Italy Public Holidays 2026: Full List and Dates
Italy has 12 public holidays (giorni festivi) in 2026 — one of the highest counts in Europe — and they’re identical nationwide, with no regional variation. That makes Italy’s calendar unusually simple to plan around for a country with such strong regional identity.
2026 has a mixed hand for long weekends: Easter Monday and Republic Day both fall on a Monday, but Liberation Day, Ferragosto and St Stephen’s Day all land on a Saturday, which costs Italy three potential long weekends.
Italy public holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | Capodanno | New Year’s Day |
| 6 January | Tuesday | Epifania | Epiphany |
| 5 April | Sunday | Pasqua | Easter Sunday |
| 6 April | Monday | Lunedì dell’Angelo | Easter Monday |
| 25 April | Saturday | Festa della Liberazione | Liberation Day |
| 1 May | Friday | Festa dei Lavoratori | Labour Day |
| 2 June | Tuesday | Festa della Repubblica | Republic Day |
| 15 August | Saturday | Ferragosto / Assunzione | Assumption |
| 1 November | Sunday | Tutti i Santi | All Saints’ Day |
| 8 December | Tuesday | Immacolata Concezione | Immaculate Conception |
| 25 December | Friday | Natale | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Saturday | Santo Stefano | St Stephen’s Day |
Long weekends in 2026
- 4–6 April — Easter (Sun–Mon), with Saturday 4 April bridging to three days
- 1–3 May — Labour Day (Fri–Sun)
- 30 May – 2 June — Republic Day falls on a Tuesday; bridging Monday 1 June gives four days
- 5–8 December — Immaculate Conception on a Tuesday; bridging Monday 7 December gives four days
- 25–27 December — Christmas Day (Fri–Sun)
The best opportunities are the two ponti (bridges) in 2026: Republic Day (2 June) and Immaculate Conception (8 December) both fall on a Tuesday, so a single day of leave turns each into a four-day break.
Ferragosto — 15 August
Ferragosto is Italy’s midsummer holiday and the peak of the Italian beach season. Cities empty out, coastal resorts are at capacity, and many family-run shops and restaurants in urban centres close for one to two weeks around it. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday, so the exodus is spread across the whole week rather than concentrated into a long weekend — which makes it slightly easier to travel, but no cheaper on the coast.
Christmas in Italy
Italy does Christmas properly and at length. The season runs from the Immaculate Conception (8 December) through to Epiphany (6 January), with 25 and 26 December both full public holidays. Christmas Eve is traditionally a fish dinner (La Vigilia), Christmas Day is a long family lunch, and St Stephen’s Day is a second holiday. Almost everything except restaurants closes on 25 and 26 December.
Planning around Italian holidays
Three patterns are worth knowing before you book:
- April–June is stacked. Easter, Liberation Day and Republic Day all fall in this window, so late spring is the busiest domestic travel period. Book trains and hotels early.
- August is a national shutdown. Ferragosto anchors a month when much of the country is on holiday. Some city restaurants and shops close entirely.
- Late December is booked solid. The Christmas–Epiphany stretch is the second-biggest travel period, and prices in the Alps and in Rome reflect it.
If you’re planning an Italian trip around the shoulder season, the same month-by-month method used in Best Time to Visit Japan applies — compare weather, crowds and holiday overlap before picking dates.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Italy have in 2026?
Italy has 12 public holidays in 2026, all observed nationwide with no regional variation.
Is 2 June 2026 a public holiday in Italy?
Yes — Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day) is a national public holiday. In 2026 it falls on a Tuesday, so bridging Monday 1 June creates a four-day weekend.
What is Ferragosto?
Ferragosto is Italy’s midsummer public holiday on 15 August, marking the Assumption. It’s the peak of the Italian beach season and the start of a period when many cities partially shut down.
Do shops close on public holidays in Italy?
Most shops close on 25 December, 26 December, 1 January and Easter Sunday. On other public holidays shops in city centres and tourist areas often open with reduced hours.
Our sources
Dates verified against the Italian public holiday list (giorni festivi) set by national law and cross-checked with the official calendar published by the Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri. Last reviewed: 15 October 2026.