Traditional Italian holidays

Italy’s Christmas holidays in 2026 line up rather neatly for anyone hoping to stretch a few annual leave days into a proper pause. Christmas Day falls on Friday 25 December, New Year’s Day also lands on a Friday, and Epiphany follows on Wednesday 6 January 2027.For employees working Monday to F

What do Italians do at Christmas? Food, family and faith lie at the heart of the season, alongside customs that can look quite different across the country.

The Trento Christmas Market 2026 runs from 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, making it a handy option for a festive weekend in northern Italy or a stop on a wider Trentino trip. One of the best Christmas markets in Trentino, Trento's is part of Trento Città del Natale, the city’s seasonal pro

Late October in Italy can feel quietly different.

If you’re looking for things to do this Halloween in Italy, 2026 brings witchy festivals in medieval villages, grand-villa masquerades, lantern-lit ghost walks and plenty of costume parties. Halloween falls on Saturday, 31 October, followed by All Saints’ Day on Sunday, 1 November.

Italy’s late-autumn sweets have far deeper roots than costume parties and pumpkin carving.

Halloween may be increasingly visible in Italian shops, schools and city nightlife, but the country’s most meaningful dates at the start of November fall just afterwards. All Saints’ Day, or Ognissanti, is celebrated on 1 November, followed by All Souls’ Day on 2 November, known as the Commemor

Halloween in Italy has little in common with the usual costume-party template.

Halloween in Italy in 2026 lands over a long weekend, with 31 October followed by Ognissanti on 1 November and All Souls’ Day on 2 November.

Every year, between late October and early November, the avenues of Italian cemeteries fill with flowers, vases of chrysanthemums, and small lights. Yet the day dedicated to the deceased falls on November 2nd, while the lines at the gates almost always form the day before. So, why do we go to the cemetery on November 1st?

At the start of autumn, Italy prepares for the grape harvest. In this setting, grape and wine sagre — local food and wine festivals — are far more than simple village celebrations. They reflect centuries of winemaking tradition, celebrate the identity of each area and give visitors a taste of local food, music and popular culture.

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.