Rome Events In July 2026 - Exciting Concerts, Exhibits, And More

One of my favorite things to do in Rome in July is take in a concert or opera in the Baths of Caracalla.

I've been fortunate to see several world-class operas like Aida, and attend concerts by various artists including Andrea Boccelli and James Taylor.

More Rome events in July include night visits and the Summerfest along the Tiber River.

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Free Things to Do in July

Every month you can enjoy the "Free Sunday," 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.

And, unlike in many other cities in Italy, in Rome, our civic museums are also free on the first Sunday of the month.

Participating venues include the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Capitoline Museums, Galleria Borghese, Castel Sant'Angelo, Ostia Antica, the National Rome Museums, and many more.

CAVEAT - I typically advise AGAINST visiting the big sites like the Colosseum (first Sunday of the month) or the Vatican (last Sunday of the month), because you cannot get tickets in advance.

It's first come first serve, so you will waste a lot of precious vacation time just standing in huge lines waiting to collect your free ticket, and then you will have even more massive crowds to contend with.

See below:

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Strikes and Public Transport Disruptions in July 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 July 2026

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

Rome events in July - Concerts, operas, shows

For more concerts in Rome in July, click here.

Tours to take in Rome in July

July is such a hot month that taking a tour can be a great way to maximize your time and limit your exhaustion.

Most tours are 2-3 hours at most, and go either early morning or late afternoon.

A good guide will keep you focused so you enjoy the sites and get back out of the heat.

For tours to take in July, start here:

Day trips to take in Rome in July

July is a wonderful time to take a day trip, especially if you are looking to beat the heat in 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 July

July is when many families travel to Rome thanks to school breaks. 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 July, and most central.

For a complete list of Rome events in July, visit the website of the Rome Tourist Board.