Italy's 2026 calendar

January 31 to February 17, 2026: Venice Carnival

February 6 to 22, 2026: Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics (Italy)

April 25, 2026: Liberation Day - Festa della Liberazione - National Day (Italy)

April 25, 2026: Feast of Saint Mark - La Festa di San Marco, Venice (Italy)

May 8 to 31, 2026: Giro d'Italia

July 22 to 30, 2026: World Fencing Championships (Hong Kong)

September 4 to 6, 2026: Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix (Monza)

Time zone and time difference

January 1: Capodanno (New Year's Day)

January 6: Epifania

April 6: Easter Monday

April 25: Liberation Day - Festa della Liberazione - National Day (Italy)

May 1: Labour Day

June 2: Republic Day in Italy

August 15: Ferragosto

November 1: Ognissanti (All Saints' Day)

December 8: Immaculate Conception

December 25: Christmas Day

December 26: Santo Stefano

Many Italian products are recognized worldwide for their prestige and quality. Florence, Milan and Rome are renowned cities for fashion. Certain places are known for their production: Como (Lombardy) for silk; Prato (Tuscany) for textiles; Empoli (Tuscany) for glassware production; Deruta (Umbria) and Faenza (Emilia-Romagna) for pottery, Carrara (Tuscany) for marble; Torre Annunziata (Campania) and Alghero (Sardinia) for coral craftsmanship; Castelfidardo (Marche) for accordions, guitars and organs. Valenza (Piedmont) for goldsmiths; Vietri sul Mare (Campania) for its ceramic tiles, and Ravenna (Emilia-Romagna) for its mosaics. 

Events: In many towns, festivals and celebrations commemorate local historical or religious events. Here are some of the most notable and popular: 

January 

Orvieto Umbria Jazz Winter (New Year). Piana Degli Albanesi (Palermo) celebration of the Epiphany according to the Byzantine rite (6th); Rome Epiphany fair (6th). 

February 

Viareggio 'Carnevale'. Venice 'Carnival'. ' 

March 

Agrigento almond blossom festival. 

Easter 

Florence 'Scoppio del Carro', 'Explosion of the Cart' on the cathedral square (Easter Sunday); Terni Easter Festival: Umbria Jazz Gospel and Soul. 

May 

Assisi Holy Week. Calendimaggio (early May). Music and song competition (annual, first weeks). Bari 'Sagra di San Nicola', procession in historical costumes (first Saturday and Sunday). Cagliari 'Sagra di Sant'Efisio', one of the largest and most colorful processions in the world (May 1). Gubbio 'Festa dei Ceri', a race (May 15). Sassari 'Cavalcata Sarda', traditional procession of more than 3,000 riders in medieval costumes (third Sunday of May). 

June 

Florence 'Gioco del Calcio', 16th-century football match in costume. Pisa historical regatta and illuminations. 

July 

Perugia Umbria Jazz. 'Il Redentore', gondola procession (mid-July, Sat/Sun). Verona Opera Festival (July-September). Siena "Palio" bareback horse race (July 2 and August 16). 

August 

Ascoli Piceno Quintana tournament - historical reenactment with more than 1,000 participants (first Sunday). Nuoro Redeemer Festival (last week). 

September 

Arezzo tournament of the Saracens against knights in armor, dating back to the 13th century (first Sunday). Viterbo procession of the 'Macchina di Santa Rosa', commemorating the translation of the saint's body to the church of Santa Rosa (3rd). Foligno 'Giostra della Quintana', 16th-century tournament with 600 knights in medieval costumes (second Sunday). Lucca 'Luminaria di Santa Croce', illuminations and procession (14th). Marostica human chess game (second weekend, every two years, even years). Naples 'Festa di San Gennaro', gathering in the Cathedral and prayer for the miracle to occur: the liquefaction of the saint's blood (19th). Sansepolcro (Arezzo) 'Palio dei Balestrieri', medieval competition (second Sunday).