines with concerts, guided tours, green initiatives, food and wine festivals, and amusement parks. Here's what to do in Rome on April 25th to celebrate Liberation Day, including parades, official celebrations, cultural events, outdoor activities, family-friendly activities, and nearby excursions.

If there is one moment when Rome feels like living history rather than an open-air museum, it’s during Rome’s birthday.

The Venice Biennale 2026, officially the 61st edition of the Venice Art Biennale, is one of the biggest contemporary art events in the world.Every two years, the city shifts gear: curators, critics, collectors and curious travellers all descend at once, and the atmosphere becomes part cultural pilgr

Liberation Day in Italy, celebrated every year on 25th April, marks the end of the Fascist regime and Nazi occupation in 1945.

Every spring, Italy turns pink. From Rome’s elegant lakeside parks to the cherry orchards of Emilia‑Romagna, delicate blossoms briefly transform the landscape into something almost dreamlike. And in 2026, cherry blossom season in Italy is expected to be especially spectacular.

Easter in Italy is a unique opportunity to experience one of the country’s most important and deeply rooted traditions.

Holy Week in Italy feels entirely different from a standard spring city break. The best Easter destinations in Italy see town squares lit by candlelight processions, church bells carried across medieval streets, and cities taking on a theatrical edge.It’s not only a religious occasion.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated worldwide on 14th February, and Italy is no exception. Known locally as San Valentino, this holiday is also called la festa degli innamorati — the day of lovers.

Venice during Carnival is a bit like walking onto a film set: masks everywhere, music echoing off the canals, and something happening in every square.

Carnival in Italy is one of those festivals that completely takes over everyday life.

If there’s one tradition that never gets old, it’s Carnival in Italy.