📅 Italy Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 · Thu | New Year's Day (Capodanno) | Public |
| 6 Jan 2026 · Tue | Epiphany (Epifania) | Public |
| 5 Apr 2026 · Sun | Easter Sunday (Pasqua) | Public |
| 6 Apr 2026 · Mon | Easter Monday (Lunedì dell'Angelo) | Public |
| 25 Apr 2026 · Sat | Liberation Day (Festa della Liberazione) | Public |
| 1 May 2026 · Fri | International Workers Day (Festa del Lavoro) | Public |
| 2 Jun 2026 · Tue | Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica) | Public |
| 15 Aug 2026 · Sat | Assumption Day (Ferragosto o Assunzione) | Public |
| 4 Oct 2026 · Sun | St. Francis of Assisi's Day (San Francesco d'Assisi) | Public |
| 1 Nov 2026 · Sun | All Saints' Day (Tutti i Santi) | Public |
| 8 Dec 2026 · Tue | Immaculate Conception (Immacolata Concezione) | Public |
| 25 Dec 2026 · Fri | Christmas Day (Natale) | Public |
| 26 Dec 2026 · Sat | St. Stephen's Day (Santo Stefano) | Public |
Public Holidays 2027
Provisional — most countries publish the official calendar late in the year.
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 · Fri | New Year's Day (Capodanno) | Public |
| 6 Jan 2027 · Wed | Epiphany (Epifania) | Public |
| 28 Mar 2027 · Sun | Easter Sunday (Pasqua) | Public |
| 29 Mar 2027 · Mon | Easter Monday (Lunedì dell'Angelo) | Public |
| 25 Apr 2027 · Sun | Liberation Day (Festa della Liberazione) | Public |
| 1 May 2027 · Sat | International Workers Day (Festa del Lavoro) | Public |
| 2 Jun 2027 · Wed | Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica) | Public |
| 15 Aug 2027 · Sun | Assumption Day (Ferragosto o Assunzione) | Public |
| 4 Oct 2027 · Mon | St. Francis of Assisi's Day (San Francesco d'Assisi) | Public |
| 1 Nov 2027 · Mon | All Saints' Day (Tutti i Santi) | Public |
| 8 Dec 2027 · Wed | Immaculate Conception (Immacolata Concezione) | Public |
| 25 Dec 2027 · Sat | Christmas Day (Natale) | Public |
| 26 Dec 2027 · Sun | St. Stephen's Day (Santo Stefano) | Public |
ℹ️ Why these dates matter
Italy has thirteen national public holidays, and the country closes more completely on them than most of Northern Europe: banks, post offices and many shops shut, while restaurants, bars and major museums usually stay open. Two dates rearrange the whole country — Easter, which pulls enormous crowds to Rome, and 15 August, when cities empty out. Between the statutory holidays sit the local festivals that Italians actually plan their year around, from the Venice Carnival to the Palio.
Festivals Worth Planning a Trip Around
Beyond the stat holidays — the events that define the travel year.
Venice Carnival — Early February to 17 February 2026 (Tue, Shrove Tuesday)
Venice spends roughly two weeks in masks, with the best free theatre in Piazza San Marco and costumed crowds on every bridge. The official masked balls are expensive and sell out months ahead, while the street carnival costs nothing. Book accommodation early and go midweek — the final weekend is shoulder to shoulder.
Easter Sunday — 5 April 2026 (Sun), with Easter Monday 6 April
Easter is the biggest religious week of the Italian year: the pope celebrates Mass at St Peter’s and gives his blessing from the balcony, and Florence marks the day with the Scoppio del Carro, a cart of fireworks lit in front of the cathedral. Rome hotels and restaurants book out months ahead. Expect Easter Monday to be a full national holiday with museums on special hours.
Ferragosto — 15 August 2026 (Sat)
Ferragosto on 15 August is the day Italy goes on holiday: shops and offices in the cities shut, and everyone heads for the coast or the mountains. Expect beaches and mountain huts to be packed and city restaurants to close for the week. If you stay in Rome or Milan, book ahead — many places open only at reduced hours.
Palio di Siena — 2 July 2026 (Thu) and 16 August 2026 (Sun)
Twice a year Siena turns its shell-shaped main square into a racetrack for a bareback horse race between the city’s districts. It is not a public holiday, but the whole town stops and the squares fill hours before the start. Standing in the middle of the campo is free; the balconies and stands are ticketed and sell out well in advance.
💡 Quick Tips
- On national holidays banks, post offices and many shops close, while restaurants, bars and the big museums usually stay open with special hours.
- Easter and Easter Monday bring the biggest crowds of the year to Rome and Florence — book hotels and papal-event tickets months in advance.
- Around 15 August, expect city shops to shut for the week and beaches, coastal trains and mountain huts to be fully booked.
- Many Italian museums close on 25 December and 1 January, and some shut on 1 May; check the official site for the date you plan to visit.
⚡ Pro Tips
- Ferragosto 2026 falls on a Saturday and 2027 on a Sunday, so the escape to the coast starts on the Friday and roads are at their worst that afternoon.
- If you want Venice without the carnival prices, come for the Regata Storica on the first Sunday of September, when the historic boat parade runs down the Grand Canal.
- For the Palio, arrive in Siena the morning of the race and stay overnight: the trial runs and the district dinners on the evenings before are the best part.
📋 Summary
Every national public holiday in Italy for 2026 and 2027, plus the four events worth building a trip around: the Venice Carnival, Easter in Rome and Florence, Ferragosto on 15 August and the Palio of Siena.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are shops and museums open on Italian public holidays?
Banks, post offices and many small shops close, and big supermarkets often shut too. Restaurants, bars and the major museums usually open, though often on reduced or holiday hours. Expect 25 December, 1 January and sometimes 1 May to be the days with the most closures.
Is Venice Carnival worth the crowds?
Yes, if you treat it as street theatre rather than a ticketed event: the masks in Piazza San Marco and along the Cannaregio canals are free to enjoy. Come on a weekday morning for photographs without the crush, and stay outside the last weekend. Book accommodation early, since hotel rates climb sharply for the carnival fortnight.
What should I know about travelling in Italy in mid-August?
The week around 15 August is when Italians take their own holidays, so city shops, offices and some restaurants close while the coast and the mountains fill up. Book beach clubs, coastal trains and mountain refuges well in advance. Cities are quieter and cheaper for hotels, but check opening hours before you rely on anything.
