Traditional Italian holidays

Italy’s 2026–27 school year is approaching, and the return to the classroom will not look the same across the country.

Italy’s 2026–27 school year starts in September, although the exact first day differs by region. The earliest published return date is 7 September, while the latest is 17 September 2026.For families with children in Italian schools, the important dates are not limited to the first day of term.

The Ferragosto fireworks display is the modern legacy of a celebration that originated in ancient Rome and has reinvented itself over the centuries, combining religious devotion with seaside relaxation. From Lake Garda to Lake Como, from Marina di Ravenna to Marina di Ragusa, from Castellammare di Stabia to Ostia and Versilia, every corner of Italy offers its own version of the spectacle.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

If you’re used to celebrating in June, Father’s Day in Italy might take you by surprise. Here it’s held every year in March and is known as Festa del Papà.When is Father’s Day in Italy?Why is Father’s Day different in Italy?

Easter in Italy is less about chocolate bunnies and more about long, noisy lunches built around recipes people have been making for generations.

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.

Italy doesn’t just close down for national holidays. Cities and regions also take days off for patron saints, local festivals and a few dates with special status.

If you’re living in Italy, juggling school calendars, or just trying not to book meetings when the entire country has gone to the seaside, having the public holidays in Italy for 2026 in one place is genuinely useful.This rundown focuses on the national public holidays in Italy for this year: exact

If you spend winter in Italy, you’ll start seeing colourful biglietti for Lotteria Italia in every tobacco shop and motorway service station.

What do Italians do at Christmas? Food, family and faith lie at the heart of the season, creating a rich tapestry of festive customs that vary from region to region.

Milan at Christmas hums with festive buzz, lights draped over grand arcades and the Duomo standing as a living symbol of the season.

Italian New Year’s Eve traditions hum along the edges of winter nights, a mix of old superstitions and quiet rituals that slip into the evening without fuss.

Epiphany events in Italy 2026 bring a lovely, old‑world buzz across the country, as communities lean into parades, regattas and bonfires.

There’s a quiet magic to the Feast of the Epiphany in Italy, the kind that slips from folklore into everyday life before you’ve noticed.

Wondering where to spend Christmas in Italy 2025? Italy is one of the most magical destinations for the holiday season, offering a blend of festive traditions, stunning scenery, and unforgettable experiences.

The Christmas lights in Turin in 2025 form the famous Luci d’Artista, a long‑running open‑air collection by Italian and international artists.