Rome Events in February - Discover the Best Things to do in 2026

January 7, 2026

Rome events in February include Valentine's Day, Six-Nations Rugby matches, and Carnival.

Whether you are visiting Rome in February for a romantic getaway around Valentine's Day, to take in a Six-Nations rugby match, or to celebrate Carnival, there's plenty happening in Rome this month.

I love being in Rome in February because it's cool and quiet.

But if you're visiting this month, you may want to know what's happening, whether to join in the fun, or to avoid crowds on busy weekends. Yes, even in February, the weekends can be crowded.

Find out why, and what's happening around the city this month.

Rome Events in February 2026 - What's happening

February is a great time to visit Rome for a lot of reasons, whether you're visiting for a romantic getaway, are craving a quieter winter month, or are coming to watch some Six-Nations rugby matches.

I love walking around Rome in February because it's cool.

This means it's comfortable for sight-seeing.

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

Check out all the best things to do and Rome events in February 2026:

Update on Trevi Fountain Fee

Starting February 1, 2026, Rome will charge a €2 ticket for tourists to access the area right next to the Trevi Fountain during daytime hours. This includes the popular coin-tossing spot and close-up views. You can still admire the fountain from the piazza above or after sunset for free.

For full details on this fee and tips for your visit, see our Trevi Fountain guide here.

Holidays and special dates in Rome in February

Probably the date that comes to mind for many in February is Valentine's Day.

There are no other major Rome events in February, but there are plenty of things to do, concerts, exhibits, etc.

February 14 - Valentine's Day

I think Rome is romantic year-round. After all, Rome is where I met my husband and where we got married.

But if you're visiting Rome over Valentine's Day, you may be looking for some romantic things to do, romantic hotels, and romantic places to eat.

I've got you covered.

sunset overlooking saint peter's basilica

Romantic Things to Do in Rome

Romantic Restaurants in Rome

view of rome rooftops from eitch borromini

Restaurants with a View in Rome

Valentine's Day in Rome

Carnival/carnevale

Carnival in Rome is mostly about kids dressing up and throwing confetti everywhere.

Carnival begins the week before Lent, culminating in Fat Tuesday, followed by Ash Wednesday.

Dates for Carnival, Carnevale in Italian, in 2026 are:

Fat Thursday: February 12
Carnival Sunday: February 15
Fat Tuesday: February 17
Ash Wednesday: February 18

Expect to see kids dressed up and coriandoli (coloured confetti) all over Rome's streets and sidewalks.

While Carnival in Venice is a famous event for grownups, in Rome it seems to be mostly about kids dressing up.

Castagnole and frappe - carnival treats in rome

One of the best things about Rome in February is enjoying these fried sugary treats, castagnole and frappe, here shown at Roscioli bakery.

And of course, the best part about Carnival in Rome?

Eating the fried sugary dough treats, castagnole and frappe.

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Current exhibits and events at Rome's museums in February 2026

The cooler winter months are a great time to take in the arts indoors.

Some museums stay open later on the weekends.

There are several Rome events in February at various museums around the city:

cartier capitoline museums exhibition promo image

The Capitoline Museums

Cartier and Myths

This prestigious exhibition features some of the refined masterpieces from the Maison Cartier, most of which are from the Cartier Collection’s heritage.

Combining art and beauty, these splendid pieces, created by Cartier's craftsmanship are on display with the marble works of the Albani Collection and a set of artefacts of exceptional historical and artistic value, showing how ancient Greece and Rome have been an extraordinary source of inspiration for the Maison's iconic jewellery.

November 14 2025 - March 15 2026

Find out more details here.

Capo Bove Complex

Impressions from Life. The Appian Way and the Via Latina in the Drawings of Maria Barosso

The exhibition delves into the history of work done along the Via Appia and the Via Latina, thanks to the works of Maria Barosso (1879-1960). She was the first archaeological draftsman of the Directorate of Antiquities and Fine Arts, who documented the excavation work and the major urban transformations that changed Rome in the first half of the twentieth century.

The Capo di Bove complex is located on the Appian Way and well worth a visit by itself too.

November 15 2025 - April 12 2026

Find out more about the exhibition here.

Scuderie del Quirinale

Treasures of the Pharaohs

This prestigious exhibition will explore the ancient and fascinating Egyptian civilisation through a selection of masterpieces from Egypt's most important museum sites.

The exhibition path will wind through six thematic sections, telling about a timeless civilisation, with 130 masterpieces on loan from the most renowned Egyptian museums, such as the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Luxor Museum, joined by the contribution of the Egyptian Museum in Turin with a precious artefact.

October 24 2025 - May 3 2026

This is a popular exhibition so secure your tickets in advance - all details are here.

ara pacis impressionism exhibition image

Ara Pacis Museum

Impressionism and Beyond: Masterpieces from the Detroit Institute of Arts

Visit to see a unique selection of works by great masters of European modern art between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with 52 masterpieces from the immense collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Through paintings by Courbet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, Modigliani, Kandinsky, Beckmann and many other protagonists of European art, the exhibition retraces the birth and evolution of modern painting.

December 4 2025 - May 3 2026

Learn more and secure tickets here.

Sport/sporting Rome events in February

Catch the Six-Nations Rugby matches in Rome:

Azzurri vs Scotland - February 7, 2026

Azzurri vs England - March 7, 2026

Buy Tickets

The perfect 3-day itinerary in Rome

Trying to figure out how to organize your visit to Rome? I've got the perfect 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors (or those who have not been here in a while.) It works for a 2.5 day visit as well.

In my 3-day itinerary, you'll see all the major must-see Rome attractions like the Vatican, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, and much more.

And if you have more time, or want suggestions for extra/other things to do, you'll find that there too.

Visit my page with the best 3-day itinerary in Rome for first-timers.

Rome in January

Rome in March

🇻🇦 Visit the Vatican 🇻🇦

Experience the best of the Vatican.
Enjoy easy access to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel,
and St. Peter’s Basilica for an unforgettable experience
with these recommended tours.

Click here to find out more

Vatican Events in February

When the Pope is in town, you can attend the Wednesday Papal Audience, or watch the pope give the Angelus in St. Peter's Square on Sunday.

Both are free.

For the Papal Audience, you need tickets. For the Angelus, you don't.

February 11 is a national holiday in Vatican City as it is the anniversary of the foundation of Vatican City, so the Vatican Museums are closed this day.

This does not affect the opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica, Saint Peter's Dome, or Vatican Square, which are open normally.

Depending on when Easter falls, February can have a few Vatican-related events, such as Ash Wednesday.

In 2026, Ash Wednesday is February 18 when you may attend a Papal Mass.

It's free but you need a ticket.

Visit Rome's Parks and Gardens

While February can be a cold month, it can still be a beautiful time to visit a park or garden in Rome, and they are all open in winter.

Villa Borghese Gardens

Rose Garden

Secret Gardens

Vatican Gardens

Rome events in February - Free things to do

If you're looking for some fun Rome events in February that are free, the below are confirmed for 2026:

The first Sunday of the month, Rome's Civic Museums are free for everyone.

On Sunday February 1, 2026 you can visit the Capitoline Museums, Ara Pacis, Villa Torlonia, Trajan's Market and many others for free. For more details and booking, click the link below to visit the official site.

Advance booking is required.

In 2026 the Vatican Museums will be free and open on Sunday February 22.

Expect large crowds on this day, even in February.

St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square are free and open daily.

You cannot buy tickets in advance for the Free Sunday, but you can book a tour of the museums through the Vatican.

If you don't want to book this tour, just come early.

By early I mean by 8am.

But otherwise I recommend you book your visit ahead of time and pay to go another day.

In February 2026, the Colosseum will be free to enter on Sunday February 1.

You can expect the Colosseum to be pretty much a mob scene.

I'd highly recommend visiting one of the other sites that is also free on this day, like the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill, or Ostia Antica.

Does it snow in Rome?

Rome on a rainy day

Winter in Rome

Best time to visit Rome

Strikes and Public Transport Disruptions in February 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 get called off or amended at the last minute all the time.

So if you think your travel could be affected, keep checking the official channels as there might be no need to change your plans.

Strikes in February 2026

Here are the strike dates currently confirmed for February 2026. We are closely monitoring official announcements and will keep this page updated as new information becomes available:

February 16 2026 – 24 hour national airline strike involving ITA Airways and Vueling staff. Likely to impact many flights.
February 27-28 2026 - 24 hour national strike by on-board railway staff, from 9PM on February 27 to 8:59 PM on February 28, which may impact some train services.

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Rome events in February - Concerts, operas, shows

Enjoy the opera in Rome's beautiful Teatro dell'Opera (Opera House.)

Rome Opera Tickets

At the Rome Auditorium, you can attend wonderful concerts and other events.

Concert tickets

Freddie Mercury Opera Show - Opera da Camera di Roma Hall

Explore a novel interpretation of Queen's iconic tracks, transformed for Italian opera virtuosos from the Opera da Camera di Roma ensemble and piano accompaniment.

Mercury's own passion for opera, famously showcased in his performances with soprano Montserrat Caballé, inspires this unprecedented concert.