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Rome events in January 2026 - Holidays, exhibits, concerts, and other things to do
Rome events in January include New Years' Day and the all-important last day of the Christmas season, January 6, the Befana.
But there are a few other fun things happening this month, as well.
One of my favorite happenings in January in Rome is the Blessing of the Animals at the Vatican. Find out all the events and things to do in Rome in January.Find out all the things to see and do in Rome in January.
Rome events in January - What's happening
January is a great time to visit Rome for a lot of reasons, whether you are here at the beginning of the month for the holidays, or more towards the middle or end of the month for a more quiet experience.
January 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 January 2026:
- Holidays in Rome in January
- Current exhibits at Rome's museums
- Free things to do in Rome in January
- Strikes and public transport disruptions in January
- Vatican events in January
- Concerts and operas in Rome in January
- Tours to take in Rome in January
- Day trips to take in Rome in January
- Things to do with kids in Rome in January
Holidays and special dates in Rome in January
Besides the obvious holiday dates of New Year's Day and January 6, there are a few other important Rome events in January to note:
January 1 - New Years Day
January 1, New Year's Day, is a bank holiday after the festivities of New Year's Eve as well as a religious holiday.
Many shops are closed, but sites are open (except for the Vatican Museums).
No matter what day of the week January 1 falls on, Rome is busy on the dates surrounding it and pretty much through about the first week of January.
At noon, you can head to St. Peter's Square to hear Pope Leo give the Angelus (free, lasting about 15 minutes).
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January 6 - Epiphany / Befana
January 6 marks the end of the Christmas holidays.
In some countries, including Italy, it's known as the Epiphany or as the Day of the Kings.
In Italy, it's also known as the Befana, who is an ugly but good witch who goes around bringing toys to children.
In fact, many Italian children expect to open gifts on this day as opposed to December 25.
You can enjoy the atmosphere in Piazza Navona, when there is a Christmas market.
You can also head to via della Conciliazione near the Vatican and watch a small procession of people in costume.
No matter what season you visit Rome, here are 4 essential things we recommend never leaving home without:
Winter sales
One of the most awaited Rome events in January is the beginning of winter sales, called "saldi" in Italian.In Italy, we have big sales twice a year, once in summer and once in winter.
Look for the signs that say "Saldi."
Winter sales usually start on the first Saturday in January.
In 2026, the first day of winter sales in Rome is January 3.
Current exhibits and events at Rome's museums in January 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 many Rome events in January at various museums around the city, including:
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.
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.
Chiostro del Bramante
Flowers - Art from the Renaissance to Artificial Intelligence
This exhibition takes us on a journey through five centuries of art, culture and innovation.
Coming from 10 different countries around the world and from prestigious institutions including the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay in Paris, botanical and scientific collections from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London and the Museo Civico di Zoologia in Rome, to demonstrate how flowers are an inexhaustible source of inspiration for artists of all ages.
February 14 2025 - January 18 2026
Find out more about the event 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.
National Roman Museum - Palazzo Massimo alla Terme
Submerged Memories - The Bronzes of the Valentinian Bridge
Built in the 4th century over an earlier structure to connect the Circus Flaminius with Trastevere, the ancient bridge was destroyed by a flood of the Tiber in 729 and replaced centuries later by the current Ponte Sisto.
The bronzes from this bridge resurfaced at the end of the 19th century during work on the Tiber embankments, and were long stored in the museum's storage rooms. Now they are once again visible thanks to in-depth restoration and study that has allowed them to be completely contextualized.
December 4 2025 - April 12 2026
See more and book tickets here.
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 events in January - Free things to do
If you're looking for some fun Rome events in January 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 January 4 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.
In 2026, the Vatican Museums will be free and open on Sunday January 25.
Expect large crowds on this day, even in January.
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 8 AM.
But otherwise I recommend you book your Vatican Museums visit ahead of time and pay to go another day.
In January 2026, the Colosseum and other state-run sites/museums will be open and free to enter on the first Sunday of the month, January 4.
Strikes and Public Transport Disruptions in January 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 January 2026
Here are the strike dates currently confirmed for January 2026. We are closely monitoring official announcements and will keep this page updated as new information becomes available:
- January 9 2026 – National air transport and airport staff strikes affecting airports across Italy. This includes airport staff walkouts that could disrupt flights (delays/cancellations).
- January 13 2026 – A 24 hour taxi service workers strike covering various unions, which could impact taxi availability all day.
Vatican events in January
On January 1, you can head to St. Peter's Square for the Angelus.
At noon, Pope Leo appears in one of the windows, and address the crowds.
It's free, and lasts about 15 minutes.
Expect large crowds.
There will be papal masses held on January 1 (Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God) and January 6 (Epiphany).
If you want to try to get tickets to attend any of these masses, visit my page about Seeing the Pope in Rome.
On the Befana, January 6, which is the Epiphany (Day of the Kings), you can watch a mini-procession called "Viva la Befana" along the street leading up to St. Peter's Square, Via della Conciliazione.
Starting at about 10 AM (but you should get there earlier for a decent viewing position), there will be a little procession with people dressed in period costume, that will sort of re-enact the visit of the 3 Wise Men.
January 17th is the celebration of Sant'Antonio Abate in St. Peter's Square. I have been and it's absolutely wonderful!
It's the "Blessing of the Animals" and many farmers bring their farm animals, but also locals bring their pets.
You will also see a big parade of officials on horseback, in all their regalia.
Outside the square, a cardinal gives a prayer and blesses the animals.
It's quite festive.
When I went once, a man brought his turtle and lo and behold, the cardinal blessed it!
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Rome events in January - Concerts, operas, shows
Visit the extraordinary Capuchin Crypt, then head into the recently restored church to listen to sacred music in a gorgeous setting.
Thursday afternoons.
Don't miss this unique opera + aperitivo on one of Rome's most amazing rooftops, the Borromini Terrace.
Combine beautiful music, with the stunning baroque setting on Piazza Navona, and a special aperitivo, to make for a fabulous evening in Rome.
There's a maximum 30 people (including an art historian guide), to keep this experience exclusive and special.
Tuesday and Sunday evenings.
The Three Tenors - Nessun Dorma
See the "Three Tenors" in a beautiful church setting.
You will be treated to three of Rome's most famous tenors singing some of the best-known and loved songs of Neapolitan opera, accompanied by the Mandolin Orchestra.
Music from La Traviata, Rigoletto, Tosca, and many others.
Friday evenings.
Enjoy private access to one of Rome's most exclusive rooftops right on Piazza Navona, while sipping your aperitivo and listening to Italian opera classics from Verdi, Rossini, and Puccini.
Sunday evenings.
New Years Day Concerts
Greet the new year in Rome with a beautiful lyrical concert of classic opera and concert music, performed by the renowned I Virtuosi dell'opera di Roma inside the Church of St Paul within the Walls.
Works include pieces by Puccini, Strauss, Rossini, Verdi, Mozart, and many more.
December 31, 2026.
Great for families; wheelchair accessible.
Opera Concert at the Palazzo Santa Chiara
Enjoy opera in the small, elegant auditorium of 17th century Palazzo Santa Chiara, known for its excellent acoustics.
Head to this hidden gem right behind the Pantheon, grab a cocktail at the intimate bar inside, then sit back and enjoy some beautiful music.
In January 2026, 7:30 PM
"The Most Beautiful Opera Arias" Concert
Immerse yourself in Italian opera and enjoy compositions by famous composers such as Puccini, Bellini, and Mascagni.
This intimate concert is held in the Rome Evangelical Church.
For more concerts and music Rome events in January, click here.
🎬 A Day in Italian Cinema 🎬
Enjoy a cinematic adventure! With Cinecittà World, immerse yourself in the world of Italian film and experience the glamour of Rome’s movie-making magic.
Tours to take in Rome in January
January can be really busy in the first part of the month.
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 January, start here:
Day trips to take in Rome in January
January 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 January
Whether you are visiting Rome in January 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 January, and most central.
For a complete list of Rome events in January, visit the website of the Rome Tourist Board.
Romewise's Top Travel Resources
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