Rome events in December 2026 - Holidays, exhibits, concerts, and other things to do

Rome events in December include Christmas holiday dates of course.

But there are a few other important things happening this month, too.

Find out all the things to see and do in Rome in December 2026.

Rome events in December 2026 - What's happening

December is a great time to visit Rome for a lot of reasons, not the least of which are the lovely lights and decorations that start going up even before the month begins.

December weather in Rome is cool, which makes it comfortable for sight-seeing.

It's also a good time to enjoy some hot Roman lunches and dinners indoors with some good wine.

Keep reading for more info about the best Rome events in December 2026:

• Holidays in Rome in December
• Current exhibits at Rome's museums
• Free things to do in Rome in December
• Strikes and public transport disruptions in December
• Concerts and operas in Rome in December
• Tours to take in Rome in December
• Day trips to take in Rome in December
• Things to do with kids in Rome in December

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Holidays and Special Dates in Rome in December

Besides the obvious holiday dates of Christmas and New Year, there are a few other Christmas-related dates as well as non-Christmas related dates to note in December as well.

December 8 - Immacolata/Immaculate Conception

In Italy, the Catholic holiday of December 8, the Immaculate Conception, or Immacolata, is celebrated.

Many shops will be closed, but sites are open (except for the Vatican Museums.)

If the 8th falls near a weekend, you can expect it to be busy in Rome.

At noon, you can head to St. Peter's Square to hear Pope Leo give the Angelus (free, lasting about 15 minutes.) 

Another thing you can do on December 8 is visit Piazza Mignanelli near the Spanish Steps.

Every December 8, at 4:30pm, the pope changes the Madonna's wreath at the top of the column there.

In recent years, there has been more and more security, and the event has become more and more popular, so you should expect huge crowds, and should try to get there as early as possible if you want to get anywhere close to the event.

The pope does not do it himself - the firemen do, but he is there for the event. 

Chanukah

Chabad Roma organizes the lighting of the menorah during Chanukah in Piazza Barberini.

In 2026, Hanukkah is from December 4-12.

Usually you can attend the first night's lighting ceremony with Rome's rabbis at sundown. In 2026 this is December 4th, but you can also go for the following 7 nights to see each "candle" being lit. 

Christmas Tree Lightings

Several Christmas trees go up around Rome in December, but it seems the one people ask me about the most is the one at the Vatican. 

The Christmas tree in Vatican Square is a relatively new phenomenon (started in 1982 during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II), but it's typically been lit in early December.

In 2025, the Vatican tree will be officially lit on Sunday December 7.

For more details of tree lightings and where to find the best festive decorations, click here to read our page all about them.

Christmas Fair in Piazza Navona

Usually, Piazza Navona is THE spot for Rome's Christmas biggest and most festive Christmas Market.

We're still awaiting details of the Piazza Navona market for 2026.

Current Exhibits and Events at Rome's Museums in December 2026

The cooler fall and winter months are a great time to take in the arts and some art indoors.

Some museums stay open later on the weekends.

There are several Rome events in December at various museums around the city.

Here are some special things you can do in Rome in December 2026:

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Rome Events in December - Free Things to Do

If you're looking for some fun Rome events in December that are free, there are a few so far confirmed for 2026:

Free Sunday Rome Events in December 2026

This month we will have the Free Sunday event, in which state sites and museums are free the first Sunday of the month, and the Vatican Museums are free the last Sunday of the month.

For more details you can watch my full video guide about Rome's Free Sunday here.

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Strikes and Public Transport Disruptions in December 2026

Occasional strikes do happen in Italy, which can affect airports, taxis, public transport and more. 

Called 'sciopero' in Italian, it is entirely legal for workers to strike here, but there are specific rules that have to be followed.

There are guaranteed services that have to be provided regardless of the strike and strikes can only run for a set time period.

Strikes can be at a national or regional level, and as there are many unions workers can be members of, often it is not an entire workforce that is on strike at once.

However, these strikes can still be disruptive, so there are a few things to consider if one has been announced.

How to Check Confirmed Strike Actions

In theory you can see all upcoming strikes on the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport website.

However, this is hard to decipher and to understand if your plans are going to be affected. So, instead, I recommend checking the official news/updates pages for the relevant organizations, namely:

• Trenitalia - for regional and high speed trains
• Italo - for high speed trains *these can also be affected by strike action even though they are a private company*
• ATAC - for public transport in Rome (buses, trams and Metro lines)
• Cotral - for the Metromare line to Ostia and other routes in Lazio
• Aeroporti di Roma - for information affecting flights in and out of Fiumicino and Ciampino airports
• Roma Comune - for information on Rome taxi strikes or other disruptions in the city

With all of these, you can also see general information about route changes or other things that could impact you so they are useful links to have saved.

On these pages, the affected organizations will not only confirm the details of a strike, but also the guaranteed services and timings of the strike action.

Very infrequently there are strikes by other unions that impact workers at museums or archeological sites, but if you have tickets that could be impacted by this, you will be contacted directly.

Strikes in December 2026

There are no strike dates currently confirmed for December 2026. We are closely monitoring official announcements and will keep this page updated as new information becomes available.

Navigating Italian Strike Action

1. If there is a public transport strike, don't assume you can easily get a taxi instead. These will be in high demand so if you have specific plans, you're better off booking a private transfer in advance instead to ensure you don't miss out. Click here to secure your ride. Remember that these private transfers are not guaranteed in the event of taxi strikes or other disruptions.
2. Make plans for the day that allow you to easily walk between sites in case you have no other option. This goes for taxi strikes as well, as the buses and Metro will be packed on these days.
3. For longer-distance travel, try to get a seat on a guaranteed service or change your departure time to a point outside the strike window.
4. The rail companies are pretty good about changing travel plans and will generally allow you to make changes without significant extra charges.
5. Air travel strikes are the hardest to navigate as apart from changing your flight altogether, there isn't really any way to escape them. I've found that contacting your airline directly is the best way to make any necessary changes.

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Rome Events in December - Concerts, Operas, Shows

For more concerts and music Rome events in December, click here.

Tours to Take in Rome in December

It's a good idea to take a tour in December.

December can be really busy.

So booking a tour is a good way to make sure you get tickets to the sites you want to visit, and also get to enjoy them without fighting the crowds too much.

And even if it's not too crowded, a tour is a great way to see the sights and get to know a bit about them as you go.

For tours to take in December, start here:

Day Trips to Take in Rome in December

December is a wonderful time to take a day trip, especially if you want to try some food/wine ventures outside Rome.

We have lots of options for places to visit which you can easily reach within 1-2 hours of Rome.

For organized day trips, visit Get Your Guide.

Activities With Kids in Rome in December

Whether you are visiting Rome in December for the holidays or just for a short getaway, if you are coming with kids, there are plenty of tours and activities in Rome geared to children of all ages. 

If you're looking for some fun activities with kids, start here:

I've listed some of what I think are the most fun and interesting Rome events in December, and most central. For a complete list of Rome events in December, visit the website of the Rome Tourist Board.